Permanent Makeup Lips FAQ

Permanent  makeup (PMU), traditionally known as micro-pigmentation or permanent cosmetic tattooing, is the implantation of pigment in the second top  layer of the skin using specially made fine micro-needles to create  beautiful eyebrow, eyeliner, and lip enhancements. 

 Permanent makeup can be a good option for the vision challenged who have difficulty applying their cosmetics  and others with dexterity related conditions such as arthritis,  Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke survivors, and busy  people who don’t have time to spend applying and refreshing makeup  throughout the day and evening. Interest in this service spans the young  to the more mature; those who desire a soft, natural enhancement to  their appearance. It is especially valuable to people who can’t wear  traditional makeup due to allergies and skin sensitivities; active  people who want to look their best for sports activities, and those who  don’t want to worry about “sweating off” or reapplying makeup. 

PMU results can last anywhere from 1 to 5 years depending on chosen  style/saturation, aftercare, personal lifestyle, and individual skin  type. An important tip is to always apply sunscreen to the area once it  is completely healed if you are going to be outdoors as exposure to the  sun and tanning beds can cause fading and discoloration of pigment. Touch-ups are highly recommended about every 1-2 years to maintain shape and color to keep your PMU looking fresh!

Lip Blush tattoo is a form of  semi-permanent makeup (sometimes called ‘permanent lipstick’) where  pigment is implanted into the lips to enhance the beauty of the natural  lip color. It improves the shape and definition of the lips, and the overall pigment. 

With lip blush tattoo, we don’t over saturate the area (so it doesn’t end up looking as thick and painted on as lipstick) but a little more natural. The border of the lip will be clearer, but not a drawn on or outlined effect, and the overall color will be evenly pigmented and more vibrant. It will make your lips appear  fuller. 

2 treatments (and occasionally 3) will be needed to achieve the final result – an even, pigmented lip tint effect that will last several years. 

We find that in most cases, where the initial and retouch treatment have both been completed, a retouch won’t be needed for 2-3  years. Sun protection (lip balms containing SPF) will assist in preventing premature pigment fading.

 While it doesn’t cause them, if you have ever had a cold sore before, or been exposed to the herpes virus  (even if you have not experienced cold sores since you were a child)  then lip tattoo can cause an outbreak of cold sore blisters/reactivate  it – as can any type of lip trauma like sun/wind burn. As such, it is important to obtain anti-viral cold prescription medication prior to  having this procedure (and any lip tattoo retouches) done, to prevent an outbreak occurring. 

Yes you can, however you will  need to ensure that you have seen a doctor to obtain preventative anti-viral medication prior to the treatment to stop a cold sore outbreak from occurring. Please don’t skip this step – it’s really important to ensure you have a great result and the healing process goes smoothly.

Most individuals experience some discomfort. This will very according to each individuals' pain threshold. Various creams or gel are use before and  during our PMU service.We numb the skin with a cream prior to starting the procedure, as well  as multiple times with a liquid-gel during the procedure into the broken skin. A strong topical anesthetic cream/ gel with 5% Lidocaine for numbing before and throughout the procedure for maximum comfort as pain tolerance will vary from person to person. This eases any discomfort and pain the client may feel. We do what we can to ensure minimal pain. Everyone's level of sensitivity is different, and some relate to the feeling of being scratched rating at a level 1-3 out of a 10.

If you require something stronger, you may ask your doctor for a prescription of 10% lidocaine numbing cream (please make sure the consistency is cream-like NOT vaseline-like as the greasiness will alter my markings for your brow shape).

You may bring 1-2 Extra strength Tylenol to take after our consultation for additional comfort if you have low pain tolerance.

We use FDA approved, US manufactured high quality topical anesthesia : lidocaine. 

The color of your lips is determined by your desired color and your skin’s undertone. PMU Artists must take your skin’s  undertone into consideration to ensure your final results do not heal too cool or too warm. Color theory is a huge art of the Artist’s  process.  Pigments are of the highest quality and are pre-mixed to match every type of hair color.  We can mix in additional pigment colors to match each individual client. Pigments are hypo-allergenic, vegan friendly, and have great retention!

The shape/ style of your brows is decided with the client's input and their end goal, whether it be natural or bold.  PMU Artists must take your natural hair growth pattern into consideration to ensure your final results. Brow mapping is done to show the shape and thickness that work best for your face and is altered to your liking until an agreement is made.

We only use single use, disposable needles and  supplies. This means that each set-up for each new client is discarded  safely  afterwards. Each station is thoroughly disinfected before  opening and after each treatment. Allergic reactions to permanent cosmetic procedures are extremely rare. The cosmetic pigments are made from completely natural ingredients, and disposable sterile needles and surgical gloves are used  for each  procedure. However, micro-pigmentation is a skin invasive procedure. It is extremely important to consult with your primary care physician about any concerns.

It is very unlikely that PMU requires any time off (occupation varies) Depending on the service, some sweilling will be visible but after a few hours, they shall subside. Normal activities may be resumed.

On average, services last about a year to 1.5yrs. An individual's PMU service will vary between clients.We have to consider an individuals' lifestyle or daily regimen.

Like all tattoo, it will slowly fade and will require a touch-up. This happens because our skin constantly regenerates. Exposure to sunlight  or UV rays can also cause the tattoo to change color. The UV rays can break down the ink molecules, causing them to fade or change color. Avoiding the sun is impossibble, therefore maintanence must be done to keep PMU from looking faded. 

We use various FDA approves  pigments that heal true to color, as  well as the best products offered in the industry. All materials used during each and every appointment are 100% sterile and disposable. 

 There is no down time, and does not require any time off of work. You shouldn't experience any bruising  and will only have very minimal swelling. There are no restriction except not to drink alcohol because it makes you sweat, bleed (unlikely), bruise, and worse of all, it leads you to make questionable decisions like touching your face with dirty hands! 

​Most clients  leave the appointment with little to no redness. The numbing solution used during the appointment helps to control any swelling or redness  which means you can continue your day with no funny looks or questions.. Your results will vary depending on skin type,  lifestyle and the immediate and long-term aftercare of your new procedure. 

This is very dependent upon the amount of work  performed. Also, some people swell more than others. During the  procedure there may be some minor bleeding. This is definitely client  specific.  

Many people take blood thinners on  a daily basis so some slight bleeding would be expected. Others show little or no signs of bleeding. Bruising is rare but again, if a person  is on blood thinners, bruising could occur. Eyebrows rarely if ever produce any bruising. Minor bruising during eyeliner procedures is possible if the skin being worked on is very thin and close to the vascular system. This also applies to lip procedures  in the event the client is more mature. If bruising does occur,  typically it is minor and subsides in a few days. There is usually some  tenderness for a few days. The color is much darker than you may expect  for the first six to ten days.

Other less often reported side effects are difficult to determine due to the individuality of each person’s biological system. This is why we require a client history profile be filled out to assess different factors that may contribute to your experience after the tattooing procedure has been completed.

Although  the procedure is considered permanent, these procedures do have  flexibility in changing color and shape to some extent, Colors will appear darker immediately following the procedure but will soften and lighten during the healing  process. The healing time is different for each individual and  procedure. It’s very important to realize that often the new procedure represents something somewhat different; at times color where there was  no color at all or very little.  It takes time to become acclimated to a new look.  Be patient and trust the process. After the procedure has healed, and you are able to make an informed decision about the procedure. Not every person heals the same way therefore results can not predicted, foreseen, or guaranteed.  

 After your PMU ( permanent makeup) procedure, you will begin the process of peeling.The skin has to heal and go through a cell regeneration process. You’ll see the milky new cells immediately under the PMU. The pigment is underneath these new cells and it takes up to four weeks for it to shine through them. Most  permanent cosmetic colors are not primed with white so there should be a transparency to them, which is what causes them to look soft and natural on the skin. The color will start to reappear around week the fifth- sixth week.