FAQs and Information
What is PMU (Permanent Make-Up)?
Permanent makeup is a cosmetic technique which employs tattoos (permanent pigmentation of the dermis or skin) as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup and other enhancement to the skin of the face, lips, and eyelids. It is also used to produce artificial eyebrows in people who have lost them as a consequence of old age, overplucking, disease, chemotherapy, or a genetic disturbance, as well as to disguise scars and skin conditions such as in vitiligo. It is also used to restore or enhance the breast's areola, such as after breast surgery.
Most commonly called permanent cosmetics, other names include dermapigmentation, micropigmentation, and cosmetic tattooing, the latter being most appropriate since permanent makeup is applied under sterile conditions similar to that of a tattoo. In the United States the inks used in permanent makeup are subject to approval as cosmetics by the Food and Drug Administration. The pigments used in the inks are color additives, which are subject to pre-market approval under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Who Can Benefit From PMU?
Those who meet minimum age requirements and have the ability to heal properly from minor wounds can benefit from the liberating benefits of PMU. Interest in this service spans from the young to the more mature. It is especially valuable to people who can’t wear traditional cosmetics due to allergies and skin sensitivities, active people who want to look their best for sports activities such as swimming, and those who don’t want to worry about “sweating off” or reapplying cosmetics. PMU can also benefit the visually challenged who have difficulty applying their cosmetics, those with dexterity related medical issues, and busy people who don’t have time to spend applying and refreshing makeup throughout the day.
Is PMU Really Permanent?
PMU procedures are considered permanent because pigment is tattooed into the upper reticular part of the dermal layer of the skin and cannot be washed off. However, fading can occur requiring periodic maintenance referred to as color re-enhancement or color refreshing. The scientific structure of pigments and the requirement for periodic color refreshing is comparable to faded material on furniture that may be located near a window and subject to sun exposure. This colorant periodic maintenance requirement is a good opportunity to reevaluate one’s color and design preferences. While the concept of permanent may seem like a perfectly good idea, think about how your tastes have changed over the years. From time to time you likely have made subtle or dramatic changes in your clothing preferences, your hair color and style. And if you wear makeup those colors have changed as well over time. The fact that most people will require periodic color refreshing of their permanent cosmetics is the opportune time to work with your technician to reevaluate your overall appearance profile and determine if any changes are appropriate.
How Long Does Each Procedure Take?
The initial procedure will generally take approximately two to four hours. There are records to establish, photographs to take, desired design and color to discuss, the procedure to perform, and the aftercare requirements to discuss. However, follow up or color refresher procedures usually do not require nearly the same amount of time.
Is It Painful?
Some people experience some discomfort. This will vary according to each individual’s pain threshold. There are different methods available, including various topical anesthetics that are specifically developed for our industry. Your PMU professional should discuss these methods with you. Thousands of body art tattoos are performed annually, possibly millions. As a rule, traditional tattoo professionals do not use any anesthetics for their tattoo procedures. Anesthetics for PMU are more of a tattoo service luxury because of the nature of the tattoo location and the fact that PMU falls into the beauty treatment category.
What If I Don't Like It?
Although the procedure is considered permanent, these procedures do have flexibility in changing color and shape to some extent, depending on the expertise of your technician. 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 note that the new procedure usually represents something different, color where there was little to color color before procedure. It takes time to become acclimated to a new look (very often this applies to eyebrows which were sparse and unnoticeable before the permanent cosmetic brow procedure). Eyeliner color is more evident due to the contrast to the skin color. Lip color can take up to six weeks to reflect the final color. Be patient. After the procedure has healed, and you are able to make an informed decision about the healed version of the PMU.
Are There Any Side Effects During or After Procedure?
While eyebrows may feel slightly tender, eyeliner and lips may show slight to moderate swelling. This is very dependent upon the amount of work performed. For example, an eyelash enhancement will show very little response to the tattooing procedure compared to a more moderate response when wide eyeliner is performed. The same applies to lip color procedures. A lip liner or blended lip liner will show less effects of the procedure than that of a full lip color. Also, some people swell more from minor skin infractions than others. During the procedure there may be some minor bleeding. This again, is client specific. Minor bruising during eyeliner procedures is possible if the skin being tattooed 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 will be 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 professional PMU technicians 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.
