Welcome!
Welcome!
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 derma pigmentation, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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