Micropigmentation

Who does it?
● Micropigmentation Specialist

AKA
Semi-Permanent Make-Up, Cosmetic Tattooing

What is it?
Micropigmentation is a specially adapted form of cosmetic tattooing, and has two basic uses.

The first is to provide semi-permanent enhancement of the eyebrows, lashline or lips, for those of us who have over-plucked our brows over the years, are allergic to cosmetics or simply don’t have time to trowel on the slap every morning.

The second use is what’s known as ‘paramedical micropigmentation’. This is when the technique is used to disguise disfigurements, which could be through illness, trauma or from birth.

Although similar to normal tattooing, it is much more sophisticated and with new techniques being developed and the range of pigments widening, it is possible to achieve a very natural look.

Who is suitable?
Pretty much anyone is suitable for cosmetic micropigmentation, and it’s ideal if you need to look polished 24/7 but don’t want to carry an over-filled make-up bag with you everywhere you go.

Paramedical micropigmentation is often used after breast reconstruction surgery, to give a more realistic colour and shape to the areola, which can be damaged or lost altogether during the op.

It is also used to camouflage scars and cleft lips, or to cover up the tell-tale signs of conditions like alopecia or vitiligo. If you’re keen to find out more about the benefits of paramedical micropigmentation, it might be an idea to book a consultation with a cosmetic doctor or micropigmentation specialist, to find out what the procedure can do for you.

What’s the treatment like?
A local anaesthetic cream will be applied to the treatment area, and then the practitioner will use a cosmetic pencil to draw a guideline for the proposed enhancement on your skin.

You will be given the opportunity to look at this and approve it before the tattooing starts – make sure you really are happy because the effects can last for up to two years.

The pigments themselves are delivered to the skin using a hand-held ‘pen’, containing a single use, sterile needle, which is attached to a computer- controlled device.

It shouldn’t be painful, but there will be a warm, tingling sensation, much like standard tattooing.

What happens afterwards?
There might be a bit of swelling or redness immediately afterwards, but that will soon fade and the results will then last for about eighteen months, depending on your age, skin type and lifestyle, before the pigments start to break down and fade away.

Will I have a scar?
There is virtually no risk of scarring from micropigmentation.