What are the benefits of permanent cosmetics for the lips?

• Lips appear more defined without surgery or fillers

• Restores color to lips that have become pale

• Corrects Blurred lip lines

• Camoflauges scars and hypopigmentation

• Kiss-proof and smudge-proof color

• Make lips appear fuller and larger

• May eliminate the daily use of pencils to outline, fill-ins, or reshape lip borders

• Saves time and money!

Is there anyone who is not a candidate?

• Have heart conditions or using heart medications

• Have diabetes (will require a physician's note)

• Have skin disease or irritations on the face

• Allergic to lidocaine, prilocaine, benzocaine, tetracaine or epinephrine

• Anyone who has any serious medical conditions may require a physician's note.

• Pregnant women

• Nursing clients who want cosmetic tattoos can be done at your own discretion. We suggest discussing it with your doctor first.

 Does Lip tattoo hurt?

Of all permanent makeup procedures, the permanent lip enhancement procedure is the most sensitive. However, we do numb your lips prior to and throughout the procedure with a highly effective topical anesthetic for your comfort.

Pre-Care Instructions are designed and MUST BE STRICTLY FOLLOWED to limit bleeding and skin sensitivities during the service. Excessing bleeding and sensitivity during the procedure will dilute and expel the pigment color and lead to poor results.

* Having this service performed during your menstrual cycle may increase discomfort during your procedure.

 What should I do before and after the procedure?

It is crucial these instructions are followed to ensure a comfortable healing process and to achieve the best possible results for your look.

How do I prepare for the lip procedure?

As a necessary precaution, we require ALL of our Lip tattoo clients to take an antiviral medication for a total of 5 days (2 days prior to the procedure, 1 day-of, and 2 days post-procedure). Examples of antiviral medications: Zovirax, Famvir or Valtrex. If you cannot get access to antiviral medications, instead you can take L-Lysine (Amino Acid supplement) starting a week before and a week after your appointment. There are absolutely NO exceptions to this rule! This rule holds true for each and every time you have any lip tattoo. You will need to contact your physician in order to obtain your prescription strength anti-viral medication. You must inform them of your decision to have permanent cosmetics applied to your lips and they will need to call your prescription in for you to pick up at your pharmacy.

 If I have had a lip filler injection already, am I still a candidate for a lip tattoo?

A minimum of 6 months post-filler is required before your Aquarelle Lip appointment. It is recommended that you have the permanent lip enhancement first and then the lip filler injections once lips are healed.

 What color will be lips be?

You and your artist will discuss which colors suit you based on your natural lip color. Once your lips have healed, you may still enhance or change the color of your lips at any time with conventional makeup. Your new lip tattoo is designed to act as a base, so it doesn’t mean you should throw out your lippy collection at all.

 How will my lips look immediately after?

Your lips will look swollen and slightly larger than normal and look as though you may have had slight lip filler injections. The degree of this varies from person to person. The pigment and lip color will look darker initially, as a bold lipstick. The size of your lips will shrink back to normal and the color will significantly fade up to 50% within the first 4 days. You will lose color on the inside of your lips first, the edges last. Right after the procedure lips normally feel dry, chapped, tight, and tender to the touch. Similar to how a sunburn feels.

How long is the healing process?

Expect moderate swelling up to three days following the procedure. Scabbing may make the lips feel thick. Lip pigment color may fade up to 50% after the first few days. While healing your lip color will look spotty. This is due to the oxidation of the pigment and the regeneration of the skin. Multiple sessions may be required to achieve the desired lip results. Your Complimentary Enhancement Session must be scheduled 6-12 weeks after your first initial appointment and is necessary in order to achieve that richness of color, achieve symmetry and density in the shape.

 How long does lip tattoo last?

The pigment will remain in your skin forever but will fade over time.  We recommend getting a touch-up every 1-3 years.

Please note that final results cannot be guaranteed as each unique skin type will hold pigments differently and break down at different rates. We will re-evaluate how your skin has received the pigment at your Enhancement Session and make any changes.  Two appointments are recommended initially. Each of these appointments being 5-10 weeks apart. At your Complimentary Enhancement Session, we will assess the color retention and make any adjustments necessary. Everyone heals differently and at different rates. If your cosmetic tattoo does not heal perfectly the first time, do not worry!  We can always make necessary adjustments when you return!

 How often is a touch-up needed?

Lip color requires frequent touch-ups compared to other permanent makeup procedures due to the fact that the lips are very vascular and the body metabolizes the lip color at a rapid rate compared to other body parts which are not as vascularized. We recommend touch-ups every 1-3 years.

 What factors will affect how my Lips tattoo looks?

Excessive bleeding during a lip tattoo procedure will reduce the amount of pigment absorption. Caffeine, alcohol, certain food or drink, and certain medications or vitamins may act as stimulants and/or blood thinners. They should be avoided for a minimum of 48 hours prior to your appointment.

Sun exposure: The sun will extremely soften the look of your lip tattoo, and may also change the color appearance of the pigment.

Lifestyle: smokers, "sun worshippers", or anyone with skin that is in a state of distress may have less desirable results.

It is highly recommended that you avoid SUN and TANNING BED exposure for 30 days BEFORE and AFTER your procedure. If you show up for your appointment with a new tan or a sunburn, you will need to reschedule and pay a rescheduling fee. As your skin exfoliates from a sunburn, it will take the pigment with it.

 What should I know about long-term care?

Touch-up appointments are optional. If you do not maintain it, the color will lighten over time. Fading greatly depends on your skin type and tone, lifestyle, sun exposure, pigment color used, and your overall health. We suggest that if you want to maintain your lips so that they always look their best plan on schedule a touch-up every 1-3 years for the best results.

If you are receiving an MRI, please inform the technician that you have had an iron-oxide cosmetic tattoo.

If you are planning to have laser treatments, you must cover your lip tattoo with 20% Zinc Oxide to avoid premature fading of your tattoo.

If you are applying acidic or brightening skincare (AHA’s, retinol, peels, glycolic, salicylic acid, etc.) please first cover your lip tattoo with Aquaphor to avoid premature pigment fading.

<Lip tattoo Pre & After care >

As a necessary precaution, we require ALL of our Lip tattoo clients to take antiviral medication for a total of 5 days (2 days prior to the procedure, 1 day-of, and 2 days post-procedure). Examples of antiviral medications: Zovirax, Famvir, or Valtrex. There are absolutely NO exceptions to this rule! This rule holds true for each and every time you have any lip tattoo. You will need to contact your physician in order to obtain your prescription strength anti-viral medication. You must inform them of your decision to have permanent cosmetics applied to your lips and they will need to call your prescription in for you to pick up at your pharmacy.

PRE- CARE FOR LIPS

• Begin your Antiviral medication 2 days prior to the procedure.

• Do not work out 48 hours before the procedure.

• NO alcohol, caffeine, or stimulants 48 hours before procedure (Yes, there is caffeine in decaf coffee and tea!).

• Avoid sun and tanning one week prior to the procedure.

• Do not take Aspirin, Niacin, Vitamin E, or Advil/Ibuprofen 48 hours before the procedure.

• Avoid Fish Oil, Primrose Oil, Prenatal Vitamins, Nutritional Shakes (Shakeology, etc), "Hair, Skin, Nail" supplements for a minimum of 48 hours prior to the procedure.

• Discontinue Retin-A, and Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) at least 6 weeks prior

• Must wait a minimum of 6 months after lip fillers and 6 weeks after touch-up. It is possible to have poor color retention in lips that have had injections within 6-12.

• Wait six months after lip implant and get written clearance from your surgeon.

Please Note: You will be more sensitive during your menstrual cycle.

POST CARE FOR LIPS  

*Immediately following the procedure, lips may feel dry, chapped, tight, and tender to the touch.

• Complete your antiviral medication to prevent an outbreak.

• Apply ointment on lips several times a day. This should be done for at least 10 days post-treatment.  Do not allow lips to become dry. This may interfere with healed color. During the day if lips feel dry, apply a light layer of ointment. Make sure to dab/press onto skin, do not rub it in.

• Itching is normal, DO NOT PICK!

• No soaps, cleansing creams, or chemicals on lips. Wash your face carefully avoiding the lip area for 10 days.

• Avoid moisture to the lips such as hot soups and hot coffee for 10 days. Drink everything through a straw until lips completely peel.

• DO NOT stretch the lips. Avoid biting into large sandwiches, etc.  Cut food into tiny bites.

• Do not bite into greasy, oily, salty or spicy foods, rather cut them up and place them into your mouth.

• While eating, do not constantly wipe your lips with a napkin or keep licking your lips at this will impede the healing process. DO NOT PICK dry healing tissue or you WILL remove the pigment color!

• Avoid water on the new pigmented areas as much as possible, the first 7 days. (when showering, washing face, etc. have ointment on the pigmented area to protect lips from water). Do not stand in front of the shower head when showering.

• Avoid underwater swimming and batching for a minimum of 4 weeks to avoid bacterial infection.

• Before brushing your teeth, seal lips with ointment first. Put cotton balls in gum areas so the toothbrush will not rub against the lips. No whitening toothpaste (during the healing process). Use a small amount of toothpaste. Take a straw with you to the bathroom to retrieve water to swish with. Do not bleach/whiten your teeth while your lips are healing (about 2 weeks).

• You may apply an ice pack (which must be protected with a wet barrier film of paper toweling, towel or cloth) for 10-minute intervals for the first 48 hours. Ice may be applied every hour or so if desired. Do not put ice directly on the area.

• Do not expose the lips to direct sunlight or tanning beds for 4 weeks. This is new skin and will sunburn easily and direct sun prematurely may also cause scarring and alter pigment color.

• You may wear lipstick, lip gloss, and chapstick after 10 days, make sure the tube of lip product is new.

• Sleeping slightly elevated will help prevent swelling. It’s recommended to sleep on your back on a satin pillowcase. If the pillowcase is not satin, you may also wrap your pillowcase at night and replace it with a fresh wrap in the morning. This keeps pigment from sticking to the pillowcase at night.

• No smoking while lips are healing (10 days minimum).

• No kissing, rubbing or friction on your newly tattooed lips until after 10 days or you may lose pigment.

• Lips may be dry for 3 to 6 months depending on the body reaction.

Expect moderate swelling, usually one to three days following the procedure. Scabbing may make the lips feel thick. Lips will fade up to 50% after the first 5 days. While healing, the tattoo will look patchy. This is due to skin regeneration and healing. Two or three sessions may be required to achieve the desired results. Please be patient.  Cosmetic tattooing is a multiple-step appointment process with a healing time of approximately 6 weeks in between touch up appointments.

The above Pre and Post-Care for lips will affect how quickly or slowly you heal. Mature age, poor diet, stress, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, age, general health, sleep/fatigue. The more fatigued you are the lower your immune system is and infection is more likely to occur. Please get plenty of rest and drink lots of water to hydrate prior to procedure.