Permanent make up is a form of Micropigmentation, with this technique, metabolically inert pigment granules are implanted below the epidermis for cosmetic or corrective reasons.  It is commonly used to enhance eyebrows, lashes and lips, to improve conditions such as scarring and vitiligo or to reconstruct nipple/areola in breast area, it is also a good alternative for women with makeup allergies, although there is a risk to develop skin allergies or reactions and infections.

Reconstruction of nipple areola breast area using micropigmentation.

Eyebrow permanent make up, before and after pictures.

The Procedure

Needles are used to insert the pigment in the skin, they will penetrate a few milimeters in a process as tattoing.  Sometimes two sessions are needed with couple of weeks between them.  The technique will vary according to your surgeon, but you should take in mind that sometimes this procedure is performed by permanent makeup technicians, not doctors, in those cases traditional tattoo machine could be used (coil machine), some parts of this machine must be esterilized in an autoclave or be thrown away after each use because diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis can be spread.  You should be extremely carefull in this aspect.

Be sure which pigments are going to be used (ask for officially aproved products always, the FDA in USA is a good reference for this)

Example of how the autoclave machine may look.

The procedure takes 30 to 40 minutes according to your case.  Any discomfort from the process can be controled using topical or local anesthesia, and in some cases aditional medication could be prescribed for home.  Remember that technicians can not use anesthesia or make prescriptions, because this would be an illegal practice of medicine. 

The Results

The results can be seen inmediately and usually you can return to normal activities the next day with mild swelling orredness in some cases.  You should avoid direct sunling, make up and contact lenses for couple of days, also avoid swimming for couple of weeks for better results.

As the pigments may cause interference with cranial MRI scans, you should inform before them to the technician or doctor performing the scanning.  This is a process recomemded under medical supervision and with experience in the field because error could lead to scarring and needle inserted too deeply in the skin can cause bleeding, spreading of pigments and damage to hair follicles.

Permanent makeup of the lips, before and afte pictures.