My Advice on How to Deal with Badly Performed Semi-Permanent Makeup

My Advice on How to Deal with Badly Performed Semi-Permanent Makeup

As a tattoo removal specialist, I frequently receive inquiries about unsatisfactory cosmetic tattoo procedures, particularly regarding eyebrows. If you are unhappy with your permanent makeup and unable to visit my Christchurch clinic, here are some steps that may help:

First, contact your tattoo or cosmetic tattoo artist and express your concerns clearly and respectfully (wrong color, shape, scarring, etc.). This helps them understand the issue and potentially identify any faulty pigments or needles they may have used unintentionally or the issue with a technique. Please remember that their intention is not to harm you; they want to do their best to ensure your satisfaction.

Next, inquire about the brand and color of the ink used during the procedure. This information will be valuable for any future tattoo removal specialist you consult.

Finally, ask if the artist offers tattoo removal themselves or can recommend someone qualified to remove it. If your tattoo artist isn't confident with tattoo removal techniques, they will recommend a clinic or a specialist to correct the tattoo.

Here are some tips to help your skin naturally remove the ink immediately after your tattoo procedure, followed by information on Laser and Non-Laser removal options for healed tattoos:

If your tattoo is freshly done (1-4 days):

  • Wipe skin with Hydrogen Peroxide;
  • Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly (Vaseline or Lucas' Papaw ointment) to the tattooed area and leave it on for 2-3 hours to keep it moist. Then, gently clean the skin with lukewarm water and mild, fragrance-free soap or a hydrogen peroxide solution (diluted according to manufacturer's instructions). After cleaning, pat the area dry and apply a fresh layer of petroleum jelly. Repeat this process for the next 6-7 days.
  • Swim in a pool every day for the next 2 weeks (chlorine is an aggressive chemical and it will affect your fresh tattoo)
  • Visit the sauna, or spa with a steam as soon as possible (the more you sweat, the more the pigment goes away and the more the scabs peel naturally)
  • Exercise a lot. When you exercise and sweat your metabolism boosts and your immune system naturally cleans itself.

Note: Do not pick the scabs.  You may get scars and infect the wound. At all times, keep the tattoo clean and hygienic.

If your brows were done 10-30 days ago:

  • Visit a swimming pool every day, do exercise, don’t avoid direct sun exposure
  • Use a scrub or deep chemical peel (ask your beauty therapist about this)

If your unwanted tattoo is more than 4 weeks old:

Depending on the shade of your tattoo, location, and your desired result, Dasha will recommend the best technique to start with: laser treatment or a non-laser technique like the chemical (saline) method. Chemical tattoo removal is suitable for small areas or when laser treatments are ineffective. Laser light cannot target beige, yellow, green, or white pigments, while chemical tattoo removal is not color-selective. Dasha offers both laser and non-laser tattoo removal methods and can combine them to lighten or completely remove your tattoo.

In laser removal, the Nd:YAG Q-switched laser breaks down the ink particles in your skin. The body then eliminates the broken down ink through the lymphatic system over a period of 1-9 months. It typically takes 4-10 treatments to remove all the ink, depending on several factors:

Chemical composition of the ink: Different inks respond differently to laser treatment.

Ink depth: Deeper ink takes more treatments to remove.

Skin type: Lighter skin tones generally respond better to laser removal.

Scar tissue: Scar tissue can make removal more difficult.

Metabolism and immune system: These factors affect how quickly your body eliminates the ink particles.

While a single laser session can achieve fading equivalent to 20 years of natural tattoo lightening, complete removal usually requires multiple sessions spaced 4-6 weeks apart. If you're not in a rush, waiting 9 months between sessions might be possible, but research suggests slower removal.

Please note that color inversion can occur in up to 50% of laser treatments. This means the color of your tattoo may temporarily change, for example, from blue to red-brown or red to gray. The good news is that the tattoo will lighten after each session, even with this color change. To allow for proper healing and minimize the risk of complications, it's important to wait at least one month between laser treatments.

Interesting finding: Similar to laser removal, recent studies by Dr. Micrukow suggest that the skin continues to break down and eliminate ink particles even after a saline removal session, contributing to the overall fading process over 9 months.

During saline tattoo removal (a non-laser method), a saline solution is injected into the skin with a needle. This chemical solution creates a reaction that draws the cells with a pigment towards the upper skin layer (epidermis) and forms a scab within 5-7 days. Unlike laser removal, there's no color inversion with saline removal. Instead, the pigment gradually lightens with each session. The number of treatments needed (1-7) depends on the density of the pigment in your tattoo. It's important to allow at least 6 weeks between sessions for proper healing.

For more information about non-laser Saline chemical Tattoo Removal here: click here

Please note: Laser or chemical Saline Tattoo Removal can leave scars on your skin. It is very important to follow the aftercare procedure and not to pick or touch the healing scabs.

If you don't see lightening after 2 laser sessions, chemical tattoo removal might be an option. Similarly, if the ink remains after 3-4 removal sessions, surgical removal could be considered. This procedure is typically performed by a plastic surgeon.

If you want to discuss your personal situation with me, please send me an email containing the following information:

  1. Tattoo Photo Requirements. Please send a good quality, close-up picture taken in daylight that clearly shows how your tattoo looks (do not use any makeup, filters or photoshop). When taking the photo, please have the light in front of you, not behind. Use the main camera, not a selfie.
  2. Let me know how old your tattoo is and how many treatments you had (technique).
  3.  Where possible, send a link to your tattoo artist’s portfolio (this is important as it gives me an idea about the technique they used on your skin).

The consultation fee for this service is $20. You can book it online via our online booking system (choose Consultation).

Payment information

The consultation fee for this service is $20. You can book it online via our online booking system (choose Consultation).

or

bank transfer: Dasha CosTattoo 02-1268-0124762-000 (please use your name as the reference)