Looking to camouflage scar tissue with a skin-toned tattoo? We can help!

Our medical tattoo artist, Dasha, can expertly conceal and match a wide range of scars to your natural skin tone, including:

• Surgical scars
• Plastic surgery scars
• Pregnancy stretch marks
• Self-harm scars
• White Scars
• Vitiligo
• Radiation markers
• Burns

Here's when this treatment might be a good option for your scar tissue:

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR SCAR CAMOUFLAGE?

You might be a candidate if you meet the criteria below. Your scar should be:

• Healed and no longer pink or changing color: Your scar should be at least be 12 months old with stable color.  If it is red or pink or still changing color the scar tissue may still be healing.  A reputable, experienced medical tattoo artist will not work prematurely on scar tissue because it may cause further damage to the skin.
• Smooth and relatively flat: Camouflage tattooing cannot disguise or correct extreme changes in skin texture. If your scar tissue or surface area is irregular or raised, the process may not be effective. You may consider scar revision treatments to smooth out the scar prior to scar camouflage.
• Without dark edges: Dark edges or borders around a scar indicate Post Inflammatory Hyper-pigmentation (PIH) from the initial trauma or surgery. It is possible that the camouflage tattooing process may increase the hyper-pigmentation and create a wider, darker border. The risk of this happening is usually greater with darker skin tones.
• Do not have one of the following: Keloid, scars with raised dark edges, Port Wine birthmarks; spider veins; freckles; age spots; under eye circles; hyper-pigmentation; or unstable vitiligo (not in remission). These can be improved with non-tattoo medical treatments such as lasers, sclerotherapy, or chemical peels. Please consult with a physician regarding the best course of treatment for these conditions.
• Have realistic expectations: Camouflage tattooing will not completely restore skin to the way it looked before it was injured. The process will not “erase” a scar or skin anomaly so it appears completely gone and the area looks “perfect” again. It improves color differences to help disguise the scar or anomaly and make it less noticeable to other people.
• Do not spend time tanning: A scar camouflage tattoo will not be a “perfect” match to the surrounding skin color. This is due to the constant changes in skin tones from blood flow, body temperature, and tanning. The pigment in the tattoo will not darken if it is exposed to sunlight or tanning booths, so the tattoo may appear lighter if the surrounding skin tans. When the tattoo color matches tanned skin, it may appear darker once the surrounding tanned skin fades. Therefore, if you spend time outdoors, you will need to adjust your lifestyle or decide to match the tattoo to “winter” or “summer” skin and live with the changes in between.
• Do not expect results in one session: Camouflage re-pigmentation is a process, not a one-time “cure”. It is performed on “unhealthy” skin that has been damaged or altered. Its response cannot be predicted—a scar or vitiligo patch may have areas that absorb pigment, reject it, or both. The area will look dark and red immediately after a tattooing session, and then it takes several weeks to show the healed color (or not). This requires time and patience.

AREAS THAT ARE NOT GOOD FOR CAMOUFLAGE

HANDS & FINGERS, FOOT & TOES.

First of all, it can be difficult to let them heal fully since you need to use your hands all the time. And, even after the tattoos heal, they’re still high-maintenance with all the constant hydration and touch-ups.

• It is fade faster than other tattoos – a finger tattoo will start to fade 6 to 8 months after healing, and lose color after a year.
• It is hurt, a lot – because of the nerve endings, thin skin, and almost zero muscles around the bones, finger tattoos can hurt like hell. Fingers have thousands of nerve endings, and the overall surface is pretty thin and delicate, which means the tattoo needle touches the bone directly. Fingers are generally considered to be one of the most painful tattoo placements.
• They require frequent touch-ups – if you want your tattoo to look fresh and crisp, you will need to visit your tattooist frequently for a touch-up.
• It can get pretty expensive – because of the frequent touch-ups, the skin camouflage on these areas may cost you more than you initially expected.

DOES THIS TREATMENT REMOVE STRETCH MARKS / SCARS / VITILIGO?

The Camouflage Tattoo only helps to conceal and diminish the appearance of scars/stretch marks/vitiligo so that they are less perceptible to the naked eye. Think of it as having a permanent filter, taking away the white contrast of your scars.

IS THE TREATMENT SUITABLE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES?

Generally, yes! However, there are a small number of people who the treatment would not be suitable for. Your stretch marks and scars need to be at least one year old, lighter than your skin tone and completely healed. Please, send us a good quality picture of the area you`d like to camouflage (dasha@spm.nz), it can help determine if you’re a candidate for this procedure and is required for all clients.

NOT A CANDIDATE

If your stretch marks aren’t white, then it most likely means they are still healing and can eventually lighten up to a white color.

Keeping the integrity your skin is our highest priority so we do require stretch marks and scars to be fully healed. As a general rule, clients who have red, pink, dark, grey or skin colored stretch marks are not a candidate for ink, but may be a candidate for our inkless camouflage technique using a blend of serums and oils to boost collagen.

WHO IS SCAR CAMOUFLAGE NOT RECOMMENDE FOR:

• Anyone who suffers from hemophilia, seizures and epilepsy, cold, flu;
• has active acne, eczema, psoriasis, keloid scars, hypertrophic scars on the area to be treated;
• women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• anyone undergoing chemotherapy, who has a pacemaker or major heart problems, has immunodeficiency, organ transplant,
• is currently using or has been on Accutane for less than one year.

HOW LONG WILL THE RESULTS OF THE PROCEDURE LAST?

According to our industry, it will last 3 to 5 years, or more provided that the correct after-care procedures are adhered to.

You may or may not need a touch up after 3-5 years. Remember, a stretch mark is a scar and so the skin is trickier to penetrate. In addition, as we age, all tattoos transition and change on our skin because there’s less elasticity and melanin production. This can affect your stretch mark camouflage tattoo, as well.

WHY DO SCAR CAMOUFLAGE TATTOOS FADE?

Pigment particles exposed to the UV rays of the sun breaks down over time.  Pigment particles in your skin used to create your scar camouflage tattoos are exposed to the UV rays of the sun.  To prevent premature fading, you will need to use sunblock consistently.  Avoiding the sun, tanning beds, retinol, alpha hydroxy, and use of glycolic acids such as fruit acids commonly found in some toners, cleansers and moisturizers will help with the longevity of your scar camouflage tattoo.

WHAT IS THE COST OF THE PROCEDURE?

Patch tests are required before proceeding with treating all your scars. The cost for a patch test is $50 per session. It takes one session to get the correct color and shade that matches the surrounding skin.

Prices vary depending on the amount and size of scars that needs camouflage tattoo. We charge anywhere between $200-$500/ per session.

The final cost can be determined by a formal quote after we will receive a good quality pics of areas you`d like to camouflage via email (dasha@spm.nz)

CAN I GET TATTOOED IF MY SKIN IS ALREADY TANNED?

We prefer to match only your natural skin tone, and require that our clients postpone their session until their tan has faded. This ensures that we are able to custom blend an ink color that will look most natural whether you’re tanned or not.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I TAN?

Your camouflaged stretch marks, vitiligo and scars will not change colour. If you tan, your skin’s overtone will darken, but your stretch marks/scars will remain the same colour as your natural skin-toned ink tattoo.

Overall, your stretch marks/scars/vitiligo will still be camouflaged because the “white” is no longer there. In short, there’s less of an obvious contrast.

WILL IT HURT? DO YOU NUMB YOUR CLIENTS?

The Camouflage Tattoo treatment is a penetrative skin procedure so a small amount of discomfort will be experienced. Usually on a scale 1-10 (10 being most painful), the average consensus is a 4 or 7. 

We do not numb our clients to avoid any interference to the purity and insertion of pigment into the scar. In addition, your pain receptors will be heightened if you’re on your monthly cycle, and so we suggest you book your session/touch-ups accordingly.

HOW WILL I LOOK IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS?

There’s little to no downtime. Most clients can resume work the same day, or even fly home after their session. It’s normal to experience redness and swelling immediately after the procedure for 1-5 days. 

For the first 3 days, you’ll be given strict instructions on how to minimize inflammation, speed up the wound-healing phase, and how to “ice” the area and keep it clean. 

Over the next few weeks, the redness will dissipate and go through a variety of shades (from dark to light) until your skin heals. We’ll be in contact with you every step of the way.

HOW QUICKLY WILL I SEE RESULTS FROM MY PROCEDURE?

Everyone’s skin is different. Variables include age, diet, hormones, general health, overtones, sun exposure, etc and so it’s impossible to give an exact number of days it will take you to heal.

On average, it takes 40-60 days, but if you’re prone to hyper-pigmentation (you naturally scar dark), it will most likely take longer to heal.

Here are some recommendations to speed along your recovery:

• #1 secret to healing fast is eating non-inflammatory foods while recovering from any procedure.
• Diligently follow the post-care instructions of cold-compressing the areas camouflaged in the 1st 3 days, 8-9x, for 8-10 minute sessions each!
• Avoid any direct sun exposure
• Limit consumption of alcohol before and after their camouflage procedure
• Are not on their monthly cycle when they get tattooed
• In general, are in good health which results in less inflammation

CAN I GET THE TREATMENT WHILE PREGNANT OR BREAST-FEEDING?

Congratulations on your pregnancy, but unfortunately, we are unable to treat women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

 We look forward to treating you once your little one is weaned and your scars have been fully healed (usually within two years).