By Dr. Paul Blair, MD
Permanent make up is known in the medical spa field as micropigmentation. As
implied by the name, this make-up application is long term. There
are numerous reasons to have permanent make-up applied, ranging from
purely cosmetic to medical.
A woman may wish to simplify her life by eliminating daily cosmetic
applications. She may want her facial features to have more color
or definition. Permanent eyeliner, permanent eyebrows and permanent
lip color are the micropigmentation procedures that answer these wishes. There
are many reasons, including an active lifestyle, that would lead a
woman to appreciate waterproof, perspiration proof, cosmetic solutions.
People who suffer from contact or cosmetic allergies may still wish
for the appearance enhancement of make-up. Women who have lost eyebrows
or eyelashes from aging, medication or other reasons, may want the
benefits of permanent make-up.
Women with thin, asymmetric or poorly defined lips may want to improve
their looks with permanent lip color or a permanent lip line. Permanent
make-up an also be helpful for women with visual impairment or loss
of motor skills that make cosmetic application difficult.
Micro pigmentation is also performed following reconstructive procedures
like breast reconstruction and hair restoration. After a mastectomy
and breast reconstruction, micropigmentation can provide the patient
with a natural looking nipple-areola complex. Micropigmentation
can be used to camouflage scars, especially of the face, from surgery,
illness or trauma. Burns and skin spots of vitiligo can be camouflaged
as well. After hair restoration, the scars in the scalp can be
camouflaged. Hair can be made to look thicker after a hair transplant.
For permanent cosmetics to be permanent, they must be placed in the
dermis, not the epidermis, which is the top layer of skin constantly
being shed. Pigment not inserted deeply enough will fade and
the result will not be acceptable. Most people have a topical anesthetic
applied or a local anesthetic injected, especially for the lips.
Permanent makeup can be the icing on the cake for many people to
enhance their looks. Micropigmentation can provide a safe,
painless, long lasting way to improve appearance when applied professionally.
Choose a facility with a trained staff, quality pigments and proper
instrumentation for the least risk and the greatest degree of success.
Dr. Paul Blair is medical director of Alex-Alexa Medical Spa,
1669 Teays Valley Road, Hurricane WV. For more information call 304-201-3223
or 866-243-2539.
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