Permanent Make-Up

Permanent make-up also goes by the names dermagraphics, dermapigmentation, permanent cosmetics, cosmetic tattooing and micropigmentation. It is a cosmetic technique that uses a permanent pigmentation, or tattooing, of the dermis as a means of producing designs that resemble makeup.

Application

Permanent make-up can be applied as eyeliner as well as other permanent enhancing colors to the skin of the face, lips, and eyelids. It is also used to produce artificial eyebrows, particularly in people who have lost theirs as a consequence of old age or diseases like alopecia (commonly known as baldness). It is also used for patients who have undergone chemotherapy or a genetic disturbance, as well as to disguise scars and white spots in the skin such as in vitiligo, the patchy loss of skin pigmentation due to an auto-immune attack by the body's own immune system. The technique can be used to restore or the enhance the breast's areola, such as after breast surgery. These procedures are regulated in many countries and states.

Results

Results are usually good, albeit somewhat artificial in appearance. The skill and experience of the tattoo artist are fundamental. Particularly, if it's for cosmetic purposes only, patients should be aware of the potential problems of later removal and complications that may ensue before committing to permanent makeup. Just as with decorative tattooing, permanent makeup may take long painful sessions. Permanent makeup is particularly useful for women who can't apply makeup easily because of allergic reactions to makeup materials. It is also useful to those who have vision problems, tremors, or restrictions in precise movements of the fingers and hands, such as in arthritis, stroke, Parkinson's disease, or multiple sclerosis. Permanent makeup is also used to camouflage facial scarring. The pigmentation of permanent makeup can fade with the passage of time, especially due to the effects of sunlight. However, it usually lasts for a decade or more before fading significantly. Touching up the make-up can restore the original color.