About Permanent Makeup Removal

The purpose of permanent makeup is to have your "face on" at all times, without the hours of preparation and expense that makeup can amount to. Permanent makeup is used to take the place of the most time-consuming cosmetics (and those that need a steady hand) which are eyeliner, lip liner and blush. However, like a tattoo, permanent makeup wearers do experience buyer's remorse for a number of reasons. Also similar to a tattoo, complete permanent makeup removal is not always possible.

Color Codes

The color pigments used in permanent makeup can greatly affect removal. Colors like red, bluish-black and green respond well to laser removal. These color pigments will often fade with laser removal or disappear altogether. Other colors like pastels and florescent colors may not respond at all or simply undergo minimal fading under the laser surgery. A plastic surgeon can look at your permanent makeup pigment composition to see if removal is an option.

Laser Removal

This is the only option for permanent makeup removal, because the pigments are in the skin. The laser is calibrated by the plastic surgeon to send powerful light pulses through the skin. These pulses only attack the artificially pigmented skin and not your natural skin pigment. The pigments react by disintegrating into small particles that are absorbed and removed by the body. More than one treatment with the laser is often needed to remove or fade permanent makeup.

Other Removal Options

There are other options for removing permanent pigment in the skin. However, none of those options are recommended for permanent makeup, because of the scarring that results from the procedures. Dermabrasion, cryosurgery and incisions are effective at removing permanent pigment, but the scars that they leave are worse than the permanent makeup. Very few plastic surgeons will recommend these procedures. Tattoo artists can alter the permanent makeup to better complement your look. This will require the use of more ink or pigment over the old. The effect is the same as a tattoo used to cover and old less appealing pigmented picture. These results are less than appealing.

Recovery

An often overlooked part of the permanent makeup removal process is the recovery. Patients must know that the actual laser removal is a painful ordeal. Numbing creams and local anesthetic injections can be used before the procedure to alleviate these pains. Furthermore, the irritation caused by the procedure causes the affected area to swell and bruise. Black eyes and swollen lips are the trademarks of the removal surgery. They take a few days to dissipate, so schedule time to rest at home for a few days after the removal.

Side Effects

Patients should also carefully follow their surgeon's recovery instructions to prevent scarring and infection in the lasered area. Also, look for signs of both hyperpigmentation (dark spots in the area) and hypopigmentation (very light and/or white spots) during and soon after recovery. Your surgeon should be alerted immediately if these issues are suspected.