AFTERCARE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SCAR CAMOUFLAGE MICROPIGMENTATION
Please follow these instructions to improve and prolong the results of micropigmentation. Even when following these aftercare instructions, fading, blurring or poor retention may still happen depending on your skin and lifestyle. Everyone heals and accepts the pigment differently. How your body heals is out of our control. Healed results will vary between each individual client, based on their skin type, their skin condition, immune system, metabolism, overall health, and lifestyle. Our aftercare instructions are meant to help you achieve the best results and reduce the chances of getting an infection.
​
These instructions are not a guarantee that your results will last for any certain period of time, nor is it guaranteed problems will not arise.
​
You should have...
​
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.
Again, the sun will fade the pigment faster and the scar camouflage tattoo will not tan like the normal surrounding skin and therefore tanning may enhance the appearance of the scar.
Pigment particles exposed to the UV rays of the sun break down over time. 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.
​
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 and sometimes, unfortunately, more
work is needed for the “just right” target color.. This requires time and patience.
Scar camouflage is an unpredictable process. Therefore, testing the color over the compromised skin is the starting point for determining an appropriate combination of pigments to match the skin. Cosmetic or medical tattooing healed pigment becomes 30%-50% lighter from when the pigment was initially implanted. We will start with four sessions and additional sessions may be required for color matching and touch ups.
While scar camouflage is meant to improve the lack of color and lightness of your scar, it cannot bring back an exact match of color and shade to your skin prior to your injury. Realistic expectations should be set to 70-80% improvement in scar appearance.
​
Scar Camouflage Post-Care Information & Instructions
Right after the scar camouflage procedure, the tattoo pigment on your skin will appear dark, your skin may look red and inflamed. Inflammation lasts between 2 to 3 days.
​
Expect treated areas to be tender for the next few days. The procedure area may be red, swollen or have a discharge of interstitial fluid and blood for at least 12 hours post procedure. Gently dab off excess interstitial fluid from the procedure area with a clean tissue and distilled water or bottled water. Remember that you should wipe off the interstitial fluid to avoid getting a thick crust.
​
The procedure area will be much darker for the first few days post procedure. The true color will not be visible for 4 weeks post procedure and for each color refresher.
​
Tissue heals at different levels and duration. Some people heal within 14 days and some will take 14 or more days to heal.
​
The treated area will appear darker immediately after the procedure. This is common in all pigment insertion applications.
​
Do not touch the healing pigmented area with your fingers unless its clean. Touching the treated area with your unclean fingers, unclean cotton swabs, old products or other, may result in infection. If you need to touch the area, use a clean cotton swab.
​
No sauna, jacuzzi, steam, exercise hot yoga, swimming in chlorine pools or in the ocean till the area is completely healed after initial procedure or color refreshers.
​
Do not expose the treated area to the sun until the procedure area has healed. The sun will fade the pigment. Do not wear makeup on the treated area until it has healed. You might cause an infection or otherwise damage the micropigmentation.
​
Do not apply makeup or skincare products on the treated area for 2 weeks. Do not pick or disturb the camouflaged or pigmented areas. Picking can cause scarring or undesirable pigmentation loss. Refrain from sun exposure and always use an SPF 40 or higher on the treated area when exposed to the sun.
​
Touch-up visits should be scheduled between 6-12 weeks post procedure. Scar Camouflage can take several sessions to complete. Depending on the treatment area and the work needed it can take from 3 to 6 sessions and some even more. Results cannot be determined until all sessions are completed.
​
If you resume the Retin-A, Retinol, or Retinoids after the 30 days, the continued use will fade the micropigmentation work prematurely.
​
Do not use any lightening and peeling products that contain AHA’s, Vitamin A, Retinol A, Glycolic/Lactic Acids on the treated area; it will fade your tattoo/permanent makeup prematurely.
​
If you are out in the sun a lot, have oily skin, using Retinol products, chemical peels, then you will need color refreshers more often.
​
On average scar camouflage tattoos last anywhere between 2 to 5 years.
Healing process varies with each individual but here is a guide to help with scar camouflage day-to-day expectations.
Day 1
Clean the skin for the first 3 hours after the procedure using a damp cotton with a clean bottled water or distilled water. Before bed, wash using lukewarm water very gently removing the interstitial fluid, pat dry and apply ointment.
​
*Have a shortened shower with tepid to lukewarm water for the next 5-7 days.
​
You may shower the night of the procedure and nightly after. Allow mild soap to run through the pigmented area and lightly rub with finger tips. Pigment running off with the water is normal. Dab gently to dry.
​
Apply after care cream lightly to allow for airflow while keeping the site hydrated.
Day 2
Oily or dry skin may wash one more time in the morning and at night if the skin eliminates interstitial fluid, pat dry and apply thin layer of after care cream. If there are no fluid then keep the treated area hydrated with the after care cream as needed and only if the area feels dry and tight.
Day 3-10
Everyone’s skin has its own healing process and duration. It is recommended to apply after care cream for as long as the skin is still scabbed and even after to help with moisturizing the pigmented site. The ointment will help your skin regenerate faster and better.
During day 1 through day 10 and sometimes longer (until the scabs are gone)
Avoid excessive water flow on the treated area, makeup, excessive sweating, no sauna, no pools, and no sunbathing. Do not peel the scabs - peeling may cause scarring.
​
Do not apply petroleum - this is occlusive. You may use the following lightly and provide room for air circulation within the ointment.
​
Do not use creams that contain acids or ingredients that will lighten or exfoliate the skin.