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Permanent Makeup for Scars

Permanent Makeup for Scars

Scars can leave emotional damage which may trigger a psychological reaction on the person that has them. There are modern options of permanent makeup that are far less invasive than surgical procedures to reduce and even eliminate the appearance of scars. This could be an option for acne scarring, breast surgery patients, childhood accidents, facelift scarring, and more. 

Permanent makeup for scars is available to soften the appearance of scars. Permanent makeup is widely popular in modern culture yet not widely researched in regards to scarring. Options are available in the form of topical cremes, lasers to penetrate deeper into the scar tissue, and a technology called Skin Camouflage. 

You shouldn’t have to feel self-conscious or reminded of a scarring event. Scar treatments can soften the appearance of scars and blend with your natural skin tones. Permanent makeup is a solution which can work in tandem with things like ointments and cremes so you can avoid surgical solutions altogether. You don’t have to suffer from insecurities when there are so many solutions in this guide.

Permanent Makeup for Scarring:

Permanent makeup is sought by people to take the tedious step of makeup application out of their daily routine. If one has an emotional bruise from a visible scar which is making them uncomfortable, this small step may make the world of difference for them stepping out with greater confidence and self-worth. 

Makeup is nothing new and we certainly didn’t invent it. However, the progression of modern cosmetology has advanced far beyond simply glow tricks to complete transformations and contouring illusions. It’s easy to understand why someone might want a permanent solution to their negative association with their scarring and the first step will be to find a good dermatologist in your local area.

First – Consult Your Dermatologist:

Talking to your dermatologist is a simple first step if you don’t know where to begin. This consultation is a necessary action to understanding your personal case. You will discuss you scars, have an assessment done, and they will recommend the most suited solution for your skin. 

You’ll want to find a practitioner that will do their best to find you a permanent makeup brand for scars that will ultimately cause them to disappear completely, not requiring further makeup application after the procedure.

You can assess the situation in this step and move forward with confidence that your dermatologist has pinpointed your unique solution. 

Is It Right for You?

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Would I feel more confident if I did not have this scar?
  • Do I feel that it overpowers my presence or is in anyway distracting to who I am?
  • Do people really care or is it just in my head? 
  • Even if it is in your head – would you be happier if you sought a permanent solution?
  • Could I start with a semi-permanent solution before jumping the gun to full blown permanence? 
    • If so – Could I try ointments, primrose oils, essential oils, coconut oils, or other natural agents to seek a solution to my scarring issue?
    • If not – Where can I find a quality technician to assist me in diminishing the appearance of this scar?

Is It Painful?

Women having been saying for centuries that– Beauty is pain. If Pain is beauty, then I guess women would know from the hazards of corsets for hundreds of years causing fainting and shortness of breath. Or perhaps the high heels which bruise feet and push bones into uncomfortable form. 

Beauty has been pain for as long as man has had eyes. If you’re seeking permanent makeup solutions then I only want to recommend you’re doing it for your own confidence and self, not for others.

If pain is beyond your tolerance level for removing this scar – stick with topical solutions and oils. You don’t need lasers and deeply invasive approaches. Beauty will always be pain but it should only be to a certain point. Your solution should not cause you unreasonable discomfort and result in effects that your mother wouldn’t want for you. 

Technicians and tattoo artists that cover scarring say it hurts within reason. You should expect some mild discomfort similar to being pricked with a needle. It will be greatly affected by things such as your genetics, hormonal structure, and time of menstruation. Any of these factors can make a needle far more potent to your skin type than normal. 

Perspectives from Users:

If you’re unsure of where you stand on the position of permanent makeup or if you can handle the pain of microdermabrasion, lasers, or Skin Camouflage treatment, these reviews may help.

Reviews left anonymous include:

  • “Of course it hurts, anything to make you more beautiful will hurt. Even plucking your eyebrows. But it’s worth it to not see scarring every day.”
  • “Just had a treatment done on my left breast to naturalize the scarring. I had the tattoo artist put my natural skin tone over with flowers and ivy leaves. I can look at something that once hurt me to see, and now all I see is beauty”
  •  “I went to Salley Hayes and they did a beautiful job. Very natural and back to before I ever had the scar. I can’t tell you how wonderful that feels.” 
  • “It doesn’t hurt more than expected. I can go each morning without seeing the scarring left on my face from my brother hitting me with a softball when I was 7.  I feel like a new person.”

History of Permanent Makeup:

Makeup has come a long way in the last decade with contouring and beauty tricks, but in fact it has been around for more than 7,000 years. The first recorded users date back to ancient Egyptian, Roman, and Middle Eastern tribes. Makeup which can be made more permanent has been sought by women through blending charcoal into their eye lids, scraping their skin with stones, and digging other inks into their bodies as adornments. 

Permanent makeup was used in ritualistic terms for thousands of centuries. It is a strike of luck to be born in this modern age where we know better than to use dirty tools for permanent makeup which resulted in many infections and deaths throughout history.

Today is by far the safest time to have cosmetology procedures done and we’ve never had such a quantity of quality technicians, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons. 

The permanence has an appeal to all humans of any time, as it saves us time and energy – the resources we can never have enough us. It’s interesting that even thousands of years the Egyptians and Romans were seeking solutions to keep their charcoal from running off and methods of staining the lips. 

In comparison to our modern-day practices, ancient societies had a much tougher time in permanent makeup through means like the Tofi tribe, who tattoo their complete faces in twirling designs to represent their family’s lineage. Or Early Middle Easterners with micro-blading to the face using stones. 

Scarring is not covered deeply in historical texts as far as permanent makeup but there are societies in which all citizens, man and woman are required to have facial paintings. 

tribal face painting can sometimes signify past traumas and scars of the tribe, but there is little written about them attempting to cover up their scars. 

It is presumed that they would wear their scars as battle wounds and proof of their bravery. Scars are seen by many as proof of a life lived. Proof of one’s story, and nothing that should be covered or hidden.

Permanent Makeup Gaining Traction:

The contemporary cosmetology game has been greatly changed by youth influence. In the last ten years we’ve discovered that more than 40% of Millennials and Generation Xers have tattoos nowadays.  Being that Permanent Makeup is often thought of as tattooing – it’s gained more popularity than ever as the stigma has been dropped with these demographics and age groups. 

Social media is arguably the largest influence on beauty trends for target audiences. 

Influencers on social media are substantially having an affect on the demand of these procedures. Not just through the racy photos they post and perfected, filtered high-light reel. But also through the quantity of posts and everyday stimulation of building the beauty brand’s influence. 

Just last year the tag – #permanentmakeup was reposted over a million times.

This solution to scarring is more than just a solution to scarring. It can be as permanent or semi-permanent or topical as you choose. I urge you if you’re reading this far to start with the least invasive and see if that can be the solution to your insecurities first. 

Costs Involved:

This will depend greatly on the procedure you’re looking to have done to your scars.

Options include the cremes listed above for around $20-50, you can find higher quality Beverly Hills Plastic cremes for over $100 that could possibly be more effective (but who can say without trying both).

If you’re covering scars through tattooing this can range from $100-$5,000+ depending on the size. If you’re covering a scar with laser treatments this can be upwards of $1,000-$10,000. 

Skin Camouflage:

A semi-permanent option that is gaining traction which I’ve mentioned above is Skin Camouflage. This gradually reduces the appearance of scars through multiple treatments and can last up to three years. It looks as if a professional makeup concealer has been applied and will not wash away with water. 

This is a very high-tech and revolutionary technology as there are not a lot of permanent makeup solutions out there like this. Perhaps the future will produce more options, but this appears to be the main competitor with FDA approval presently.

Costs for Skin Camouflage average around $2,500. It can go upwards depending on size and this includes the four necessary treatments. Further treatments are $600+. Ask your dermatologist if Skin Camouflage is available near you and if it’s a Permanent Makeup solution that’s well-suited to your scarring. 

The process is that the technician chooses a custom color to blend with your skin tone. This natural pigment is deposited into the scar tissue through an acupuncture needle which gently transmits the semi-permanent color to the skin. A subtle gradient may be all that is noticed at first and it will take 4-5 treatments for the scar to be completely removed. 

After the 1-3 year mark, you may need to come in for a complete revamp of the treatment, so this is not a solution for the long-run. 

Risks Involved:

Even if it’s popular, this does not mean it’s 100% safe or studied well. I cannot stress enough that you research a local professional and read reviews on their quality and style. Before having work done to cover a scar you want to be sure the style and quality of that technician is to your quality expectations and preferences. 

Our faces are the first thing people see and you need that sense of confidence to go into each situation as your truest self. Permanent makeup is proven to diminish scarring and altogether hiding the appearance in certain cases but there are botched cases that leave further scarring, bleeding, or in the absolute worst cases of unlicensed deal-seekers, death. 

This is a heightened extreme which would only come from a complete non-professional that exposes you to chemicals you’re allergic to or anesthetics that don’t react well with your skin type. All can be avoided by finding a licensed professional and communicating your expectations as well as any relevant medical history.

Aftercare:

There are steps you can take if you’ve had tattooing done or scar procedures to prevent further discoloration. These clearly won’t be needed if you’re taking a more natural route, but for microdermabrasion, tattooing, lasers, or Skin camouflage, these will aid your healing process:

  • Apply ice to the area. Simple as it sounds this will reduce swelling and calm the inflammation.
  • Sleep with head elevated if you’ve had a facial procedure and do not turn on your sides. Keep pillows at each side of your head or a neck pillow which keeps your neck in place. This is so you don’t toss and turn on the healing skin tissue while it is sensitive and susceptible.
  • Wash your hands if you’re going to touch anywhere near the affected area.
  • There will be some bruising and swelling with many of these more evasive options and this is not uncommon. It will normally reduce within seventy-two hours.
  • If you had tattooing done to replace hair follicles in the eyelashes or eyebrows, wear glasses to protect your eyes from dust and dirt. 
  • Do not pick your scabs. Please do not pick your scabs. This will only result in further scarring and defeat the purpose and expense of the procedure you’ve just done. 

Ointment and Crème Options:

If permanent solutions do not sound appealing for you, please do not seek them. They are costly and complications are not unheard of or uncommon. See the risks section above if you don’t believe me.

Here are the least invasive of all options – most highly-rated scarring gels:

Final Tips:

  • Best first – Vitamin E oil. This magical stuff will heal anything on your skin, including scars. I’ve been applying in my skincare regimen since I was 15 and won’t stop until the day I die. Proven to heal scars, scratches, and unwanted blemish marks.
  • Start with ointments and cremes which I linked above to see if those work for you first. This is an easier and much more cost-effective step before you consult for a permanent resolution. (Plus, Amazon Prime shipping!) 
  • Permanent Makeup and pigmentation whether done through tattooing, lasers or microdermabrasion is known to work best on those with a lighter complexion. 
  • If you’re unsure about Permanent Makeup, seek out semi-permanent solutions that are similar to microdermabrasion. 
  • Perhaps normal makeup would be a sufficient enough coverage agent without having to turn to costly expenses like $2,500+ Skin Camouflage. Which may or may not be effective for your skin type.
  • Medical Tattooing is another new option which heals skin for color retention. It involves graphing skin therefore is closer to a surgical procedure than permanent makeup. This can work for cancer patients seeking to replace eyebrow hair, eyelashes, symmetry to lips, and scarring from chemotherapy. 
  • If you’re scar is painful physically, consult your doctor before discussing with a dermatologist. Or consult both but do talk to someone if the methods you’re taking are causing further pain or discomfort. 
  • Don’t cover your scars because you want to hide them from anyone else. Cover them if it will make you feel more at peace or more beautiful. Be certain you have the right reasons and are not doing thing to impress the wrong people. The right people won’t care about your scars.

On a parting thought I will say simply that looks aren’t everything. Kindness and the way we make others feel is everything. 

No one cares about your scars. They care about who you are. Focus on enhancing that and you’ll always be the most beautiful person in the room. 

Learn More

If you are interested, here is a link to the Makeup section on Amazon.

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By Author Eyerly Family

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Health