TEEN KUTZ

centing your lips that will never leave a trace of
color on a glass, a pillowcase, or his shirt.
If this sounds a bit like tattooing, well, it is;
however, the state-of-the-art process of cosmetic
tattooing is more subtle than what you will
find in the tattoo parlor, and it also has more serious
uses than decorating random body parts.
Permanent makeup can camouflage scars, correct
vitiligo (a lack of pigmentation in the skin,
including that around the areola after breast surgery),
conceal skin grafts, and reduce the appearance
of baldness caused by alopecia (loss of
facial hair). Too, if you have allergies to traditional
cosmetic products, poor vision, or hand
tremors, permanent makeup eliminates the
need for applying anything to your face with precision
on a daily basis. In other words, permanent
makeup can enhance your appearance as
well as hide unsightly skin traumas.
Sound tempting? Then you are no doubt
wondering how much such procedures cost, how
long they take, and if they are painful. We contacted
Camille Morrison, a licensed practical
nurse and Director of Business, Marketing, and
Development at Vita Ageless Medical Aesthetics
in Roslyn for answers.
“Most procedures take between 30 and 45
minutes,” Morrison told us. “Right now, the most
popular permanent makeup procedure performed
at Vita is eyebrow enhancement. I, personally,
have had my lips and eyes lined and wish
I had done them years ago; in fact, most of our
spa workers have had some kind of permanent
makeup artistry done by one of our two certified
permanent makeup artists.” For scar and areola
coloring, facilities will usually do a test patch first
to determine color and feasibility of applying
permanent color, so these processes will take additional
visits and time.
Prices at Vita Ageless Medical Aesthetics
range from $495 to $995, depending on the
process. The fee includes a touch-up every 4-6
weeks within a six-month period after the initial
color is applied. Touch-ups are important because
the original color will fade a bit, and often
clients will ask for more, darker coloring once
they feel comfortable with the outcome of the
initial procedure. So if you are a bit uncertain as
to how dark or wide you want your permanent
eyeliner to be, for example, you can start the
process with a small, narrow line and have more
added in a few weeks. Prices do vary across the
country, but most are in line with Vita’s. And
most offer touch-ups free within a certain time
period. Another point to remember regarding
touch-ups: Color will fade over time, so expect
to revisit your makeup artist after a year or so.
So what about the pain? “Our artists use a
machine with extremely small, sterile needles,
and most of our clients say the application is rel-
atively painless,” says Morrison. Other women
who responded to my question, however, say
they did experience some pain or scratchiness,
but it was well worth it in the end. Which is usually
the case with beauty and fashion, isn’t it?
The application of topical anesthetic creams,
however, can also reduce the discomfort.
You should expect some redness and
swelling, since you are invading the skin and injecting
a foreign substance into it, but generally
speaking this lasts only a few days. Like any surgical
procedure, there are also risks, and one of
them is the possibility of a reaction to the dyes,
which is why Morrison and other sources we researched
stress checking credentials and safety
of both the facility and the person applying your
permanent makeup before you sign up.
To assist with your homework, check out the
Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals.
Founded in 1990, it is the largest non-profit professional
organization, nationally and interna-
THE STATE-OF-THE-ART PROCESS OF
COSMETIC TATTOOING IS MORE SUBTLE
THAN WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN THE
TATTOO PARLOR
tionally, for the permanent cosmetic industry.
They are “dedicated to public safety through education
and superior standards,” according to
their website at http://www/spcp.org. Enter
their name on a Google search, and you will be
able to find state-by-state regulations, certifications,
training, conferences, and education pertaining
to the field. Education has become an
important area for them, so they provide frequent
conferences to provide the latest knowledge
on blood-borne pathogens, corrective
procedures, and tricks of the trade from savvy
professionals.
Fall 2008 IMAGE 55