Permanent makeup, medically known as micropigmentation, is the precise placement of color into the skin. Through small needles, differing colors of iron oxide pigments are placed into the deeper portion of the skin, known as the dermis. Precise placement of needle sticks creates many tunnels into the skin which then carry the colored pigments along with each needle stick. Once the tiny pinholes heal over, the pigments are forever trapped in the deeper layers of the skin, creating a permanent color effect. Permanent makeup persists because the pigmenta particles that are implanted in the skin are too large to be absorbed by the body. Occasional touchups may be needed as some fading occurs due to smaller tattoo particles of the permanent makeup being absorbed.

When considering undergoing permanent makeup, I recommend that each potential patient be aware of the following concepts surrounding it. Most importantly, permanent makeup is......permanent. There is no good way to remove the color once it has been placed. Lasers can not remove them and may actually make them appear worse. The desire to have permanent makeup requires a good understanding of the concepts involved. Therefore, every patient must have an in-depth consultation prior to the procedure to review color selection and location. Meeting with a professionally trained and licensed aesthetician in a medical setting who has specific training and certification is usually best, although technicians from many different backgrounds perform the procedures. To be certain you will be comfortable with the look that will be obtained with permanent makeup, a thorough pre-treatment consult is initially done. The procedure will not be done the same day as you need time to think about the selections of color and placement. As the use of many needlesticks from tattooing is uncomfortable, I always provide some sedative medication for the procedure and I personally inject local anesthetics to minimize every patient's level of discomfort. Recognize that the tattoo colors that are initially placed will be daeker than one expects and that some fading of this color will occur in the next few weeks to months. For this reason, some touch-up of the permanent makeup work is almost always necessary in the first six months after the initial application.

Permanent makeup can be ideal for many reasons beyond the inconvenience of those who detest a daily cosmetic application. Physical reasons such as age, decreased vision, and mental impairment may make permanent makeup a 'medical need' that the patient otherwise would not be able to do. Very active lifestyles that involve strenuous activities and frequent exposure to water make permanent makeup a near necessity for some patents.