Say hello to confidence with Medical Tattooing

If you have a visible difference, such as a scar or skin condition on your face or body, it can seriously hamper your confidence, self-esteem and ability to face the world.

Being asked questions or stared at is something no one should have to encounter. And yet, people with visual differences find this a fact of life. If you’ve had surgery, have birthmarks or a distinguishing feature that is causing you stress and anxiety, exploring medical tattooing or camouflage make-up could be the step that changes your life for the better.

As a specialist Medical Tattooist and Camouflage Make-Up expert I work with patients to increase confidence through reducing their visible difference. The journey will include education about the options; advice and support in making choices, and ultimately being able to brave the world more positively and confidently.

Being able to offer a choice between covering up, whether on a daily basis with camouflage cream or long term with medical tattooing, takes the fear factor out of the equation, and can have a major positive effect on many areas of life including relationships, work and social.

The benefits of medical tattooing are visual, physical and psychological. You want to look better, feel confident, and have a say in your appearance – this may be the final stage of a medical journey. This service is usually the last port of call; when surgery is completed and a final touch is needed for enhancement.

How does it work?

Medical Tattooing is the process of implanting medically certified pigment into the skin creating definition, shading and colour. It can treat the following conditions:

• scarring
• skin grafts
• nipple / areola
• cleft lip
• port wine stains
• lack of pigment in skin
• lack of hair on brows, lash line and scalp

Why is pigment used?

One of the most important factors in tattooing is the pigment choice. Pigments these days are medically certified and are used instead of ink. Ink in a normal body tattoo is a large molecule that is too big to travel through the layers of the skin, so it stays where it is implanted; into the dermal layer. Medically certified pigment is a much smaller molecule and is implanted into the same layer as ink, but it CAN travel through the layers of the skin. The lymph then comes along and processes it (breaks it down) and gets rid of it. Therefore, medical tattooing and semi-permanent makeup fade with time, varying between one and five years depending on age, body temperature, medication, skin type and aftercare. Colour boosts are necessary when the colour starts to change and fade. The pigments are safe, non-toxic and non-irritant.

Semi-permanent makeup can then be applied to features such as eyebrows, eyelids and lips.

Say hello to confidence

If you have a visible difference, such as a scar or skin condition on your face or body, it can seriously hamper your confidence, self-esteem and ability to face the world.

Being asked questions or stared at is something no one should have to encounter. And yet, people with visual differences find this a fact of life. If you’ve had surgery, have birthmarks or a distinguishing feature that is causing you stress and anxiety, exploring medical tattooing or camouflage make-up could be the step that changes your life for the better.

As a specialist Medical Tattooist and Camouflage Make-Up expert I work with patients to reduce their fear through reducing their visible difference. I take them on a journey that includes education about the options; advice and support in making choices, and ultimately being able to brave the world more positively and confidently.

Being able to offer a choice between covering up, whether on a daily basis with camouflage or long term with medical tattooing, takes the fear factor out of the equation, and can have a major positive effect on many areas of your life including relationships, work and social life.

The benefits of medical tattooing are visual, physical and psychological. You want to look better, feel confident, to have a say in your appearance – and this may be the final stage of a medical journey. This service is usually a last port of call; when surgery is completed and a final touch is needed for enhancement.

How does it work?

Medical Tattooing is the process of implanting medically certified pigment into the skin creating definition, shading and colour. It can treat the following conditions:

• scarring
• skin grafts
• nipple / areola
• cleft lip
• port wine stains
• lack of pigment in skin
• lack of hair on brows, lash line and scalp

Why is pigment used?

One of the most important factors in tattooing is the pigment choice. Pigments these days are medically certified and are used instead of ink. Ink in a normal body tattoo is a large molecule that is too big to travel through the layers of the skin, so it stays where it is implanted; into the dermal layer. Medically certified pigment is a much smaller molecule and is implanted into the same layer as ink, but it CAN travel through the layers of the skin. The lymph then comes along and processes it (breaks it down) and gets rid of it. Therefore, medical tattooing and semi-permanent makeup fade with time, varying between one and five years depending on age, body temperature, medication, skin type and aftercare. Colour boosts are necessary when the colour starts to change and fade. The pigments are safe, non-toxic and non-irritant.

Semi-permanent makeup can then be applied to features such as eyebrows, eyelids and lips.

Get started:

Consultation

A consultation is essential to determine a full medical history, patient expectations, suitability of treatment and a personalised treatment plan. For your safety as well as your practitioners preparation, a consultation is a requirement to determine the best course of action.

Pre-Treatment

For your comfort, refrain from alcohol or caffeine in the 24 hours pre-treatment.

If you are having medical tattooing on your face, please arrive without makeup on, or arrive early and remove your makeup 20 minutes before your treatment time. This gives your skin time to calm down and return to its normal colouring.

If you have had even ONE COLD SORE in the past, and are having a lip treatment or the area of concern goes onto or close to your lip, use an anti-herpes medication 5 x daily before your treatment and for 5 days afterwards. This will help prevent a breakout which could cause you discomfort and scarring. You will need to obtain this from a chemist or your doctor.

Please arrive for your appointment at least 10 minutes early to fill in any clinic forms, use the bathroom and get yourself settled. Rae will come to the waiting room/reception at your appointment time.

Treatment

You will be taken to the treatment room for initial photographs. Before any treatment begins, the area to be tattooed is cleaned. If required, a topical anaesethic will be applied and the pigments will then be mixed. Once the anaesethic has worked, any drawing on of features or shapes will happen. You will have time to discuss, modify, work out the most suitable shape, size and placement for you. Once this is all agreed, the tattooing will start. It is not a particularly painful treatment but more anaesethic can be applied during the treatment if needed.

Review

This is booked during your treatment. It will be between 4-6 weeks post your second treatment. Reviews can be in the form of a text message, online or in-clinic. Healed photos are required to update your file for any future Colour Boosts.

Aftercare

No shower, bath or sweaty exercise for 48 hours.

If you have a dressing on, keep it on for no longer than 48 hours.

After 48 hours, have a warm (not hot) shower and moisten the dressing before removing. Do not face the shower spray directly onto the tattooed area.

Make sure you have a clean towel, and then dab the area dry.

Apply the balm given to you during your treatment. Use a clean cotton bud and wipe a small amount over the tattooed area. Use the balm morning and evening for five days.

You may experience the following: tenderness, flaking, dryness, itching, swelling & redness over the first week.

Leave the area exposed to air as much as possible, or covered by loose, clean clothing in order for it to be air dried.

When the area is healed, usually between 5-10 days afterwards, you can use an unscented moisturiser.

Important ‘DO NOTS’

DO NOT pick, peel or scratch the treated area, even if it is itchy. This could result in the colour healing unevenly, and being at risk from scarring and infection.

DO NOT apply makeup for 72hrs post treatment.

DO NOT expose your skin to extreme heat, cold or moisture for 10 days following your treatment. This includes direct sunlight, tanning bed, jacuzzi, sauna, pool, hot tub, direct shower spray and creams.

DO NOT expose the tattoo to direct sunlight for at least 3 months to prevent sunburn or pigment changes.

Contraindications

• Very dark scarring
• Scars and skin grafts must be fully healed
• Keloid scarring that has been treated with steroids
• Laser can turn pigment dark so please make sure all laser treatments are finished before commencing Medical Tattoo treatment.
• Vitiligo needs to have been dormant for at least seven years otherwise a recurrence of spreading can be stimulated
• Roaccutane use in the preceding six months
• Pregnancy or breast feeding

Get started:

Rae Denman Medical Tattoo & Expert Witness Ltd

Located at: Tillow Barn
Roothill Lane,
Brockham,
BETCHWORTH,
RH3 7AS