One does not have to be in the chair to put some preparation into a cosmetic lip tattoo consultation. In short, come with healthy lips and a medical history to hand, have a realistic notion of what is possible in terms of colour and shape and know the risks, be they cold sores, swelling or uneven pigment retention. Get those fundamentals in order and you will find the session much more productive; it also means no squandering of time or money, or an otherwise good afternoon.
The beauty business has a way of showing you that most will put effort into the fun part and forgo the sensible one, says Anna Marlowe. The truth is the consultation is where you put your mind at ease as to the safety and outcome of a procedure that can be very soft and lovely. Do not think of it as putting in an appearance for a quick tint, but rather like you are making plans for a proper track day: with better prep there are fewer surprises and less chance of things getting rough as guts.
Why The Consultation Is Important
Any competent cosmetic tattoo artist will want to confirm that a lip blush is right for your skin and health history before charging ahead on the strength of a well lit photo on the internet. A sound consultation is protection for all concerned. It is also a good time to review the steps before your lip tattoo. It is also when you can nip in the bud any small matters that would otherwise be costly. Be it chapped lips, a course of medication that makes you bleed, recent filler or herpes simplex, these can have a bearing on healing and how the pigment is retained.
Not Just A Quick Chat
There should be more to a lip blush consultation than five minutes of talk. You are after care, not a sales pitch under a ring light. Properly done it will encompass everything from mapping the symmetry and shape of the lips and matching colour to medical and allergy history and your ability to do the aftercare. If it is all rushed through, take note.
Who Should Consider It
For a subtle definition or an even tone and a hint of colour in lieu of lipstick every day this is an ideal treatment. But if you have unmanaged health issues, active irritation on the lips or expect permanent makeup to give you a dramatic new look without risk, it is not for you.
The Day Of
Part assessment, part planning, the first appointment is where the honest words are spoken by Anna Marlowe as to what will heal lighter or patchier than one might think and what is not achievable. While the layman may think it will be all numbing cream and pigment straight off, the better artists will measure, ask and explain before they put anything to your lips.
Assessment And Mapping
Expect the artist to have a good look at scar tissue, hydration, natural border and asymmetry. Any sketching of the outline will be done with your anatomy in mind. A lip tattoo can put some shape on, it will not make a new mouth out of nothing.
Colour Planning
People tend to underestimate the importance of colour matching. Once healed the pigment is softer to the eye and your own lip tone comes into play. Cool or uneven undertones may prompt the artist to talk you through neutralisation or why the shade you have in mind will not turn out as in the photograph you have brought along.
Pain
Uncomfortable is the word most use, not unbearable. Numbing cream is the norm but do not let anyone tell you it is totally painless and raise an eyebrow; the lips are sensitive and vascular and will swell.
Some Steps To Take
Most will be looking for this and rightly so. Keep the lips in good order, calm and hydrated and put forward any medical details. But do not leave your preparation plan to the last minute while you are speed-walking to the clinic with a coffee in your hand.
A Practical Checklist
- Apply lip balm of a regular sort for a few days prior to the treatment and consultation to see the lips are well hydrated.
- Exfoliate gently in case of flaking, but put a stop to it if there is any stinging or rawness. Do not present with chapped lips, sunburn or any cracks at the corners.
- Should your artist put in a recommendation, forgo alcohol and caffeine in the 24 hours prior to your appointment; they can be the cause of increased bleeding or sensitivity.
- As for blood thinners or anything you are on by prescription, that is a matter for discussion with both your doctor and the artist. Do not discontinue prescribed medication without medical advice.
- And make the clinic aware of any cold sore or herpes simplex history, no matter how long it has been since a flare up.
- Put off the appointment if you have a wedding, holiday, work function or photo shoot coming up. The healing and attendant swelling can be inconvenient for several days.
- There may also be a waiting period imposed by the artist before one can book after having lip filler done.
Expectation Vs Reality
The expectation is to put in an appearance, choose a rosy tone and be on your way looking polished. In reality you are likely to put up with some tenderness and colour that is temporarily over bold, as well as a healing process of fading and dryness that will call for a follow up. Swelling is part of it. There is nothing to be alarmed about.
Get Your Lips Ready
Your lips should be in good order for an accurate consultation. Preparing for a cosmetic lip tattoo is as much about giving the artist something realistic to evaluate as it is for comfort.
Dry and flaky lips will get in the way of the treatment and alter the way the colour sits. It is like trying to paint peeling weatherboards: you can do it but it is hardly the best way to go about it.
Hydration And Exfoliation
Water and regular use of a lip balm will see the lips behave in a more predictable fashion. A little exfoliation is fine to remove any loose flakes, provided you do not get heavy handed. If you scrub them to the point they feel sandblasted you have gone too far.
Sun, Wind And Irritation
In the run up to the procedure stay away from windburn, irritating actives around the mouth and too much sun. Should your lips be inflamed from the elements, retinoids, strong acids or picking, let the artist know. Calm tissue makes for a less arduous session, even if pre-care is not exactly glamorous.
Bring The Right Information
It is better to have the facts than to rely on a hazy recollection and a screenshot from an old phone. This is the time to cover off on timing, history and what you want. Anna Marlowe has had enough experience of people who forget the one thing of import and think of it in the middle of things. Come prepared and spare us the drama.
What To Show And Ask
Reference images for the finish and colour family are welcome, though not to insist on a carbon copy. Have to hand a list of allergies, past permanent makeup, recent aesthetic work and medications. Put questions to the artist on his or her method of dealing with lip symmetry, colour correction and uneven healing, as well as touch-ups and aftercare.
Useful Questions For The Artist
- Am I suited to this at present?
- Will my own lip tone show through once healed?
- Is one session going to suffice?
- What are your requirements for pre and after care?
- Under what circumstances would you put the appointment back?
Know The Main Contraindications
A thorough consultation will distinguish between a minor matter of timing and a true contraindication. “She’ll be right” is no substitute for proper screening. Depending on your health, the artist might want you to have a GP or specialist give the all clear. Consider it caution.
When You May Need To Wait
Active infection, broken skin, a cold sore or recent filler are typical causes for a delay. So too is a significant sunburn or, where clinic policy is concerned, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Certain medicines and conditions that impede healing, such as autoimmune disorders, a propensity for keloid scarring or the use of blood thinners, will have to be assessed on their merits.
Why Medical History Matters
It allows the artist to judge if pigment implantation is called for and to what extent there is a risk of bleeding. The Therapeutic Goods Administration cosmetics information notes that products applied to the body are not without risk, so an awareness of ingredients is important with allergies or sensitivities. The consultation is the forum for disclosure, not for downplaying.
Cold Sores And Filler Timing
Practically speaking these are the two biggest issues when it comes to getting ready for a lip tattoo. Disturbing the skin barrier can set off an outbreak in those with a cold sore tendency.
Then there is the question of filler. All very well in theory but in practice it is a mess if the tissue has not fully settled.
Cold Sore Planning
Make the clinic aware of any herpes simplex in your past prior to making a booking. A doctor may put you on an antiviral for the treatment period, but that is for a medical professional to decide, not your group chat. And do not be among those who think “I had a cold sore once years back” is immaterial; it is.
Filler and How Long To Wait
You will not find a figure I can vouch for at every clinic since healing is individual and artists have their own policies. As a rule, most prefer to see the filler has fully taken before doing a lip blush so they can better judge the border, volume and shape. Should you want both, put some distance between them in the calendar instead of having them as close together as sardines over a fortnight.
The Realities of Timing and Access
Logistics are more of a consideration with an appointment-based treatment than one might think. It is not worth scheduling a consultation or procedure in the lull between work and school pick-up when you have a dinner engagement and would not want to show up looking swollen and shiny.
For those driving, have a look at the parking situation at the clinic. Public transport users should build in time for the tram to dawdle or the train to get philosophical about being on time. The treatment is fine, but getting there in a rush, dehydrated and over-caffeinated is not.
Making The Most Of A Day Off
When you have but a day to spare, make the consultation your priority and do not try to cram in a treatment with nothing to breathe. Keep the rest of the day uneventful, forgo any hard exercise if the artist puts in a word for it and leave yourself some time either side. For someone new to the pre-care of cosmetic tattoo lips this affords you room to take in what you are told.
What You Can Expect To Pay
I am not going to put numbers to it given the disparity in cost from one suburb to another, or by way of artist experience and touch-ups. But a quote that is too good to be true ought to prompt some questions. In this field a bargain price is sometimes indicative of substandard hygiene, a hasty consultation or little in the way of screening.
After The Consultation
You ought to be none the wiser for having been if the consultation leaves you with more questions than answers. There should be a plan in place as to whether you go ahead, how to prepare the lips and what the healing process entails. An artist will tell you to put off the procedure to tend to a cold sore or the state of your lips; heeding that is preferable to pressing on and ending up with patchy work you will be cross with yourself for in the mirror.
In The Days That Follow
It is normal for the lips to be tight and swollen with colour that appears more pronounced than it will once healed. Some flaking and dryness is to be expected as the surface mends and the pigment will soften in the course of healing, hence the need for a touch-up to put things right.
Should You Have Concerns
Any infection, a cold sore or pain of a severe nature calls for a prompt call to the clinic. Medically speaking, put in a call to your doctor. Cosmetic tattooing is where health and beauty are one and the same and common sense is called for.
A Quick Reference
The sort of snapshot one would do well to have before booking. While it is no substitute for personal advice, it does put the organisation of things in order.
| Topic | What To Do | The pitfalls |
|---|---|---|
| Lip Condition | Hydrate with a lip balm and do not be tempted to pick at them. | Chapped lips will only compromise your comfort and the assessment. |
| Cold Sores | Any history of herpes simplex should be put on the record when you book. | Treatment timing can be an issue even if it is something from the past. |
| Food And Drinks | Heed the clinic’s instructions on caffeine and alcohol prior to treatment. | A strong coffee right before your appointment is likely to make you jumpy. |
| Medication | A complete medicine list and medical history are required. | Do not discontinue blood thinners of your own accord. |
| Filler | Inquire as to how long one must wait after having lip filler done. | Symmetry and shape cannot be properly judged until it has settled. |
| Pain | You will have some discomfort, so ask about the numbing cream procedure. | The painless claims in marketing tend to be over-optimistic. |
| Healing | Allow for aftercare and for the colour to fade and the swelling to go down. | What you see is not the finished article. |
Anna’s final word
To get ready for a lip tattoo, make of the consultation an event in its own right rather than a mere formality to get out of the way. There is no last-minute balm that will work as well as sensible timing, full disclosure and having realistic expectations.
Preparation of a cosmetic lip tattoo need not be glamorous. Be organised and honest, do not shy away from the odd awkward question. In beauty as in travel it is the basics you omit that put you off course.
Frequently Asked Questions
One can understand why these come up most often ahead of a lip blush consultation. Some clarity now precludes second-guessing in the future.
Preparing for a Lip Tattoo
Make a habit of using lip balm and keeping the lips hydrated. Put forward your medical history and let the artist know of any cold sores, medications or recent filler. If the clinic has pre-care rules for the area around the mouth, particularly concerning skin irritation or your intake of alcohol and caffeine, then follow them.
Is a Lip Tattoo Painful?
It is not pleasant but the majority find they can cope with it. Given the sensitivity of the lips there is going to be pressure and tenderness despite the numbing cream. Anxiety is a factor and everyone has a different threshold for pain.
Things to consider
Permanent makeup is not permanent, it will fade and the healing process is not instantaneous. The fresh colour appears more intense than once healed. Whether you are a good candidate is a matter of lip health and your medical background, not to mention whether you have a propensity for cold sores and are being realistic about pigment retention and the like.
Post-tattoo
Adhere to the aftercare laid down by your artist. Refrain from picking and be wary of anything to irritate the lips in the early stages of healing, be it spicy food or profuse sweating. Use the product as recommended and keep the area clean. Should you have any misgivings put in to the clinic, or a doctor if there are indications of infection or a herpes simplex flare.
Not sure if you want to go through with it?
Then a consultation is the place to be. It is the opportunity to have your suitability appraised, to have the healing and colour matching explained and to put your questions to rest. One does not have to be made up one’s mind to be inquisitive.