There is an old rule of thumb when it comes to preparing for a lip tattoo appointment that one can put faith in: be clear on the procedure and present with lips that are clean and in good health. While there is nothing overly complicated about getting your lip blush done, the finer points – from any cold sore history to what you expect in the way of colour – will have a bearing on both the appointment and how you heal.
I am Eliza North. One does not spend years in skincare retail without learning to be sceptical of beauty advice designed to make you panic or fill a shopping basket as big as a wheelie bin. A cosmetic lip tattoo may be a lovely thing to have, but it remains a procedure of broken skin, pigment and needles. So proper preparation is a matter of being direct with your questions, seeing a technician who has the qualifications and having the sense to put off the day if need be.
What To Expect From The Appointment
Plan on two to three hours for the whole of it. The agenda for a lip tattoo is typically the consultation, some medical and allergy queries, talking through colour, lip mapping, the necessary consent forms and then the work itself. A patch test lip colour may also be part of the preparation. How much time it takes will be down to the extent of the consultation and whether your technician has occasion to stop for a comfort check or for lip neutralisation.
Lip blush is meant to impart a certain softness and definition, not put on a lipstick look. In some cases the natural tone of the lip, if it has darker or cooler patches, calls for neutralisation as part of the treatment. Do not be surprised if the pigment looks quite strong right after; what you see is not the final article. Your lips are not a kitchen wall to be painted over.
Colour You Can Live With
You might want to have some reference pictures on hand, but consider them a guide and no more. What comes out at the end is subject to the undertones of your lips, healing, prior cosmetic work and sun exposure. Any technician worth his salt will tell you what is feasible and will not put his name to a result that is identical to someone else’s.
Put a few questions to the provider: is this right for what you want, is a second session in order and what will the touch up run you? Most will put you down for a review once the initial healing is done, say a few weeks on, but policies differ in this country so get confirmation on the timing.
Getting Your Lips Ready
In a very useful sort of way, the best preparation is unexciting. Make sure your technician has a true view of your health and do not invite irritation. For a few days prior, be gentle and well hydrated. A plain balm is fine if your technician is okay with it, drink your water and leave flaky skin alone. Should your lips be inflamed, blistered or sunburnt, a call to the clinic is in order, concealer is not going to work its magic.
Preparation Checklist
- Have a word with the technician on any allergies, medications, medical conditions or cold sores.
- Find out if you require antiviral medication or clearance from a doctor.
- Make sure you know the patch test policy and if a lip colour test is called for.
- Come in with your lips free of gloss, lipstick and heavy balms.
- Have a decent meal and some water with you.
- If there is a chance of swelling, put aside some time or organise transport.
- Double check the address and parking, public transport options, the consent form and aftercare.
Some will make a habit of overdoing exfoliation. An abrasive wash or acids and retinoids will only irritate the surface; a soft wash is sufficient. Heed the written instructions from the technician and resist the urge to put on something new. There is no point in giving your lips an exam in harsh skincare.
Things To Steer Clear Of
Part of pre-treatment is to know what is best left alone. Intense sun, too much caffeine or alcohol and some medicines can lead to bleeding or discomfort in some.
As for prescribed medication, do not discontinue it on the say so of an internet list or a friend like Kylie; that is a discussion for the clinician. Blood thinners in particular should be made known.
Keep Your Skin From Irritation
Put off the appointment if the skin is peeling or sensitive. In Australia you can have a sunny day become a problem for your lips before you are aware of it. Put to your technician the question of how long one should be off alcohol and if caffeine is of any consequence for their work. While it is the norm for clinics to have you steer clear of alcohol in the run up to a treatment, the time frame can be a matter of interpretation. Do not attempt to put one over on them by being less than forthcoming about what you have had to drink; simply abide by the written policy of the clinic.
Cold Sores And Health Risks
When you are at your lip tattoo consultation, a history of cold sores is something of paramount importance. The procedure is liable to cause some irritation to the area and in those with the herpes simplex virus could set off an outbreak. This is not to say you are precluded from having the treatment done, but professional counsel is called for before you put down a booking.
Even if it has been years since the last one, make sure the technician is aware of any past cold sores. They might want you to have a word with a doctor or pharmacist over antivirals for the period around the treatment. Leave the tablets where they are and do not put yourself to rights with what a relative has on hand; self prescription is no way to prepare.
Get Your Medical Information On The Table
The technician requires sufficient detail to form a view as to whether the service is right for you and if there is need for further advice. So talk of any allergies, skin issues, diabetes, problems with healing, pregnancy or breastfeeding, immune conditions, recent fillers or permanent makeup that has been done in the past.
A good technician will cover the risks, put a consent form in front of you and field any queries you have on pigments, aftercare or the sterility of the equipment. Rules can vary from one state or council to another in Australia, so enquire as to how the practitioner is in compliance with local regulations. For more on product regulation in this country the Therapeutic Goods Administration has guidance on cosmetics.
Logistics For The Day Of
Make a day of your appointment a little more of an administrative chore than a glamorous affair. Find out where the clinic is and what access or parking there is, and factor in the time it will take to get back with lips that are fresh and tender.
In a city like Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane one has to allow for traffic and roadworks and the never ending search for a spot to park. Public transport is fine but bring water and do not put too much of a social programme in place for later. You might be perfectly presentable or you might have the look of someone who has been in a minor industrial accident with their lips.
What To Expect
To start with the technician will examine your lips and put in pencil the shape they have in mind while talking colour. There is no hurry here. After the pigment is in you cannot just put in a line of lipstick to alter the shape.
Some warmth, pressure, scratching or an occasional sting is to be expected of the procedure. Numbing agents help with comfort but they are no assurance of a completely sensation free session. Should you feel faint or unduly uncomfortable, say so. A break is a sensible thing to do.
Have your photo id and particulars of any medication or prior cosmetic tattoos to hand. Dress in something you can be at ease in and do not put a big event on the calendar straight after. Some redness and swelling and a certain intensity of colour are to be reckoned with in the short term, though your technician will tell you what to expect.
Colour Patch Test
There is a patch test to see if you will react to the products, though it is no guarantee against a reaction once the treatment is under way. Ask what is to be tested and where and for how long you are to wait. If you want to know about lip colour for the test, the technician’s instructions are better than anything you will find on the internet. Report any past trouble with adhesives, hair dye or pigments. A reaction is cause to stand down and get some professional opinion.
Consent
Before you put pen to paper on the consent form, ask the pertinent questions: who is doing the work and for how long, what training do they have, which pigments are they using and how do they go about preventing cross-contamination. Look at healed results, not the flattery of a photograph of freshly coloured lips; the former is more telling.
And find out what the plan is if you are not happy with the colour or require a correction. It is better to have plain answers to these things beforehand than a lot of confident talk once the treatment is done.
Aftercare
For the surface to settle, the aftercare of a lip tattoo is essential. Heed the written word of your practitioner as techniques and the way people heal are not all the same. As a rule, let the skin recover without you picking or rubbing at it or putting on cosmetics you have not been given the nod for.
The technician on hand will put forward an aftercare product of his or her choosing along with some directions for a gentle cleanse. Make sure the area is kept clean and shield your lips from any superfluous sun; do not be tempted to lick or peel at flakes. For the duration of the healing you should not share lip products and are to stay away from swimming, spas or anything that puts the area in contact with contaminated water until your practitioner gives the all clear.
Colour Changes To Be Expected
In the first few days the colour can appear more pronounced, be it brighter or darker, than what you will see once healed. There may be some flaking, dryness or uneven patches and a degree of temporary fading as part of the process so hold off on passing judgement on the final colour.
| Stage | What You May Notice | What Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment day | Redness, swelling, tenderness or strong colour | Heed the clinic’s instructions and leave the area alone. |
| Early healing | The skin will be tight and dry with flaking and uneven colour. | Stick to approved aftercare, no picking. |
| Settling period | A softer, more natural colour comes through. | Let the professional review the result before you do. |
| Touch-up | Refinement required in places? | Go to the review if called for. |
While most technicians will give you an estimate on healing time, one does not have to consult a calendar to know that bodies have their own way about things. An irritated skin, a cold sore or too much time in the sun and the process will be protracted. Should you have any cause for concern or symptoms are not settling but worsening, make the clinic aware.
Reschedule If Necessary
If there is an active cold sore, an infection, unexplained swelling, a recent cosmetic procedure that has not yet settled or your lips are cracked and bleeding, rescheduling is the sensible thing to do. Put in a call to the clinic and be candid about it. Do not think you must attend because a deposit has been paid; a lost booking fee is a frustration but making a healing issue worse is another matter altogether. Inquire as to the cancellation policy at the time of booking, particularly in the run up to holidays or when business is brisk.
An Appointment That Suits
For an Australian client to be at ease with a lip blush appointment there should be time for consultation, consent and pricing that is transparent. It is well suited to those who would like a bit of definition and to use less lipstick, but if the idea is to have a permanent lipstick colour that never changes then this is not the service for them.
One with a complex medical history, very sensitive skin or recurrent cold sores would do well to seek the advice of a medical professional before committing. There is nothing to be gained from a hasty plan, a proper consultation is what keeps it from being rough as guts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to prepare for a lip tattoo?
Have your lips in good order and hydrated. Tell us of any allergies, medications, conditions or cold sore history. Come in with clean lips and having eaten and check on the patch test and aftercare requirements of the clinic.
What is to be avoided?
No alcohol, harsh exfoliation or unapproved products, and do not pick at the skin per the clinic’s wishes. Under no circumstances discontinue prescribed blood thinners without the clinician’s say so.
Is a cold sore prescription necessary?
Not for everyone, but a history of them should be made known prior to treatment. Your doctor or pharmacist will be in a position to tell you if antivirals are in order.
When to put the drink down?
Clinic policies vary so ask the technician for a precise answer. Better to disclose recent drinking than to make assumptions.
Lip balm before the procedure?
Only if instructed. Balm, gloss and lipstick are to be removed unless the clinic says otherwise. New products are best left to one side.
Will it be painful?
Some will report stinging, warmth or pressure, others not so much. Numbing can be of assistance but a responsible technician will not put his name to a sensation free session.
Healing time?
Allow for the various stages of flaking and colour change. Wait for the review the practitioner has set down.
Lipstick after a lip blush?
Be patient. Put on makeup only when the surface is healed and your technician has said it is fine. It is cheaper to wait than to have to put right a problem brought on by early application.
Prepared, Not In A Panic
It is straightforward really: a qualified technician, full disclosure of your health and any patch testing done, and you will have a lip tattoo appointment that is hygienic and unhurried.
Get your transport sorted and mind your aftercare. Then you can go into a cosmetic lip tattoo in Australia with your wits about you and not have to worry over the small details.
