The flawlessly pigmented pout no longer necessitates the application of your favorite lipstick on a daily basis. One of the defining beauty trends of today’s times are luscious lips. While filler injections have dominated the cosmetic treatment scene over the last decade, lip blushing provides a more natural-looking option. But like most cosmetic treatment there are lip blushing side effects too. Today we extensively take the deep dive to explore the same.
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What is lip blushing?
Lip blushing, also known as lip tattooing, is a semi-permanent makeup treatment that involves injecting color into the skin’s top layer (epidermis) with a micro-sized, mechanical needle.
The treatment, thanks to current improvements, provides a more subtle tint of color that seems natural. There were traditional methods that saturated lips with tattoo ink, but these stand out by leaps and bounds.
Lip blushing process aids both correction and augmentation. The procedure evens out the pigmentation and symmetry of your lips, giving them a slightly larger appearance. These results minimize scarring and aging in the area.
The best part?
It is smudge-proof alternative to cosmetic products that don’t last as long as they claim!
Continue reading to learn more about the entire lip blushing tattoo experience, from preparation to appointment information and lip blushing side effects.
Is lip blushing natural?
Lip blushing is cosmetic tattooing on the lips add semi-permanent colors. It is not natural as external color deposit is added to into the lips with a motorized needle.
Imagine getting a tattoo on your lips but the color is pink instead of darker tones of real tattoos.
The lip tattoo lasts two to three years, imparts a beautiful color to the lips, similar to lip gloss or balm.
Wearing lipstick over lip tattoo is perfect, but most people do this treatment to not carry lipsticks at all!
How to prepare for lip blush treatment?
- Exfoliation and hydration are essential in the days leading up to your consultation
- To prime the area, incorporate a lip scrub and hydrating balm into your daily skincare routine
- Carrying smooth and soft lips at the appointment ensures pigment to remain even and brilliant
- Prior lip care aids healing process
- Drinking alcohol should be avoided for at least 24 hours before your visit.
- Consult with the specialist and perform a patch test to avert avoidable lip blushing side effects from the cosmetic blushing process
Important pre-consultation factors
Lip blushing tattoos, like microneedling, need you to take certain medical measures beforehand.
If you are on blood thinners or have persistent cold sores or lip dryness, you should avoid this surgery.
These problems frequently suggest a weakened immune system, making you more vulnerable to infection following the operation.
Seasonal conditions, such as harsh winter temperatures or excessive sun exposure during the hot months, can produce chapped lips.
In this case, it is better to wait for the weather to change and rehydrate your lips before scheduling an appointment.
Pregnant or nursing women should also avoid lip blushing and other permanent cosmetic treatments. During these times, the danger of infection increases, and hormonal changes may modify how the pigment appears on skin.
Lip blushing steps
Lip blushing is a procedure that resembles lip tattooing. It could take up to three hours and consists of three easy steps:
Step 1: Numbing
First, your cosmetic surgeon administers a numbing lotion to your lips to guarantee that you feel little or no pain during the operation.
Step 2: Choosing shape and shade
While you wait for the numbing gel to take effect, the doctor will discuss your desired lip shape and tone with you. This typically takes about 20 minutes.
They may draw a sketch of your new lips and request your consent. You will have the freedom to make adjustments you desire. The goal is to ensure that you are completely satisfied before proceeding to the last step.
Step 3: Pigment Deposition
Following that, your doctor will inject a natural-looking pigment into your lips with a small robotic needle. They repeat this process several times to create even color layers. Depending on the style you want, this phase could take 60 to 90 minutes more.
Aftercare and Results
The pigment will appear brilliant almost immediately following your session, but the hyper-saturation mellows down gradually.
The initial healing period should last between five and 10 days.
Expect considerable edema, particularly during the first 24 hours.
Icing the affected area can keep lip blushing side effects at bay.
The dryness and tightness should go away after this time.
Hydrate and cleanse
Like all forms of physical wound, your lips need maintenance and cleanliness.
Frequent moisturization prevents irritation and infection. Using a cotton pad, clean the tattooed area with water or a fragrance-free cleaner.
Your surgeon will recommend products for you to apply to keep your lips clean and hydrated.
Sit back and relax
Flaky skin and peeling lips are common during the healing process. During this stage, it is critical not to pick at the scabs and instead allow them to come out naturally.
Like permanent ink tattoos, it can cause scarring and pigment loss throughout your lips. Sleeping on your face may also result in premature peeling.
Scabbing should last for at least a week. Remember that it may take up to four weeks for the ink to settle and the top layer of skin to heal fully.
Reduce the temperature
Avoid any activities or lifestyle habits that may cause sweating or skin irritation while your lip tattoo is healing. Avoid high-intensity workout, saunas, swimming, spicy foods, and intimacy.
Direct sunlight and the use of any beauty products apart from doctor’s recommendation must be avoided. So, no lipsticks, lip glosses or balms if not prescribed!
Pigment issues
Following your appointment, it is recommended that you arrange a follow-up consultation 7-8 weeks after your treatment date.
Do not be concerned if the color appears to have faded for a while during the healing process. This is one of the typical lip blushing side effects.
To allow healing skin to grow slightly thicker than usual, concealing the ink. When the injured skin heals, the tinted lips return to expected results. So, your new lips will be fully visible within a few weeks.
Lip blushing side effects
The most common and expected lip blushing side effects are swelling and soreness.
It happens within 24 hours and stays for at least 48 hours!
Lip blushing causes trauma to the lips, and the skin reacts. But the side effects are mild if the patch test approves the same.
Swelling
When the skin of the lips is frequently broken, the body sends lymphatic fluid into the region naturally. Lips can potentially double in size as a result!
It aids to soften the impact of the needle; it’s the body’s method of keeping the needle from penetrating too deep into the tissue.
Some people’s lips swell more than others, and they may remain swollen for a longer period of time.
When the treatment is over, the body will realize there is no longer any danger, and the swelling will go down.
This should happen within 48 hours. If it does not, this could be an indication of difficulties.
Tenderness
All of that skin trauma is likely to produce some pain. The skin on the lips is thinner and more fragile than the skin on the rest of the face, it will respond more strongly to permanent makeup than your eyebrows.
Topical anesthetics are used to relieve pain during the lip blushing procedure. But the effects will undoubtedly wear off after a few hours. When they do, you may feel some tenderness, which clients describe in various ways:
- sensitivity
- a pulsating feeling
- sunburned skin’s tightness
It’s typical to have slight discomfort for the rest of the day and even the next day after your treatment.
Flaking
Freshly needled lips begin to ooze lymph and sometimes blood, which forms a thin filmy covering of scabs. So, needling damages the outermost layer of the skin on the lips. Due to these reasons, your lips will almost certainly peel.
The flaking is most severe on days 3 and 4 following therapy. It’s critical that you resist the need to rip off the skin flakes that may cling to your lips.
If you don’t let the flakes fall off naturally, you risk taking out part of the implemented pigments, leaving the repaired results uneven.
Itching
Itching is to be expected when the lips heal. Itchiness is a normal feature of wound healing.
Wound healing requires a lot of stimulation to the nerve endings in the skin, which our brains perceive as irritation. Mild itching is thus an indication that the skin is healing.
New cells are being generated, and everything is progressing as planned. Extreme itching, on the other hand, is not typical and may be cause for concern; however, more on that later.
Cold Sore
Unfortunately, if you have a history of cold sores, the lips blushing therapy will almost certainly result in a flare-up. However, there is a workaround. You can visit your doctor and have them prescribe an antiviral medication to take a few days before the therapy.
If your artist fails to inquire if you have a history of cold sores and the treatment produced a flare-up, just make sure you don’t spread the illness further when doing your aftercare routine.
Lip blushing cost
Lip blushing, like other professional cosmetic treatments, comes at a high price. It depends on the clinic and expertise of the cosmetic surgeon you appoint.
On average the cost of a lip tattoo ranges from $500 to $1500 for one sitting. You have to repeat the process when it wears out after 2-3 years.
Some painters charge additional costs for touch-ups, which can range from $150 to several hundred dollars. But touch-ups are cheaper than a do-over.
Consider your lip blush tattoo in the same way you would any other tattoo. You don’t want a $50 tattoo, and you certainly don’t want a semi-permanent lip surgery that costs less than some lipsticks!
Final thoughts
Lip blushing side effects might not be worth for someone who likes to change lipstick shades with everything they wear. If you don’t like the concept of tattooing you might not want to have them done on a sensitive area.
On the contrary, they do make your lips look pink. People who smoke a lot might want to go through a treatment like this to get their lost tint back.
Ensure knowing all about the process you might go through before you actually do!
FAQs
1. What is lip blushing?
It’s a lip tattoo that defines and accentuates your lips. It can help to improve and level out natural color, or it can be used to add color if you are weak in pigment.
2. Can I wear lipstick over lip blush?
It is up to each individual to obtain the desired look. It can undoubtedly enhance your natural color, or add a specific shade that you choose. But if you decide to switch things up and wear lipstick, it will still look amazing over top and cover your tattoo with whatever color you decide to use.
3. How long does lip blushing last?
Although results vary from person to person, your results should last between 2 and 5 years following your original session and touch-up. Depending on the person and intended look, more touch-ups may be required. Permanent makeup ink is not the same as body art ink, and it is not intended to remain as long.