lip tattoo pre & post care

30 DAYS BEFORE PROCEDURE

2 WEEKS BEFORE PROCEDURE

1 WEEK BEFORE PROCEDURE

If you have ever had a COLD SORE- it's best to consult with your doctor, upon their recommendation take medication such as Acyclovir, Zovirax, or Valtrex before and after the lip procedure to help prevent or lessen the severity of an outbreak
Avoid anything that causes blood thinning eg. Ibuprofen, fish oils, DHA supplements, cayenne supplements, turmeric, vitamin e, niacin
Avoid smoking

1-3 DAYS BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE

** This is so important- lips need to be HYDRATED- drink plenty of water
** This is important- 2 days prior- gently EXFOLIATE your lips 2x/day (sugar & coconut oil mixture works well)
Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol

DAY OF PROCEDURE

Ensure lips are HYDRATED
Avoid intense physical activity (light yoga and walking are ok)
It's encouraged to bring your favourite lipsticks/lip liners with you to colour match
You can wear your normal makeup on the day of your procedure

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

I will give you a lip oil to use for 7 days. Only use this on your lips & gently apply a thin layer with a clean q-tip.
Gently remove any lymph fluid with a damp gauze ONLY for the first day. This is a very important step because if this mostly clear, yellowish fluid is not removed, it can cause scabbing, and more scabbing means less retention of the pigment. Don't be alarmed if a little pigment comes off onto the gauze. That is from the lymph fluid and completely normal.
If you should experience swelling, an ice pack may be applied using a thin protective barrier such as a paper towel. Icing is most effective in the first 24 hours following the procedure.
If your lips are really sore or swollen, you can take a pain reliever or anti-inflammatory medication like Ibuprofen.

IMPORTANT DURING HEALING:

DO NOT PICK/PEEL AT LIP SKIN/SCABS
Avoid touching lips with fingers
Avoid whitening toothpaste on lips
Drink through a straw until the peeling is complete
To avoid infection, do not kiss until the scabs have completely come off
No conventional lipstick be worn during the healing process nor any petroleum products
Use medication if necessary for cold sores
Stay out of direct sun exposure. Once healed, use a chapstick with SPF to help prevent loss of colour
No smoking until fully healed
No soaps or alpha hydroxy’s until fully healed
Do not evaluate lip results until 21 days after the procedure
The color of the lips you leave the appointment with is not your final color (It can fade up to 40-50%)
The final color will be soft and natural
A touch-up appointment should take place 6-8 weeks following the initial lip procedure

PHASES OF LIP HEALING- what can i expect?

Within 21 days, lips go through 3 phases:

Just relax and be patient. It's a process!

Day 1: Swelling, tender, heavy thick lipstick with a reddish brick color
Day 2: Slight swelling, reddish and tender with a slightly metallic flavor
Day 3: Less swelling, thicker texture, sore, hot feeling with an orange color effect
Day 4: Exfoliation/Peeling begins causing very chapped lips
Day 5: Very chapped lips but almost finished with the chapping stage
Day 6: A soft, rich color begins to appear
Day 7-13: Lip color disappears and the “frosty” stage begins as a white-ish, lighter haze on the lips
Day 14: Color slowly and gradually develops from within each day until day 21 or about 3 weeks post-procedure
Day 21: Healing is complete. The true color is revealed as you see it. Your lips will remain a bit dry for 1-2 months. Use a good quality lip balm (with SPF of course)!