PRE & POST TREATMENT ADVICE

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The Prep:  

Before medical tattooing the treatment area must be healthy, strong, non-sensitive, and non-irritated. Please follow the treatment advice below on how to get your skin ready for the procedure:  

• Do not pick / tweeze / wax / perform electrolysis one week before the procedure
• Do not tan two weeks prior to the service, or have a sunburned skin
• Do not work out the day of the procedure
• Do not take Fish Oil or Vitamin E one week prior to the procedure (they are natural blood thinners)
• Do not wax or tint your eyebrows 3 days prior to the procedure.

In order to avoid excessive bleeding and poor colour deposit:  

• Do not drink alcohol 24 - 48 hours before your procedure
• Do not consume coffee before your procedure
• Do not take an Aspirin or Ibuprofen for pain relief (these also thin the blood)

Healing consists of three phases: 

Heal - The body’s natural defences will create a fine scab to protect the area whilst healing 

Peel - After a few days the scab will slough away. Picking at the treated area as it heals will result in pigment loss. 

Fade - After the fine scabbing has sloughed away you will see a lighter hue to the implanted colour which is more realistic. After 4/6 weeks the colour will appear to take on a new strength.

The day of the treatment : Absorb
After the procedure, gently blot the area with clean tissue to absorb excess lymph fluid. Do this every 5 minutes for the full day until the oozing has stopped. Removing this fluid prevents hardening of the lymphatic fluids. 

Days 1-7: Cleanse
Cleanse twice daily to remove bacteria, build up of product and oils, and dead skin.Gently cleanse the treated area each morning and night with cooled boiled water (boiling the water first sterilises it) With a cotton pad or gauze gently wipe the treated area. Do not use any cleansing products at all. 

Days 1-7 : Moisturise
Apply a rice grain amount of aftercare ointment with a cotton swab and spread it across the treated area. Be sure not to over-apply, as this will suffocate your skin and delay healing. The ointment should be barely noticeable on the skin. Never put the ointment on a wet or damp tattoo. 

Important Reminders

• Use fresh linen while you sleep.
• Let any scabbing or dry skin naturally exfoliate away. Picking can cause scarring or loss of colour.
• Avoid hot, sweaty exercise for one week.
• Avoid direct sun exposure or tanning for 4 weeks after the procedure.
• Avoid long, hot showers for the first 10 days.
• Try to avoid sleeping on the treated area for the first 10 days.
• Avoid swimming, lakes, and hot tubs for the first 10 days,
• Avoid topical makeup and sunscreen on the area.
• Do not rub, pick, or scratch the treated area.

Important note about showering:
Limit your showers to 5 minutes so that you do not create too much steam. Keep the procedure area out of the water as much as possible. 

Lip procedures warning:
Laser hair removal can alter pigment colour so it is very important if you are having this treatment to  advise your specialist you have a lip tattoo.

If after reading the Aftercare Advice you have any queries or feel your procedure is not healing as explained, or you feel any discomfort or heat in the treated area, please telephone me immediately. Do not panic that the treated area may show redness and swelling and that the colour looks dark and more intense than required - this is all quite normal. Your procedure was undertaken using sterile products in an aesthetically clean environment. 

It is your responsibility to follow the aftercare advice given to avoid any risk of infection. Home care post procedure is now down to you. Additional procedures cannot be undertaken until the area is completely healed. 

A 6 week healing time is suggested  before further work is undertaken. Once the area has completely healed (approx. 10 days) consider using a sunblock to prevent the pigment colour fading.