Don’t be alarmed by the appearance of the treatment area straight after the procedure, because the body’s natural reaction to the trauma makes the colour appear darker and red. This will subside during the healing process as the top layer of skin flakes away and leaves the pigment, which will be appear much softer after roughly 5 to 7 days.

The average healing time is 10 weeks for damaged skin, but this could be extended by factors such as stress, poor diet or lack of sleep. It is very important to rest up so that healing is the body’s priority.

For the first 5 days:

  • The dressing (which is applied immediately after tattooing) should remain in place for at least 24-48 hours to control any leaking or bleeding from the areola. For the best results, leave it on for up to 5 days to allow the skin underneath to heal.
  • The dressing is waterproof so you can shower after 24 hours, but avoid using direct shower spray/water jets and soap on the treated area.

After 5 days:

  • You can carefully remove the dressing.
  • Do not pick or peel crust if it appears as this will result in pigment loss and the tattooed area can appear uneven. Let it fall off naturally, usually within 7-10 days.
  • The wound will go through the healing phases of heal, peel and fade. You will notice slight fading of the pigment and softening of the colour as it progresses.
  • Do not saturate the area with water. Avoid long periods in the shower and set it to a cooler temperature than normal to reduce the amount of steam.

For the first 2 weeks:

  • Apply a small amount of the balm/lotion that is provided to you on the treated area for up to 2 weeks.
  • Do not expose the area to direct sun, tanning treatments, jacuzzis, saunas, salt water, chlorinated pools or direct shower sprays.
  • Continue to shower for short periods at a cooler temperature.
  • Avoid contact with pet hair as much as possible, since this is the most common cause of minor irritations or infections. Ensure that clothes and bedding remain hair-free during the healing process.
  • Seek medical attention if you see signs of extreme redness or puss.

Long term care advice:

  • Inform the doctor of the permanent cosmetic enhancement if you have surgery, a chemical peel or MRI scans coming up.
  • Inform the National Blood Service if you donate blood, as you may not be eligible to give blood for 6 months post-treatment.
  • Use a high factor sun cream on the enhancement (minimum SPF30) to prolong the pigment colour. I highly recommend Tropics products.
  • Tanning creams and AHA creams (anti-wrinkle creams and Retin A products) will fade the enhancement quicker.
  • Laser or IPL hair removal can pull pigment black.

You will also have a follow up appointment after 6-8 weeks, once the pigment has settled to its final colour. Sometimes further tattooing is required if the pigment appears uneven or isn’t the desired colour. Over time, the tattoo will fade because it is semi-permanent, therefore top up sessions are required in the future (generally after 12-18 months).


Tips for applying the healing balm:

Always use a clean cotton bud to apply the serum so as to avoid unwanted bacteria getting in.

“Less is more!”

Avoid over-applying the aftercare serum because it can cause clothing to adhere to the tattoo, jeopardising the tattoo or causing further harm to the damaged skin. It also increases the skin’s moisture, resulting in scabs forming within a matter of days. This is further increased if the serum is applied in excess after a shower because the water already hydrates the skin.