The pros and cons of permanent makeup tattoos
Photos from John Hashey's Advanced School of Permanent Cosmetics, courtesy of Chip Litherland for The New York Times.
Wait a minute. So this woman went through the ordeal of having makeup tattooed on, but she still has to apply blush, lipgloss, and mascara every morning? Are we crazy, or should she just fill in her brows and apply her own eyeliner too while she's at it? Also what about when people have eyeshadow or lip color tattooed on—how do they know they'll always want the same color for their whole lives?! We know everyone has their reasoning and can make their own choices, but after learning about potential side effect we wonder if permanent makeup is really worth receiving.
Cosmetic tattooing (aka micropigmentation) was originally developed in the 1980s to help alopecia sufferers fill in their eyebrows. It's provided great benefits for burn victims, cancer survivors, and people with arthritis or Parkinson's disease and have trouble applying makeup.
Clearly there are people out there who would love permanent makeup, but there are downsides. For one thing, it's not entirely "permanent," with colors and pigments fading over time. Aside from allergic reactions, some patients have also reported developing keloids, scars, blisters, and burning sensations when undergoing an M.R.I. Those considering the procedure should be aware that state regulations vary, and practitioners can be sketchy. Dr. Charles Zwerling, an ophthalmologist who founded the nonprofit organization American Academy of Micropigmentation in 1992 told the Times: "You can go on eBay and buy machines and pigment and go in the garage and set up shop." Remember that dirty needles can cause infections like staph, hepatitis, and H.I.V., so as with any procedure, you want to investigate the place and person administering the ink and make sure there facility is clean and that they've been properly trained.
