Is Beauty Pain? What To Expect During a PMU Brow Procedure
Tattoos are known to be painful. They are after all a purposeful wound. However some people, mostly women (especially mothers) in many tattooers’ experiences, can find the sensation rather enjoyable, as long as the tattoo is not very large or in a particularly sensitive area. The face is one such particularly sensitive area, especially upon the brow bone framing the eyes. The specialized form of tattooing that is permanent makeup (PMU) is designed with special techniques, pigments, and tools that considers the unique differences in facial skin from other skin of the human body. While these techniques and materials deposit ink less deeply into facial skin, pain is still an inherent part of the experience.
So is permanent makeup painful? Naturally, but how each person experiences that pain, and at what level, is different for each individual, just like with receiving any other type of tattoo. If you have never had a tattoo before, some frequent comparisons to the painful part of the sensation are a bee sting or cat scratch. Someone with more sensitive skin described the feeling as “a cat scratch on a sunburn”. These comparisons describe the feeling of active tattooing. Some say it’s not even as painful as a cat scratch in the first place. Others still have claimed to find the process to be rather meditative and even soothing regardless of the associated pain. While any tattooed area will be a little sore for a couple days afterward, it should not be as painful as the procedure itself. Your brow artist at Magic PJ’s is sensitive to your unique experience with your own pain management needs and is here to support you in making the best choices for yourself in this process of achieving your desired results.
Are pain relief/numbing options available?
In short, yes. But there are some details to consider about numbing options. Please continue to read the following insights and information about pain relief during permanent makeup procedures.
Personally, I discourage the use of lidocaine or any other popular pharmaceutical numbing agents for a traditional body tattoo. Many other tattooers do as well. The only exception I make is for permanent makeup. Why do tattoo artists often discourage numbing for body tattoos? There are several reasons, but most importantly for me is that lidocaine often causes swelling of the skin that further puffs up when poked with a needle. This kind of swelling can prevent ink depositing as it usually would in the skin and intervenes with the skin from holding crisp lines and bold colors of the kinds of classic designs I provide as a tattoo artist. However, permanent makeup to designed to favor “fall out”. When properly applied, permanent makeup is meant to fade over time. Permanent makeup methods allow pigments to dissipate so that it can be touched up and redefined. So the interference that swelling associated with lidocaine numbing has on pigments does not have the same concerns in the results of PMU as with a tattoo. Also, PMU pigments are especially formulated for permanent makeup application and are quite different than regular tattoo inks. These special formulations also ensure that the pigments work well for skin that has been treated with numbing agents such as lidocaine.
In the Netherlands, tattooers and permanent makeup technicians are not legally allowed to apply lidocaine to clients. However, clients are legally allowed to apply lidocaine cream to themselves before these procedures. This is a personal decision. You can purchase up to 3.5% lidocaine cream over the counter at a local pharmacy. (Pharmaceutical chain stores such as Kruidvat and Etos do not carry lidocaine.) Should you decide to use lidocaine for your permanent makeup experience, let the PMU brow specialist at Magic PJ’s know your decision during your consultation and you will be further instructed on how to properly and safely apply lidocaine for your procedure. Since local anesthesia is considered a medical procedure and lidocaine is a regulated pharmaceutical, permanent make-up specialists are not allowed to provide lidocaine themselves, according to the standards of the GGD.
Another pain relief/numbing option available at Magic PJ’s for permanent makeup procedures is BioTat Numbing PMU Glide which is a natural anesthetic.
This formula is designed to be applied by professionals only during the tattoo process to numb the area. Unlike lidocaine, BioTat PMU Glide is legally allowed to be applied by your PMU technician in the Netherlands.
BioTat PMU Glide does not puff up the skin making it difficult to tattoo unlike with lidocaine based products. Clients report a relieving numbing of pain with BioTat PMU Glide although not as strongly as lidocaine. (These numbing agents cannot be combined!)
BioTat is the global leader in natural numbing. They use only the best ingredients with no artificial colours or fragrances. Although this numbing option is highly recommended for the best PMU experience, Magic PJ’s is not sponsored by BioTat in any way.
CONTAINS:
Mineral Oil, Microcrystalline Wax, Cera Microcristallina, Glycerin, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Bud Oil, Eugenol, Glycolipids, Lavandula Angustifolia Herb Oil, Isoeugenol, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene.
Other pain medication information for PMU & Tattoo:
You may take certain kinds of over the counter pain relievers in pill form before and/or after your permanent makeup or tattoo procedure, but please avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and other “nsaid”s 24-48 hours before or after your procedure. This is the same rule for alcohol consumption before/after receiving a tattoo and for the same reason: aspirin and ibuprofen thins the blood which can potentially affect the results of your tattoo or permanent makeup, sometimes resulting in looking a bit “blurry” when freshly healed. Instead, the best options are paracetamol or acetaminophen.
Other medications you may take that could affect your PMU or Tattoo Experience:
Acne medications
Examples include: Accutane, tetracycline medications (minocycline, doxycycline, etc.)
Acne medication makes your skin extra sensitive. Skin sensitivities while receiving a tattoo can lead the tattoo process to feel more pain during the tattoo than normal. Also because the skin is more sensitive and reactive, the tattoo may lead to permanent scarring.
Antibiotics
Not only do some antibiotics cause skin sensitivity but if you are on an antibiotic your body is trying to fight some form of bacterial infection! Receiving a tattoo adds more work to the immune system delaying the healing process for your body.
Your tattooist makes thousands of tiny puncture wounds on your skin so that ink can be inserted. And those tiny openings on your skin make for perfect entry points for germs, bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. With getting a tattoo and being on certain medications like antibiotics; this can delay the healing process and also lead to potential risk for more infections to enter.
Blood thinners
While on blood thinners you are more likely to bleed during your tattoo process. Bleeding is completely normal but while on blood thinners your artist will have to wipe away the area much more frequently due to more bleeding than normal. This can effect the outcome of the tattoo as well as increase your risk of infection
Your tattoo may also bleed longer after the tattoo is finished compared to someone not on a blood thinner. Minor bleeding after a tattoo is completely normal but just be sure to monitor the area.
Consider asking your artist how long someone may normally bleed after receiving a tattoo (time may vary depending on your tattoo size) and monitor your area to see if you are still bleeding.
Immunocompromised patients
If you had an organ transplant and/or on anti-rejection drugs
Tattoos and piercings require a break in the skin and a tattoo introduces a foreign material into your body. Because of this, both carry a risk of infection. You will want to try to avoid this because the anti-rejection medications you take after your transplant already make your immune system weaker and less able to fight off infections.
For immunocompromised patients
examples include: heart disease, diabetes, etc.
In most cases depending on your health tattoos are perfectly fine to get. Doctors and artists want to make sure you are in good health because if patients who have a chronic condition may take longer to heal or are at an increased chance of getting an infection.
Chronic Skin Conditions
Examples include: psoriasis, vitiligo, pigmented lesions, etc.
Patients should be aware if they get a tattoo near a chronic skin condition it may potentially cause a flare in their skin condition or even cause Kobner phenomenon. Kobner phenomenon is when the skin will flare up and inflamed due to trauma. Certain tattoo shops may decline giving a tattoo if the patient has active psoriasis or eczema.
Tattoo shops are not supposed to apply tattoos directly on moles/pigmented skin. This is due to the risk the mole may be cancerous and should be monitored.
If the area is cancerous, and and if a tattoo is covering the area, it makes it hard for a doctor or patient to observe the area and notice any changes or growth. If possible, avoid tattooing directly on moles or any skin pigmentation.
Just because you are on these medications or have certain medical conditions does not mean it’s impossible to get a tattoo or receive permanent makeup. Be sure to let your artist at Magic PJ’s know your conditions and concerns during your consultation.
Magic PJ’s Permanent Makeup & Tattoo is located at Burgermeester Reigerstraat 19 in Utrecht
25% off 1st PMU
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25% off 1st PMU 〰️
Enjoy 25% off your 1st PMU session at Magic PJ’s in exchange for client consent to use before/after photo for promo: mention this offer during your free consultation!
€300 service is now €225 with promo
You are also welcome to send special inquiries about Magic PJ’s PMU & Tattoo to pjsuperior@protonmail.com