Can you tell me if you teach skin needling using the dermal roller, and what you use an why?
Tim, I personally use my permanent makeup machine for my primary skin needling procedures. The specific results I am looking for on the client’s targeted areas are better served using my digital machine than a roller. Skin Needling is my primary application and a dermal roller is the secondary application. Also, I use my machine for the secondary applications if I am working on the entire face and neck as it is more efficient. Immediately post skin needling I use a special peel that compliments the skin needling treatment. Thanks for your question! Susan
I am confused about who and when skin needling started. On You Tube it says different Dr’s started it and then I saw an article you wrote a long time ago saying you have been skin needling since 1988. Who’s right?
Thanks for clearing this up.
Sandy Taylor
Dear Sandy,
Thank you for question on Skin Needling™.
I get asked this question at least a few times a week because of all the misinformation on the internet.
As the creator of Skin Needling™, Scar Relaxation and Melanocyte Restoration in 1988 these are certainly not new procedures. I formally lectured on these procedures in 1991 but have been teaching them since 1988.
After receiving my certification in permanent cosmetic makeup in 1988, one of the very first people I worked on was an acne patient. I was just trying to make her skin look better so she would not have to wear so much makeup. I custom blended a skin toned pigment and inserted it into her pitted scarred areas. The results were amazing. The pitted skin on her face and back not only blended with the surrounding tissue, the pitted areas plumped up and stayed that way for years giving her skin a smoother texture. This was the start of a great new procedure with techniques that have withstood the test of time and 20+ years later, the Skin Needling™ procedure is still being hailed as a new procedure.
You can also see one of the first Scar Relaxation patients on this site with her photos and story.
Since 1988 the International Institute of Permanent Cosmetics (IIPC), has developed techniques in “Inkless Applications” that restore melanocytes in damaged tissue, or skin disorders that were congenital, and developed scar relaxation that will release the fibrous bands of scar tissue giving the patient more maneuverability in the contractured areas.
At a major conference in 1991, I introduced my technique of Skin Needling™, Scar Relaxation and Melanocyte Restoration after discovering that these processes aided in restoring collagen to damaged areas and promoting skin terger. No one had ever tried these procedures and all participants were excited to go back to their own businesses and try it out on their clients.
I still have the documentation from the client’s charts I worked on back in 1988 when I performed these procedures.
With these discoveries, I have performed numerous procedures that have provided children and adults with these conditions a better chance of normalcy and an ability to develop their self-esteem.
Years later, others have been taking credit for the procedures that I created. I have counted at least 10 other educators that are teaching Skin Needling, Melanocyte Restoration and Scar Relaxation. Do they give me credit for teaching them? No. It’s ok though because they and I know both who taught them.
My clients know that these procedures were performed on them first and we have talked about it, and they have even asked me why I am not given credit for discovering them. I can only surmise that because I do not have an MD behind my name I am overlooked as not being a ‘physician’. Without being condescending, God knows as well as my clients what I learned and discovered while performing procedures on them and the people that are taking credit for them know or do not care to give credit where credit is due.
At the Aesthetics Congress in Las Vegas a few years ago, a woman came up to me in our permanent makeup booth (www.permanentmakeupproducts.com) and said, remember me? I was at the 1st conference in 1991 where you lectured on Skin Needling and the other procedures. I wish I could remember her name……. If you are or know of that person and are reading this please contact me….and forgive me for not remembering your name. Thanks, Susan
Thank you, Susan Church CCPC, CPCP
Why won’t my clients eyeliner stay in the skin? They keep coming back for touchups. What am I doing wrong? Melodie, Ca
Melodie,
Several factors are involved in a long lasting permanent eyeliner procedure application.
Here are a few tricks to help you with your permanent eyeliner application:
‘STRETCH’ the skin. Your permanent makeup pigment is inserted much more easily if the eyeliner tissue is taut.
‘SLOW DOWN’. Give your machine time to penetrate the tissue. Insert the needle into the eyeliner lash line. Once inserted, count 1- 1000. Lift your needle out of the eyeliner lash line. Gently wipe the pigment away from the lashline. Make sure the pigment is inserted into the dermal layer of tissue.
If the eyeliner pigment colour is not dark enough, you need to create / mix up a new permanent eyeliner colour that will show more contrast in the tissue.
The client must follow all of your ‘After Care’ Instructions for a successful procedure as well.
Prior to starting your permanent eyeliner application, take a medidcal history to assure your client is in good health for the procedure they are requesting.
Good Luck, Susan
My eyeliner is fading after about 2 years. Is this normal? I liked the darker look so I might have to have the procedure redone.
Yes it is quite normal. All permanent makeup procedures fade.
We suggest that our client
s receive a colour refresher on an as-need-be-basis to keep their colour looking fresh.
I would suggest that your technician use a slightly darker colour at your colour refresher appointment.
Once you receive your colour refresher here are a few tips to keep the colour looking great:
- Follow your aftercare exactly while the procedure area is healing.
- After the area has healed -Use a waterproof sunblock on the procedure area daily.
- Keep all AHA (alpha hydroxyl acids) and skin lighteners/brighteners away from the procedure area.
- Wearing mascara and sunglasses will help protect your eyeliner procedure colour.
During an eyebrow procedure, (with a needle 1 , hairstroke 0.3 – 0.4 mm, penetration, ) the client was bleeding, and plasma came out of the skin, and pigment was rejected. It never happened to me before, that skin rejected the pigment. This client is 54 years old, completely healthy, does not take any medication. Do you have any suggestion? Thank you in advance for your comment. Riki Noy, Israel
Hi Riki,
Thank you for your question as it is a common one.
People always bleed more when you use a single prong needle. You will have more bleeding and lymph expelled for any procedure performed with a 1 prong needle as it pierces the skin so easily.
Did you check to see if she recently had a deep peel, used any type of AHA or had a laser treatment that would thin her skin?
TIPS
Always stretch the skin tightly and implant the pigment VERY SLOWLY with your needle. The stretching helps to keep the skin stay taut for easier pigment insertion. As you insert your needle start making your hair stroke while slowly saying 1-1000. If the pigment is not being implanted try a different technique such as pointillism (make single implants, dots).
Clients ‘take’ pigment at different levels. You can use the same colour, same needle and same depth on several different clients and sometimes their body will not cooperate with the implantation of the pigment.
Besides being on any Rx medications, remember that homeopathics, alcohol, herbs and supplements can also thin the blood. Consumption of energy drinks are also a source of excess bleeding during procedures.
Talk to your client prior to her return follow-up application in 4-6 weeks. You will need to and ask her about her diet, if she has taken any OTC’s (over the counter medications, even aspirin), if she takes fish oils, herbs, her alcohol consumption or other products that can thin the blood. After checking with her health care provider, she should not take any of these products at least 72+ hours prior to the procedure.
I perfer to use a single needle for eyebrow hair strokes as well. I like the fineness of the hair stroke while using 2-3 different colours as it gives the client a tri-dimensional appearance while maintaining the integrity of the individual strokes.
Take care,
Susan
HELP! I have so many clients with pink eyebrows. Some clients are mine and others I will be working on for the first time. What color or colors should I use on them? thank you lauren
[caption id="attachment_82" align="alignright" width="300"]
Eyebrow Correction with Olive Brown[/caption]
Correction of pink eyebrows for permanent cosmetic makeup:
Lauren,
When eyebrows fade, the base colour stays in dermal layer of the skin fading the beautiful browns you used for your procedure.
There are several reasons pigment colour can change in the skin. These are the main reasons.
The colour(s) used for the initial application were too warm.
The client used exfoliation products on her face over the procedure area. While these AHA products are fantastic for cell renewal, they are not kind to the permanent makeup procedure and will fade the colour.
The client thought the colour was too dark immediately after the initial application and went home and either scrubbed the procedure area to lighten the pigment, or used some type of product that will lighten the skin, again lightening the procedure area.
When a client comes to you with pink eyebrows, they safest way to correct the pink is this:
Remove or lighten as much of the pink colour as possible using glycolic acid, Vitamin A Pure Peel, microdermabrasion, or other removal/lightening method. You may need to perform this application several times depending on the depth of the pink colour. If you are not licensed to perform these services, talk with an aestitician to perform these treatments for your clients.
I personally use either Mink or Olive Brown from Absolute Perfection. (You can purchase these pigments from http://www.permanentmakeupproducts.com )
Green cancels red. Red cancels green. This is simple colour theory.
Using the pigments Mink or Olive will help to cancel out the pink and give the client a beautiful brown eyebrow.
This is the same theory behind hair colour. If the hair is too ash you add a red filler. If the hair is to red you add a green drabber.
When you first look at either Mink or Olive Brown your first reaction is, ‘I am not using that colour on my client!’ Yes, these colours are green/brown and can look menacing in the bottle, but they are the best colours for correction!
Following protocol, patch test both colours in the brow to see which colour will do the best job of neutralizing the pink.
I use Mink for lighter complected people and Olive Brown for darker complected people.
Thank you for your question as this is a common one! Susan