The semi-permanent cosmetic offers many benefits. Lip blushing or tattooing keeps a natural pink tone that won’t fade or smudge off with your mask while you are hassle-free with the allergenic chemicals in the lipstick. For those of you who are new to the cosmetic procedure and may have questions about it, here are some Q&As to help you feel at ease!

What do I need to know before and after getting a lip tattoo?

Before and after the procedure, it is very important to keep your lips moisturised, get enough sleep, drink plenty of water and avoid spicy foods. When lip tattooing is performed, the lips are irritated by the colour deposited by the needle. If your immune system is weakened at the time, the herpes virus hidden in your body may break out. Therefore, stress, poor health, lack of sleep, minor injury, sun exposure, chapped lips, period and even the change of seasons could all increase the chances of getting herpes on the lips. In addition, the nicotine in cigarettes makes it difficult for wounds to heal, so it is crucial to avoid smoking before and after lip tattooing.

Why do my lips start to swell after the treatment?

As the skin tissue of the lips is very thin, the action of lip tattooing causes a large amount of tissue fluid to leak out of the capillaries which are the smallest blood vessels in the body. When the normal metabolism of the lips is hindered, the fluid squeeze could lead to swelling. This is a normal reaction, but the degree of swelling varies with each individual's body condition and metabolic rate.

How long is the healing process for swelling?

Each person's skin condition varies and the swelling usually subsides after 3 days at most. Notably, current tattooing is done with a light sweeping motion on the lips, causing superficial irritation and a slightly swollen feeling instead of leaving the notorious “sausage lips”.

Is there any downtime?

Traditional lip tattooing results in thick scabs on the lips and visible swelling following treatment, as the procedure takes longer to complete. The surface of the lip is more likely to break down and scab. Unlike the traditional approach, lip blushing does not cause bleeding and therefore does not cause scabs. The recovery period is shorter, taking only about 3 days, with flaking completed after a week.

Do I need touch-ups for my lip tattooing?

Yes. It takes about 30-45 days for the colour to reappear after lip tattooing. The technician will assess the level of absorption of the colour on each lip after the lip colour reappears, and will then enhance the colour on areas that have not been absorbed. That’s why a touch-up is necessary for even lip colouring.

Who is not suitable for lip tattooing?

• People who are taking retinoic acid.

• People with keloid scars (prone to excessive scar formation).

• People with hormonal influences (e.g. pregnant women, girls on the period).

• People with blood clotting disorders and wounds that do not heal easily (e.g. diabetes, haemophilia, anticoagulant medication).

• People with major illnesses that cause immune deficiency (e.g. heart disease, cardiovascular disease, during chemotherapy).