COSMETIC TATTOO – LIP

Bobbie Charles Lip Tattoo

LIP TATTOOING IS BECOMING A POPULAR TREATMENT AND GROWING FAST

Our signature lip tattooing techniques create a natural result and are tailored to each individual.

The benefits of lip tattooing include restoring colour to the lips or matching your favourite lip colour; re-defining your lip border if you have experienced loss of lip definition due to lip fillers, ageing, smoking or scarring; perfecting lip symmetry and rejuvenating the face with a subtle pop of colour.

Cosmetic tattooing is a semi-permanent procedure, where state-of-the-art equipment is used to implant medical grade pigment into the dermis layer of the skin, using a machine which holds a very fine needle/s to create a look to mimic makeup. This machine is similar to a normal tattoo machine used on the body. Lip tattoo techniques we use in-clinic are:

LIP LINER AND BLEND

Lip liner and blend technique enhances your lip line with a soft blend of colour inward onto the lip. This technique is perfect for those who don’t have a very defined lip line. If you struggle to determine the lines in which to apply lipstick or you would like the outline of your lips to be more pronounced.

FULL LIP

Your full lip area will be filled in with the chosen pigment colour as soft or as full as you like. This tattoo option is ideal for clients who have lost the natural colour in their lips or enjoy wearing a lip colour daily.

LIP BLUSHING

Lip blushing is perfect for those that want a subtle colour change over the entire lip area. Think of this technique as a mist of sheer colour.

Service information

When you book your lip tattoo with us, your tattoo journey includes 2 appointments as detailed below:

  • Initial tattoo appointment (2.5 hours).
  • Perfecting session, performed 8 – 12 weeks after your initial appointment (1.5 hours).

We recommend yearly refresh appointments to maintain your lip definition and keep the colour fresh.

Lip Tattooing is ideal for:

  • Creating larger looking lips
  • Correcting asymmetrical lips
  • Creating a more youthful appearance
  • Creating defined, perfected lip shape
  • Camouflaging scars on the lip area
  • Clients looking to shorten their morning makeup routine
  • Creating a shape for clients to use as a reference with lip pencils/makeup

Contraindications:

  • Keratosis
  • Pregnant or breast-feeding
  • Extremely sensitive skin
  • Clients under 18 years of age
  • Dermatitis or eczema in the area to be tattooed
  • Chemotherapy patients (please contact for a phone consultation)
  • Excessive keloid scarred skin / prone to keloid scarring (please contact for a phone consultation)
  • Diabetic clients (please contact for a phone consultation)
  • Recent surgery on or near the lips (please contact for a phone consultation)

Expected Side Effects:

  • Mild redness surrounding the lip area that generally subsides within 24 hours.
  • Slight localised swelling to the lip area that generally subsides within 24 – 72 hours.
  • Minor weeping from the lip area may occur for 2 – 4 hours immediately post procedure.
  • Sensitivity lasting up to 72 hours post treatment.
  • Skin peeling/exfoliation of the tattoo. This generally subsides in 5-10 days.
  • Tattoo colour will appear darker than desired, this will lighten and soften as the tattoo naturally exfoliates and heals.
  • If you suffer from herpes simplex virus (cold sores), lip tattooing can bring on a breakout due to trauma to the lip tissue.

Pre-Treatment Requirements:

  • We recommend avoiding the sun and/or UV tanning for 30 days prior.
  • DO NOT drink alcohol for 24 hours prior.
  • DO NOT drink caffeine the day of your appointment if it can make you anxious or agitated.
  • No skin treatments for 3 days prior.
  • No LED treatments for 3 days prior.
  • Cease use of prescription retinol products 3 months prior.
  • ANTI-WRINKLE / FILLER – We recommend waiting a minimum of 2 weeks after any muscle relaxant injections and 4 weeks after having filler before your tattoo procedure.
  • If you’re on blood thinning medications that require a prescription i.e. Warfarin, you will need medical clearance from your doctor allowing your tattoo procedure.
  • Blood thinning medications that do not require a prescription, e.g. Vitamin E, Aspirin, Fish Oil must be ceased 72 hours prior.
  • If you are prone to herpes simplex virus (cold sores) use Zovirax or Famvir tablets for 3 days prior, the day of your procedure and 3 days after. These can be obtained from the pharmacy over the counter.
  • Keep your lips hydrated for 7 days prior.
  • In any case where you are suffering a non-contagious skin condition, you should seek medical treatment and obtain clearance from your doctor before any tattoo procedure can be performed.

Post-Treatment Requirements: 

  • NO hot drinks or spicy foods for the first 12 hours.
  • NO lipstick or kissing for the first 3 days.
  • Apply aftercare balm CONSTANTLY, the balm will also help with tenderness.
  • NO swimming, spas, saunas, makeup or direct water on the tattoo area for 10 days.
  • NO exercise for 7 days (sweat can cause premature fading of your tattoo pigment).
  • Do not pick, itch or irritate the exfoliating/peeling skin. Exfoliation/peeling is a part of the healing process, this usually takes about 3-4 days.
  • It will be 4 weeks before the true colour of your cosmetic tattoo appears.
  • We recommend waiting 2 weeks post procedure before having skin treatments (peels, dermaplaning, needling etc.).
  • We recommend waiting 3 days post procedure before having LED skin treatment.
  • ANTI-WRINKLE / FILLER – no injectables in the tattooed area for 4 weeks post procedure.
  • Always ensure you are using clean hands if you need to touch your tattooed area, as you are prone to infection during the healing phase.
  • The only products to be used on the lip area until healing is complete is what is provided to you in your aftercare kit.
  • Avoid the use of skincare products containing any resurfacing ingredients i.e. AHA/BHA, retinoids, hydroquinone for 7-10 days. After this time avoid the product on your tattoo area to prevent premature fading.
  • Pregnant or breast-feeding women
  • Chemotherapy patients (please contact for a phone consultation)
  • Excessive keloid scarred skin / prone to keloid scarring (please contact for a phone consultation)
  • Diabetic clients
  • Dermatitis or eczema in the area to be tattooed
  • Extremely sensitive skin
  • Keratosis
  • Clients under 18 years of age
  • Recent surgery on or near the area to be tattooed (please contact for a phone consultation)

We use high quality topical anaesthetics to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. Everyone has a different pain threshold; therefore, some people may experience a little more discomfort than others. We do everything within our power to ensure you are kept as comfortable as possible.

Two procedures are needed 8 – 12 weeks apart. With most procedures, the colour fades 30% initially. For the second procedures, our cosmetic tattooist gauges the colour retention and how you are feeling with the colour before making any adjustments required. Please note that we cannot touch up/re-tattoo within 6 weeks of the initial tattoo.

We ask that you allow up to 2.5 hrs for an initial appointment. For perfecting appointments, we ask that you allow up to 1.5 hrs. These both allow for numbing time included.

Cosmetic tattooing can benefit most people, some of the top things that lip tattooing can help with or enhance are:

  • Improves asymmetry
  • Revives uneven lips that have faded from age or environmental factors
  • Creates a lip colour for those who don’t have a defined lip border
  • Covers or camouflages a scar on the lip area
  • Gives the illusion of a defined perfected lip shape
  • Quickens your makeup routine giving you more time in the morning
  • Increases self-confidence
  • Keeps you looking youthful and makes you look and feel your best

Cosmetic tattooing generally lasts 1-2 years however each skin type will retain the pigment differently. This does not mean that the pigment will be completely faded, your cosmetic tattoo may just need to be refreshed to keep the tattoo looking fresh year-round.

Fading occurs due to increased sun exposure, facial treatments, certain skin products (specifically Vitamin A) and also when a lighter shade of pigment is used for the tattoo. Ensuring you use SPF daily and avoid your tattoo area where possible with facial treatments, Vitamin A and sun exposure, can all help prevent fading.

The pigments we use is Perma Blend, an Iron Oxide base pigment that is TGA approved. Specifically manufactured for implantation into human skin, Perma Blend Pigments are also vegan and cruelty free. There are numerous base colours which can be mixed to create a custom colour to you.

Cosmetic tattoo pigments have been created for using on the face/areola/scalp specifically and are pre-mixed and sterilised, they have been formulated to allow for a ‘fade factor’- this makes them different from tattoo inks used elsewhere on the body.

This is different for every client. When we pick a pigment colour for your lips, we take into consideration your skin type, skin undertones, products you use on the skin and your everyday environmental factors. Pigments are either a ‘warm’ or ‘cool’ base and if left to completely fade off tattoos will turn ‘warm’ (orange, red, pink) tones or ‘cool’ (grey, blue, cool brown) tones. Cosmetic tattoo pigment colours have been created for use on the face and are pre-mixed and sterilised, they have been formulated to allow for a ‘fade factor’. We recommend touching up your tattoo every 12 months.

If you are not local that is completely fine, we can arrange a video consultation (bookable online). We can then proceed to book your appointments well in advance so that you can plan your trips to the clinic for your appointments.

We maintain our legal requirements for Queensland and hold a ‘Brisbane Council Skin Penetration Licence’. All our Cosmetic Tattooists are trained in advanced techniques and are fully accredited. Our clinic upholds very high standards in infection control and use the latest technology, machines and pigments. We display all of our licensing and certification in clinic so you are able to view this at all times.

We recommend you DO NOT exercise until your tattoo has naturally exfoliated or peeled, usually 7 days. When we exercise, we increase our body temperature and in order to cool down we perspire (sweat). Perspiration contains salt which can infect your tattoo area. As perspiration comes from inside the skin it can also push the pigment out of the skin, this can result in the pigment not being retained in the skin and the occurrence of premature fading. Even a light workout can cause you to sweat.

We recommended AVOIDING make-up ON OR NEAR the tattoo until the natural exfoliation or peeling has finished, usually 7-10 days. You can wear makeup however, the easiest way to avoid the tattoo area is blending your makeup gently around the tattoo (being careful not to get makeup in the tattoo) area using a clean cotton tip.

Any tiny scabs that may form should not be scratched off as this may dislodge pigment before the skin has had time to heal.

Yes. However, cancer patients will need to obtain medical clearance from their oncology specialist prior to having cosmetic tattooing performed.

Cancer survivors will need to wait 6 months post remission before having Cosmetic Tattooing performed, you will need to obtain medical clearance from your oncology specialist.