Scalp Micropigmentation Repair
Many people believe that due to scalp micropigmentation technically being a tattoo, it can be performed by a tattoo or permanent makeup artist without having specific scalp micropigmentation training. These inexperienced companies have the same problem, they try to base their version of scalp micropigmentation on the technique that tattoo artist use or a permanent makeup technique. They go out and purchase permanent makeup pigment or tattoo ink and use the same process to apply this on their experimental client. The only similarity scalp micropigmentation and tattoo artists have is that they both use a machine to implant pigment into the skin, but that is where the comparison ends.
Scalp micropigmentation artists specialise in replicating hair follicles. This is an extremely specific specialty that takes a lot of patience and technique. Tattoo artists implant pigment deep into the dermal layer, whereas scalp micropigmentation artists implant pigment into the papillary layer of the dermis, which is found directly under the epidermal layer. Not going as deep into the skin makes the tattoo look more natural in its replication of hair follicles. Dot size can be another issue. If the ink is deposited in too deeply, which is common in all inexperienced artists, your head will end up with huge dots. Scalp micropigmentation pigment will fade due to it being closer to the surface of the skin and skin cells constantly turning over but it will still last a good 3 to 5 years before needing a top up. The pigment used by tattoo and scalp micropigmentation artists are also different. Scalp micropigmentation pigment is made from natural ingredients and is heavily diluted before getting implanted into the skin. Whereas tattoo pigment is made from metals like iron oxide and is deposited into the skin when it is very concentrated and this is the reason why tattoos change to a blue/green colour over time, unlike with scalp micropigmentation. The difference between permanent makeup pigment and scalp micropigmentation pigment is that permanent makeup pigment is made up of several different colours combined to create and hue, some and organic and some are not. Scalp micropigmentation pigment is black and carbon based, to better match natural hair follicles it is diluted to be lighter.
If untrained tattoo artists perform scalp micropigmentation it is almost guaranteed that it is going to be what we call a ‘botched job’. Replicating hair follicles is not easy due to follicles being so small, therefore a micro needle is used. Tattoo artists do not tend to use any of the correct equipment for scalp micropigmentation causing some seriously bad looks.
How Does Scalp Micropigmentation repair work?
There are different ways botched scalp micropigmentation can be repaired.
Salabrasion
Salabrasion uses salt embedded into severely broken skin to remove the tattoo. It is often carried out by using a multi-needle “shading” attachment on a tattoo gun to integrate a saline solution with a high salt content. Then, the wound is to be kept completely dry until a scab forms and falls off. At this point, some of the ink from the tattoo is in the scab, and so the tattooed area is a bit lightened. The result is often a scar that is lighter in colour than the tattooed area was originally. Sometimes an anaesthetic is offered because there could be pain involved with this method.
Adding Pigment
Nearly all tattoo artists and permanent cosmetic artists only have one option when trying to fix a bad Scalp micropigmentation procedure — adding more pigment. They can only add more pigment to attempt a fix. If your hairline is not correct or the pigment does not have the correct colour, your experience with this type of fix will only result in more frustration. To fully solve the problem of poor scalp micropigmentation, you need to take away pigment and remove the prior scalp micropigmentation.
Laser Tattoo Removal
Removing the tattoo with a laser is the best option for removing a bad scalp micropigmentation application. Using medical grade lasers, precise targeting techniques and a selection of wavelengths along with various spot sizes and power levels, controlled removal and fading can be achieved. In this way, areas as large as the whole scalp, smaller isolated patches, hairlines, and even single dots can be corrected. This allows for the correction of hairlines and side profiles, the fading of darker areas or spots and the removal of over-density.
The effects of scalp micropigmentation are only as good as the artists performing the procedure itself. BUT if you are one of the unfortunate ones and need repair, then help is out there, clinics like Scalp Doctor and Royal SMP Solutions perform repairs to a high standard leaving the devastated person happy and full of confidence.
