Scar Camouflage

Scar camouflage can be used to blend any type of scar, or skin pigmentation problem, be it from an accident, stretch marks, a surgery, or from a disorder such as vital go.

Scar camouflage clients must come in for a consultation appointment in order for their particular situation to be assessed.

Scars must be at least a year old to be worked on. Please note that the area that is treated will blend with color of your skin, but will not tan. So if you get tan during the summer keep in mind, that this area will be lighter. In most cases the treatment of an area will take multiple sittings.

The cost will be addressed at the time of consultation, based on what is needed. The major difference in this procedure in relation to other permanent cosmetics is that there can be no numbing in the area that is being treated. The use of numbing agents blanches the skin and makes it difficult to see the correct perimeters of the area being treated. In some cases the process of inserting pigment can help flatten a raised scar or encourage natural pigmentation to come back. These are bonuses to having this procedure done.

In some cases where a scar has color to it (is very red) this service might not be the correct answer. There are certain laser techniques and injections that might be a better fit. This is something to be addressed with a Plastic Surgeon.

Scar camouflage clients will need medical clearance in most cases. I am not a doctor so if this scar is say from a knee replacement for example; the physician might not suggest having this procedure done, for fear of potential infection in this area. As in all permanent cosmetic procedures the area worked on will initially appear darker then when it is healed.

Check with your insurance to see if you are covered for a procedure of this sort. I do not take insurance, but it is always good to check if you can get reimbursed and what is need to do so.

The color of the pigment will be selected at your consultation. There will be no pre-numbing of the area. Paperwork will be filled out and the procedure will begin. This procedure is most like a regular tattoo. It is hard to say what it will feel like to you, because each area of the body is different and each person’s tolerance for pain is different. I usually describe a tattoo as feeling like an itchy, scratchy feeling similar to a cat scratch or stinging from sun burn.

Healing Instructions

There will be a slight swelling in the area and a transient redness. Keep area slightly moist with a Q-tip using 1% hydrocortisone cream, 2-3 times a day for 7-10 days. If a slight crust appears on the pigmented surface, do not force removal by picking, scratching, or washing the area!! Do not be alarmed if some of the pigment comes off on the Q-tip when applying the Hydrocortisone, this is excess pigment and dead skin coming off and is normal. The final color cannot be judged until two weeks after the procedure.

Avoid Until Healed

– Soap, cleansers, and water on pigmented area (wash around it)
– Sun, tanning beds, and self-tanners
– Hot steamy showers
– Chlorine pools, Jacuzzis and saunas
– Dirt from gardening for the first week to prevent infection

Long Term Care for All Procedures

After healing use sunscreen daily to help prevent fading. If you donate blood, it is the Red Cross policy that you wait one year after a procedure.

IF you are planning on a chemical peel, MRI, or other medical procedure, please tell them you have had iron-oxide permanent cosmetics.

If you are planning on laser removal on your upper lip or Photo Facial with an IPL, you must tell your laser specialist that you have had permanent cosmetics so this area can be avoided by laser. Both ablative and non-ablative lasers may cause pigment to turn black.

Please contact Raya if you have any questions.