For many decades, permanent eyebrow tattooing has been the only cosmetic procedure used to enhance eyebrows. But in the last decade, microblading technique, a semi-permanent tattooing procedure, has gained popularity and has become the most desired cosmetic practice.
So, what does microblading process entail, does it cause microblading scarring, and does it have any long-term side effects? Let’s find out.
What is Microblading?
Microblading involves shaping eyebrows using superfine needles. These needles deposit medical grade pigment to the skin surface by scratching it delicately.
The expert uses a handheld pen-like tool with a nib and a sloped blade with around 10-12 tiny needles at the end. The pins aren’t supposed to penetrate but just scratch and add a semi-permanent pigment to the skin surface.
They also implant featherweight strokes with a custom pigment on the skin’s outer layer, creating realistic, fine, and natural-looking hair strokes. The procedure helps enhance the shape and the color of the eyebrows.
Microblading is done by hand, unlike tattooing, which is done by machines. This allows the technician to have more control when creating the shapes, as the process must be extremely precise and subtle.
Also, unlike tattooing, microblading fades faster as pigment deposits are not placed deep into the skin. Microblading technicians are not necessarily the same as tattoo artists and vice versa.
Microblading vs. Microfeathering
Both microblading and microfeathering follow the same procedure of emitting a pigment to the skin surface with small incisions. But they have a few differences. Microfeathering intends to fill in the sparse areas mostly for people with a naturally full brow, unlike microblading, which help shape and color the entire brow region.
How to Prepare for Microblading
There are certain things that you should or shouldn’t do before undergoing a microblading procedure. They include:
- Hold off threading, plucking, waxing, tinting, or tweezing your eyebrows a week or so before your microblading appointment.
- Do drink alcohol or caffeine a full day before the procedure because they increase skin sensitivity.
- Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E supplements or fish oil and blood thinners a day prior.
- Discontinue Botox treatments and the use of vitamin A (Retinol) for at least one month beforehand.
- Avoid exfoliation for at least 72 hours before the appointment,
- Don’t use skincare products that contain Retin A, Renova, glycolic acid, and alpha-hydroxy acids a few days before the procedure as they may cause skin inflammation.
- Avoid sunbathing or tanning for three days before the appointment.
- Don’t use intense facial treatments, including chemical peels or laser resurfacing, for at least two or three weeks before the microblading procedure.
- Clean thoroughly and style up your hair before the procedure, as you may need to avoid washing your head a few days after the procedure.
Talk with your aesthetician and ask them all the necessary requirements.
What to Expect During a Microblading Appointment
Microblading is an excruciatingly painful procedure. That because it involves carving into your skin using tiny needles and then filling the skin with ink. But the expert will numb the brow with topical anesthesia, and so you’ll experience no or little discomfort.
Most experts customize the shape of your eyebrow based on the shape and structure of your face. The eyebrows pigmentation may appear darker after the procedure, but they will fade and take a natural-looking shade with time.
The microblading esthetician should explain the entire procedure and some of the options that you have, including color and style, and even make some recommendations. The procedure may take up to two hours.
What to do After the Procedure and Recovery Process
The eyebrows may appear darker, red, and swell a little for a week after the procedure. The patient may feel some itching.
Microblading aftercare tips include:
- Avoid exposure to water to promote quick recovery. Keep them away from moisture for 7 to 10 days, and that includes swimming and taking showers. Find ways to clean up without pouring water on the brows.
- After seven days, wash your eyebrows with a fingertip, use antibacterial soap for 10 seconds, and then rinse and tap it dry. Then use a little moisturizing ointment.
- Avoid make-up in the first few days after the procedure.
- Avoid scratching or pulling the scabs to avoid microblading scarring and for quick recovery.
- Avoid tanning and direct sunlight exposure for at least four weeks after the procedure.
- Don’t use facial peels and scrubs for at least four weeks after the procedure.
- Don’t sleep or lie on the face for at least ten days after the procedure.
- After healing, one can apply sunscreen in the microbladed area when going outdoors.
How Long Does Microblading Last?
Microblading usually lasts anywhere from 1 to 3 years, - and this depends on your skin type, sun exposure, lifestyle, and the cosmetic products you use.
However, you may do a touch-up to finalize the brows in 4 to 8 weeks after. After that, touch-ups come after a year or as directed by the expert. Once a year is recommended, especially for people with oily skin, as the microblading ink tends to blur and fade faster.
Benefits of Microblading Eyebrows
Microblading has numerous benefits, including:
- It reduces the amount of time you spend getting ready in the morning.
- Helps people with hair loss disorder like scarring alopecia attain a natural-looking brow
- Unlike applying makeup on the eyebrows, microblading does not smudge or smear off, especially for people with active lifestyles, when you sweat doing exercises or after swimming activities.
Microblading costs
How much does microblading of eyebrows cost? This is a relative question as its answer depends on the location and the professional doing it for you.Microblading procedure costs anywhere between $400 and $1,400, according to Allure.
Microblading Scarring
Why Do Microblading Scars Form?
Microblading scars form when the technique isn’t done correctly and at the right depth. This happens if untrained or under-qualified artists do the procedure.
Those unqualified artists lie to people e that cutting deeper into the skin to deposit the pigment has a lasting or permanent impact. On the contrary, this results in microblading scarring.
Over bleeding is a sign of a deep cut that may end forming a scar. The damage may be invisible because of the pigment deposited, but as the wound heals, it may result in a scar.
Microblading scars may also form if you continuously pull scabs that form in your eyebrows. You may remove a scab and get injured in the process, which will cause scarring.
Preventing Microblading Scars
How can you avoid microblading scarring? The first obvious answer to this is to use a trained and certified anesthetist. Take plenty of time to search for the right microblading professional in your area. To be sure they are legit, you may ask for their business license or look them up on the corresponding bureau.
In the US, microblading regulations differ from state to state. But a highly skilled microblading expert should have the right credential to work in their particular state. For instance, go to a person with the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (SPCP) or the American Association of Micropigmentation certifications as they have more training in microblading and permanent cosmetic procedures.
Avoid picking or removing scabs after the procedure, even if it’s itchy. Let them fall off on their own, which will only take a few weeks.
Avoid getting any touch-ups soon after the initial procedure. You may want to wait for at least two months before you go back for touch-ups. That because touch-ups may increase trauma to the region and compromise healing, which could eventually lead to scarring.
Possible Side effects of microblading
Just like any other cosmetic procedure, Microblading has numerous side effects that you should take into account before you undergo the procedure. The expert should prepare the patient about any possible complications before or during their appointment.
Some of the long-term and short term side effects of microblading include:
1. An Allergic reaction
While rare, allergic reactions to the pigments used can happen. Thus, it’s vital to understand the pigment types used during the procedure and whether they can cause allergic reactions.
2. Infections
Since microblading involves scratching the skin, the transmission of infectious diseases like bacterial skin infections or HIV is a severe infection risk. This mostly occurs if the artist uses unsterile tools and equipment’s in the procedure. Thus passing the disease from someone else to the patient.
Therefore, it’s vital to have all the tools sterilized before the procedure starts to avoid infections. When all health standards are adhered to, the possibility of problems with this makeup procedure is rare.
3. Unexpected complications that are costly
Wrongly done microblading procedure cannot be covered up. This means that the patient must be ready to spend extra costs to correct the process or manage unexpected complications.
The best way to avoid such misfortunes is to get the right aesthetician. Vet the expert and also evaluate the place where they are planning to have the procedure done. If you notice anything amiss or red flags, just avoid them and look for another.
The Final Takeaway
When an experienced and qualified aesthetician performs microblading procedures, the results are always excellent, and the risks of microblading scarring are minimal. Take your time to find the right aesthetician to do the microblading procedure for you to enjoy its results.
Related Resources
- Facelift: Overview, Types and How to Deal With Facelift Scarring
- Eyelid Retraction and Scarring: Causes and Treatment Methods
- Facial Scars: How Long Does a Scar Take to Heal on Your Face
