FAQ Lips

How do I best prepare for a semi permanent lip makeup treatment?

• If you want to have lip pigmentation done, it is important that you start rubbing your lips with petroleum jelly at least 1 week before the treatment. This will ensure that you will have almost no dry lips or skin on the lips. This way the pigments can be better absorbed into the lips.
• If you have ever had cold sores, it is important to take Aciclovir pills beforehand. Preferably 800 mg per day. You can ask your doctor for a prescription. You take these pills 4 days before the treatment until 4 days after your treatment. Ditto for your touch-up appointment.

Is semi permanent lip makeup painful?

Among all semi permanent makeup treatments, lip treatment is the most painful. But there is no need to be afraid! We can numb your lips with a little prick if desired. You can compare this like a prick at the dentist.

Do you prefer no prick? Then use our strong anesthetic ointment (30% lidocaine). For comparison, the well-known Emla ointment contains only 5% lidocaine.

If you wish semi permanent makeup of the lips without pain, an injection costs €30.

How long does semi-permanent lip makeup last?

For the lips, you may count that this can stay on average 2 to 4 years. Again, this again depends on your lifestyle (smoking, sunbathing, swimming) and metabolism of your body. Some people will break down pigments faster than others.

Also, the result will last longer in people who choose a slightly darker color than if you choose super natural color that matches your own lip color very well.

What does make a difference is having fever blisters. Keep in mind that every time there are active fever blisters on the lips this will make your color fade faster.

So try as much as possible to avoid getting cold sores by taking your medication promptly when you feel one coming on.

Are the lips swollen after treatment and how long will the swelling last?

Yes your lips will be swollen after the treatment. It will look like you received a little too much fillers in your lips ☺

If you choose the numbing prick, you will have more swelling in the lips. This is due to the numbing liquid. By evening, you will have already lost more than 70% of that swelling, but at worst, the swelling can last for 2 days.

If you simply numb the lips with the ointment, you will have minimal swelling of the lips that usually disappears completely the day after.

How long are my lips going to be darker in color?

Immediately after your lip treatment, the intensity of your color will be about 2x darker.

From day 2-3, the intensity of your color will begin to decrease tremendously. The color will become so lighter that you may think you have lost all color. Don't panic, because after an average of 12 days, all the color will come back nicely!

I suffer from cold sores, can I then have my lips treated with semi permanent makeup?

If you have an active fever blister on the lip on the day of your treatment, it is not wise to proceed with this treatment.

If you have occasional cold sores, take Aciclovir pills. We recommend that you take 800 mg 4 days before your treatment until 4 days after your treatment so that you do not get fever blisters. So stop by your pharmacist in advance.

If you do have fever blisters after your treatment, there will be no color present at the site of the fever blister and a touch-up is definitely needed.

A fever blister is the herpes simplex virus that is forever in your body, and unfortunately shows itself in trauma or stress, hence the importance of taking the medication.

Note it must be the pills Aciclovir and not the ointment! Ointment is only when it is too late and there is already a fever blister. The goal is that there is no outbreak of fever blisters.

After your treatment, you can get a prescription from us, or visit your doctor for your prescription.

When is it best to do a lip touch-up and how does it work?

For lips, the time of the touch-up is a little later, on average between 6 to 8 weeks. This is because lips heal slower than e.g. the skin of the eyebrows or eyes.

Can I have permanent makeup performed if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

During pregnancy this is very strongly discouraged, not so much because complications might arise but simply out of caution.

Breastfeeding does not hurt, however, we do recommend pumping and discarding the first milk after treatment. This back as a precaution.

Course of aftercare semi-permanent lips

• On the day, drink with a straw and do not kiss or avoid all contact with the lips. Because of the technique, the lips are now chapped and thus very susceptible to infection.
• For the first week, do not put makeup on your lips, sauna or pool.
• 2 days you should not exercise, this is not good for the encapsulation of your pigment.
• The lips should be wiped several times a day with a clammy cotton ball.
• 3 times a day apply Terramycin eye ointment (available without prescription from your pharmacist) and in between keep the lips well supple with pure Vaseline.
• After about 20 days, you will see the final result.
• A touch-up is not mandatory and only if necessary (book early as it should take place between 6-8 weeks after your treatment)
• If you have cold sores then you should also take your medication back as explained above before your touch-up.

Download aftercare instructions for semi permanent lip makeup here!