Is getting permanent makeup painful?

Daria, Athens 9 Apr 2013

Hi, I am PMU artist. I am working with Xtract numbing cream and I am very pleased with the result for eyes and lips, almost no pain, really good anesthetic cream but it is not so effective for brows. For me the brows area is the most painful. I am using the emla cream for 40 min before the tattooing but some clients feel a lot of pain some clients just little discomfort. I am looking to find the best anesthetic cream for eyebrows for those clients who feel pain so I don't have this problem. Can you recommend any? Thank you.

daust580 9 Apr 2013

Dr Linda Dixon in Hawaii created along with pharmacists a line of topicals that take no longer then 12 minutes from application to numb. They are numb quick, numbpot gold (which I CANNOT) live without, comfort cream, Tag and a few more. Numbpot gold, Tag 45 and comfort cream are my mainstay. I use NOTHING else! No need to. You will never use anything else again. Btw I have nothing to do with Dr Dixon business wise, I have nothing to gain from telling you this other than knowing i helped a fellow PMU. Pain control to me is so important. For about $110 you can Tag, numbpot gold and comfort cream if you have the $ get Duration to mix with the tag. It is well worth it. You mix it with tag 45 for obviously time duration. Great for the lips and brows. Let me know if you can't find it, I'll send you a link. You will never have another customer say it hurts. Ever. Let me know!

iriroz8888 10 May 2013

Hi! I am considering to by some of these anesthetics, but I am only starting and I am trying to save in the beginning. Could you please recommend me which anesthetics I should buy definitely. and how do you mix them? link? Thank you and your comment is very helpful

daust580 30 Mar 2013

Hey guys, there are awesome topical anesthetics out now and there is no excuse or reason for anyone being in pain getting any permanent makeup these days. I have customers who literally go to sleep while I am working on them. When in doubt please, please, please ask for a referral list. If you ask enough people in their past client list you will get a true picture of whether it will hurt or not. If someone says, well but I look great, move to another tech. There are PMU s out there that do beautiful work, but are really not that concerned about the discomfort it can cause. These are generally the old school techs. Nothing wrong with that, BUT there are enough technicians that you can find one that will fit your needs. No pain for my clients is a huge priority! Good luck. Don't be scared just do your homework! It's your face for crying out loud!

DZB 31 Mar 2013

Thanks for your comment. She said that my skin was really thin and that I bled a lot. I'm not sure if that was a factor or not. I also use Latisse and she told me not to use it for a week or two before coming in for my touch up. Do you really think those things make a difference? I'm a pretty good judge and I think she is really good but just maybe not using the strongest numbing agent.... or maybe I'm just a wimp:)

daust580 31 Mar 2013

You are not a wimp! It hurts if there is not the correct amount of pain control. My rule of thumb on Latisse is discontinue at booking so as soon as possible. I prefer 30 days before and at least, no sooner than 30 days after. I have customers that I know continued it after a week or so, I do not recommend it but I err on the side if caution. I'm sure she knows what she is doing. Ask her before your touchup what kind of anesthetic she is using and let me know. I'll slip a recommendation. And by all means, TELL her it was uncomfortable BEFORE your touchup so she can be allowed the chance to correct this. Good luck and let me know. Ps make sure you take no aspirin before, on the day of (***unless your Dr has you on an aspirin reg) and let her now this info. Work with her, I'm sure you'll look beautiful.

DZB 30 Mar 2013

This comment is probably too late for the person who asked the question, but I thought it might help others that may read this group of comments. 2 days ago I had eye liner done on my upper and lower lids. She did use numbing cream and has been doing permanent makeup for 20 years. I know that everyone is different but it did hurt! They say it just tickles, not so in my case. The pain was pretty significant but bearable (border line). So far I love my results and feel like it was definitely worth the pain (luckily it doesn't take that long). My advice is to go for it!

afbn 26 Mar 2013

everyone is different in their pain tolerance. with topical numbing cream, generally speaking, the brows are not a problem at all. eyeliner is the most sensitive, you won't be able to fall asleep. i like to take breaks, and move to the other eye. i'm not in a rush when i'm working. lips bother some people, some people not at all. for me, it wasn't painful at all, though i was rather puffy though it was fine after half a day or so. about face by nancy

Sheila Bella 19 Feb 2013

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Triscuit 7 Dec 2012

She used a numbing gel that sat on my lids for 30 min prior to procedure as well as using epinephrine throughout the procedure but it still hurt. I am fair skinned cool tones. On a scale of 1-10 a 4. As the procedure went on it hurt less. My eyebrows did not hurt at all, tickled if anything.

Cosmetic_tattoo_uk 20 Nov 2012

There is no set standard different people will feel a different sensation I cannot comment on the technician work as we all do out best ! It sounds perfectly normal to me - the healing process is horrific you will swell you will form a crust this is standard information you should have been made aware of prior to treatment

Pupuliux 20 Nov 2012

I had mine done, about a year ago, very happy with results. I don't think it was painful at all, she applied an anaesthetic on my eyebrows and lips, so that way I had a pain free treatment.

lodie 10 Nov 2012

i look horrible in my 2 days having eyebrows and eyelids permanent make up...my eyes are still swelling and my eye lines are so crusty and wow i never expect this what will happen...when started i felt terrible pain already i think it was the anesthesia she injected.base on the story i read here i feel like am the only one who suffer....is there anyone had a bad jobbed like i had?????

daust580 10 Dec 2012

I experienced the exact same thing! This is now what I do for a living. I tryed to send you a pic! I looked like an alien for a week! A full week. But it turned out pretty. It doesn't have to be that painful though. I guess we're special.

Marly53 16 Dec 2012

I had my eyes done, along with lips and eyebrows 5 years ago when I was travelling in Australia. I can honestly say that I have never experienced such pain with the eyes. It was excruciating. I had to have the second eye completed days later. The lips were carried out with a dental block. This was fine but my lips were so swollen after that I looked like a freak for up to a week after. However, the effects lasted for years. I recently had the lips topped up in the UK. This was hardly painful but the effects are very subtle. Not sure they will last that long.

Danzer617 18 Feb 2013

I just had mine done on Saturday, feb 16th. It hurt a lot lot more than expected. I'm wondering if the numbing cream worked at all! It sat on for 20 mins. She told me it would just feel like a strong itching but it really really hurt. I have many piercings spread about my body and they were all a breeze compared to this! But totally worth it. I'd consider doing my lips but I can't handle that pain full throttle again. I don't feel like it should be that bad!

daust580 18 Feb 2013

Girl I am so sorry for the bad experience. No, no, no. It should not hurt. It does not have to hurt. I have ladies who actually fall asleep in the chair. Really! The first time this happened it scared me to death! Lol. Call at least two prior customers and ask them if it hurts. Most people who study or know of Dr Dixonin Hawaii will use her anesthetics she created. They are fabulous. You can ask that too.

Stylishus 8 Mar 2013

The pain actually should not be excruciating as reported. There are many contributing factors to pain. For instance, in my practice I avoid procedures on clients who are in PMS or who are menstruating. This time of the month really adds to a lowered thresh hold of pain. Sometimes a tech's anesthetics can be outdated, rendering them less potent. Over working of the tissue can add to pain. One must know when enough is enough, the goal is to get in, and get out. Often times anxiety can lend to an increased perception of pain, therefore medication can be prescribed such as Valium or Xanax. I am not a proponent of dental blocks for lip procedures. I prefer to use liberal amounts of topical anesthetic and never have complaints of pain. In fact, my lip procedures are not even swollen as reported in many posts. Technique, needle configuration and just enough passes are key to a perfect lip procedure.

Rita70994 10 Oct 2012

Just had my eyes done last Thursday...a week tomorrow. I can barely see that anything was done!! I paid way too much to not be able to tell that my top and bottom eyelids have been done, I am having to wear eyeliner today!! After paying for this once, let alone thinking about having that PAIN...I am supposed to go back and have it touched up because my skin didn't absorb the ink well....for an additional charge???????

Cathy Prwivo 25 Oct 2012

I am a permanent makeup technician, and I can tell you that it should not have faded. I believe you should have it redone (after six weeks) and there should not be a charge associated with that repair.

daust580 18 Feb 2013

I agree! Sounds like wrong depth in disguise. Lol. Bad job no way don't pay. Any good tech will tell you it will take two or applications or it charge you for the touchup if that was an outcome that was not agreed upon. Sorry for the bad experience.

daust580 18 Feb 2013

You should not hAve to pay if it was not the intended outcome and it should never be painful. Make her stop and reapply as necessary.

tlmann 3 Jul 2012

I had my eyeliner & eyebrows done last year by a brilliant semi permanent make up technician i found on semi-permanent-make-up-directory. co. uk/. She was REALLY good and my make up looks fantastic!!! I would definitely recommend getting it done as its not too painful and lasts for years! :-) I looked around for quite a bit and this seems to be the BEST place to find a technician as they are all top notch experienced technicians on there. I was very happy with mine :-D

Madelaine 24 May 2012

I live in Australia! Long way to travel for a tattoo!!! :) :) But thank you for the information.