Permanent Lip Liner Removal with Tattoo Vanish (Permanent Makeup Cost $500) - Kalamazoo, MI

I had permanent lipstick applied Jan 16th. I don't wear makeup but now that I am in my 40s my lips are looking thinner and the coloring less vibrant so I wanted a fuller, more youthful lip. I emphasized the need to look natural and while laying down, the outline she drew looked fantastic. She picked an orangey color but told me not to worry, only looks orange until it sloughs off, then a nice pinkish color will emerge. I have zero warm undertones to my skin so the orange was not complementary.

The procedure was as described by other, stung a bit, and took a couple of hours. Of course right afterwards looking in the mirror was scary, I had huge swollen orange lips. But I was prepared to look like a freak. What I didn't expect was when I got in natural sunlight and drove away I looked in rear view mirror and noticed I had a pink moustache! I hoped it was bruising or irritation but after a couple of days but when that subsided, my worst fear was confirmed, she went too above the vermillion line. That is when I stopped sleeping through the night and woke up in the middle of the night and surfed the net on what could be done, does it ever look normal, has this happened to anyone else? I became obsessed with starring at photos of celebrity lips. So I went to her a week later to see what she would say. Her response, well you wanted fuller lips. I said, but they needed to look natural! She said once she gave the touch up and darkened my lips, then it would look natural and better. I felt better until I got home and realized that was a bunch of garbage.

So I read up on laser removal and saline removal. The place in Cleveland that does organic saline removal wouldn't touch me. Said I might scar and I wouldn't be happy with results. She was very vague and only e-mailed me her response, didn't actually return a call. I didn't understand how a pink scar that would eventually fade could be worse than a pink moustache tattoo that was permanent but guess in the day of lawsuits, she didn't want to take the risk I'd blame her if it didn't work.

The lady who did my lips said laser wouldn't be ideal and honestly, I don't have the time and ability to hibernate while my face is repeatedly burned and could initially turn black.

I came across Tattoo Vanish. It is done only a few places in and around Ohio. I called South Point Ink in Kalamazoo Michigan and spoke to Charles who was very confident that he could help me. He had never done this on permanent makeup (which made me nervous) but did treat a "clown face" tattoo that covered the entire mouth area. He had me at clown face. After 2 1/2 weeks of stressing, being self conscience and still not sleeping, I felt euphoric at the thought of hope.

So 2 days ago, after a 4 hour drive, I went to my appointment, exactly 3 weeks after my permanent makeup procedure. He was late but the other tattoo artists were super welcoming and friendly. I could tell they loved what they did and took pride in their craft because they wanted to show my their portfolios and what they have had done on them even though they knew I had no interest in ever getting a tattoo. They did not perform this procedures themselves but were anxious to watch. I loved that there was no judging.

Charles showed up and was not impressed at all with the job my permanent makeup artist did. OBTW, the orange never peeled. Yeah, that 4-5 day period where the initial color comes off and the real color starts to come in a few days after that - never happened. Still see the initial lines and color. Anyways, after I signed several disclaimers that I would not sue in the case of disfigurement, mental stress, WWIII, etc, we went to the chair. I was shown that the equipment was all taken out of sterile packaging so I knew it would be clean (state law). Then the crowd gathered around and he fired up the tattoo needle. It was so much louder than the permanent makeup needle that I had a sudden reality check that I was about to intentionally mess up my face but reminded myself this is a short term price for a long term fix. He went over the line (probably 2 inches total) twice, to open it up. I won't sugar coat, it stung like the dickens. My eyes involuntarily teared. I could feel the blood trickling. He was kind and wiped the tears from my eyes. I opened my eyes I saw him shaking his head. My sister was with me and could see me instantly panic. She knew I would think something was wrong so chimed in that we all just knew that had to hurt. I was like, whew, I thought he was shaking his head thinking, "oh man, this isn't going work."

He then spread the vanish solution. It tingled strongly because well, you are pouring salt on an open wound. Knowing that salt was yanking my pink moustache out made it bearable. After another couple swipes over 10-15 minutes, he wiped it off and cleaned up the area. I was done. He reiterated to keep it dry. He said the ink wasn't very deep and while he can't guarantee anything, he seemed confident it would only take that session and it would work. Scarring depends on how well I keep it dry and how long I can keep the scab on. He said it would be a miracle if I could last 2 weeks since the area is prone to movement and moisture but do the best I can. He didn't think he would need to see me again and there is a chance I won't even have a scar. Miracle? TBD.

So, the part you care about, the after. It is ugly. The other artists in the room were cringing and hope they never get a tattoo removed. My sister gave me sympathy, the sister who as kids made it her life's mission to make me miserable. My brother, who had no idea I was getting this done, jumped at the site of me. When I told him my silly story (because really, permanent makeup it is such a vain procedure to have done in the first place), he remarked he was jealous I had a better moustache that he could ever grow. The scab is thick and red/black. Luckily it is scarf weather because you cannot go out in public without being noticed.

The next morning, it looked worse, thicker and less red, more black.

Day two, just woke up and upper lip is very swollen. Taking tons of vitamins/herbs. Going to focus on hydrating and eating well. Also, need to take off work next week. Was expecting a much smaller scab along the lip line because, well, no one has posted any pictures of this procedure done on permanent makeup on the internet so I had no idea what to expect. Therefore, even though I am an extremely private person, for anyone who is in my position, I want to share my story so you can decide if you want to go this same route. Please wish me quick healing and no scarring!

Scab starting to split due to natural movement of mouth. Have done best not to touch it and have kept it dry. Making me nervous that it will impede the healing process and tattoo removal.

Eeewww, scab is starting to come off, naturally and by accidently brushing against it - like when my nose itched and oops, darn, I have no itch discipline. Looks like a lighter scab is forming underneath the areas where the ridiculously thick scab areas cracked and came off. Maybe that will help reduce scarring. Unfortunately, can't tell if ink is being removed because the color was so close to that of a freshly torn scab.