Scars and Stretch Mark Tattoo

Introduction

Treatments for Scars and Stretch Marks

It’s a fact that the skin undergoes many changes and even trauma. There are many causes for the changes in our skin, including: 

• Recreational or occupational injury;

• Rapid weight gain in our body, e.g. moms who have given birth; weightlifters who have experienced sudden muscle growth, or fat storage (and those using Creatine);

• Self Harm Scars;

• Surgery (Cosmetic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Implants etc.); and

• Vitiligo 

If you are exploring options to resolve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, or even Vitiligo, you might want to consider clinical camouflage tattoo.  Clinical camouflage tattoo is a proven long-term pigmentation procedure that blends away the appearance of scars, stretch marks or even Vitiligo, using clinically proven, custom-formulated pigments, and traditional tattoo techniques.

Clinical camouflage tattoo can be an excellent choice over masking these areas with daily makeup.  It's also a more cost effective option than costly surgery, which requires extensive travel, and even multiple trips. Given the amount of options and information it can seem difficult to determine whether camouflage tattoo is the right option for you.

If you are considering camouflage tattoo, you likely have a number of questions, including:

• What types of camouflage tattoo are available?
• How much does it cost to have camouflage tattoo done, and what are the upkeep costs?
• How long will camouflage tattoo last?
• What are the risks in having camouflage tattoo?
• What are the alternatives to getting camouflage tattoo?

This webpage provides important facts on camouflage tattoo (e.g. paramedical tattoo) to help you be more informed, supporting you to make the right choice for your body, skin and condition of the area to be treated. Using these questions as a guide, this webpage describes the most common types of camouflage tattoo, and discusses the factors involved in choosing, scheduling, and maintaining camouflage tattoo.

This webpage is intended for clients who are looking for background information on camouflage tattoo options in order to support informed decision making regarding service selection, purchasing, and maintenance.  The information provided here is general, and specific details may vary depending on your scar, stretch mark or Vitiligo, the location, overall area, and service provider.  This webpage should not replace working with an individual professional or beauty advisor, who will ensure that your camouflage tattoo experience meets your needs and desired objectives.

Camouflage tattoo and cosmetic tattoo in general is an effective way to resolve an aesthetic concern, and to simplify your self-care routine.  In thinking about aesthetics in the context of your overall health and wellness, it is recommended that you factor in your state of mental well-being, as well as your body's ability to heal from an camouflage tattoo procedure when subscribing to an camouflage tattoo service.

Cosmetic products or services should never be used to mask what could be an underlying medical condition.  Please consult first with your primary physician before subscribing to any cosmetic products or aesthetic services.

Scar, stretch mark or Vitiligo camouflage tattoo uses a specialized technique that is nearly identical to traditional tattoo methods. Both the pigments and needle depth are very similar to common tattoo processes. The difference between camouflage and traditional tattoo is that traditional tattoo aims to create designs that stand out and contrast next to the skin, whereas camouflage tattoo aims to conceal, or even areas of the skin that stands out.

Camouflage Tattoo is a form of “paramedical tattoo”, and it is an increasingly popular alternative to surgical and invasive medical procedures.

In 2 to 3 hours and sometimes multiple sessions, an electric machine with a fine precision needle is used for the procedure. After carefully mixing a selection of custom formulated pigments mixed specifically to match your skin, small dots are rapidly deposited into the dermis.  The result: an incredibly natural and realistic continuation of your beautiful skin, masking unwanted scars, stretch marks, or Vitiligo.

Tattoo Basic Concepts

Tattoo by itself has been a technique used for thousands of years by many civilizations to embed pigments beneath the surface of the skin, for various purposes, including tribal or cultural identification, religion, personal expression, and even by some people groups as a form of medicinal practice.

How Tattoo Is Permanent

When receiving a traditional tattoo, a special machine with needles punches through the skin between 50 and 3,000 times per minute. The needles travel through the epidermis and allow the ink to seep deep into the dermis, where all the nerves, collagen fibres, blood vessels, and glands are.

Each time the needle penetrates, it causes an individual wound that sends an alert to the body’s inflammatory process. This calls the immune system to the wound site to begin repairing the skin. This process is what makes tattoos permanent.

Special cells called macrophages consume the invading material (pigments) to clean up the inflammatory mess. The macrophages travel back through the lymphatic system carrying the dye all the way back to the lymph nodes, but other macrophages get left behind in the dermis.

When the straggling macrophages get stuck behind, there is no way to dispose of the pigment and instead the dyes trapped inside of them remain visible through the skin.¹

Initially, ink is deposited into the epidermis.  As the skin heals, the damaged epidermal cells are shed and then replaced by new dye-free cells, with the top outermost layer peeling off like a healing sunburn.  Complete epidermal regeneration happens in 2 to 4 weeks.

Pigments that remain stuck behind form the tattoo that is visible to the human eye. It stays with us for many years, subject to the influence of environmental factors like sun exposure and lifestyle during the healing process.

Camouflage Tattoo Basic Concepts

Camouflage tattoo is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that embeds (in)organic pigments into the dermal layer of the skin, placed with the use of a specialized electronic tattoo machine, quickly punching through the skin many times.

Why Camouflage Tattoo Is As Permanent As Traditional Tattoo

Camouflage tattoo is intended to be a permanent to long-lasting solution. The correct technique focuses on depositing pigment deep into the dermis - just as with regular tattoo.

Recap for Camouflage Tattoo

Camouflage incorporates the use of traditional tattoo methods and skin matching pigments. Retention is expected to be lifetime, but may require regular colour touch-ups or refreshing. Retention is affected by, among other things, lifestyle, an adherence to postcare instructions.

Being a candidate for Camouflage Tattoo does not guarantee any certain outcomes, nor does it alleviate the potential for any risks. Before subscribing to any camouflage tattoo be sure to consult with a qualified provider using a consultation.

Here are some common terms you may come across while investigating camouflage tattoo.

Camouflage Tattoo Service

A Dermopigmentist, Paramedical Tattoo Artist is a person who performs Camouflage Tattoo, and who may have received formal, or informal training or certification.

A tattoo ink is a pigment that is combined with a carrier, and used in camouflage tattooing, and is generally considered to be permanent.

An organic pigment is the result of chemical synthesis and does not come from organic sources.

An inorganic pigment is a dye substance which does not contain carbon, except in its elementary form (carbon black – carbonate) or carbonate. They include mainly oxides, salts or silicates. They can be obtained from finely pulverized minerals or chemical synthesis. They are composed of other elements such as iron, aluminium, cobalt, or chromium.

Tattoo removal is the process through which tattoo ink is lifted or removed from within the skin. This process is sometimes performed manually with saline removal but more commonly with a laser device. Tattoo removal can be difficult, and painful.

The dermis is a layer of skin between the epidermis and tissue beneath the skin.

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin that we can see with our eyes.

Macrophages are a type of white blood cell in our immune system that engulfs foreign substances found in the human body.

Camouflaging for scars, stretch marks or even Vitiligo is perfect for:

• Anyone over 18 years of age;
• Anyone with scars or stretch marks that have healed for at least 2 years;
• Any colour or skin type;
• Anyone who is not pregnant or breastfeeding

If you have Vitiligo, scars, or stretch marks that are white and have healed for at least 2 years, then you could be a camouflage tattoo candidate.

For those who have considered surgery, skin grafting, or laser work, you may have been surprised at the time commitment involved to complete all of the sessions necessary to resolve your concerns. As well, scar revision can be expensive and often require extensive travel for preliminary and follow-up consultations.

Camouflage Tattoo is a great alternative to surgery and laser treatments due to its lower price point and more immediate results.

Ivonne Sanchez has been trained by Fernanda Jaffre of Studio Magic Ink, located in Brazil. Fernanda was a student and protege to Rodolpho Torres, who is renowned for his Brazilian camouflage tattoo techniques. Ivonne has also taken remote learning and further courses by Rodolpho Torres.

Camouflage tattoo performed correctly will remain in the skin indefinitely. There are general factors that impact the retention and appearance of your camouflage tattoo, however. These include:

• Lifestyle
• Adherence to precare and aftercare instructions around the camouflage tattoo service
• Smoking
• Exposure to sun and other environmental influences
• Genetics
• Skincare and Skin health

The body's natural response to foreign material, like tattoo pigments, is to remove it. This is the natural healthy response, and so camouflage tattoo professionals are always up against the unknown when it comes to how effective the body will be in response to pigments.  There are no guarantees, warranties, or assurance, express or implied on how long your camouflage tattoo may sustain its desired look - only estimations. Since camouflage tattoo is impacted by a variety of factors such as lifestyle, sun exposure, and things that are generally outside of our control there are no certainties about how long your camouflage tattoo will uphold its appearance for.

The Province of Ontario, through its local Public Health Units oversee camouflage tattoo as a Personal Service Setting under O. Reg 136/18. Through annual, or period inspections, Public Health officers of a local Public Health Unit will assess a Personal Service Setting for its compliance with the regulations and report its findings to the public through the mandatory display of inspection certificates, and through its online database of inspection results.

Public health units do not assess the practitioner's skill, ability, or credentials as it relates to camouflage tattoo. Instead public health inspectors ensure that the environment and related processes to deliver camouflage tattoo are safe, and in accordance with the prevailing infection prevention and control best practices.

Health Canada is responsible for overseeing the regulation of cosmetics in Canada. Through their regulations they have set out what ingredients can, and cannot be included in cosmetic products, and at what concentration levels.

Health Canada does not have an approval process for cosmetics like tattoo pigments, and does not, as an ongoing practice assess tattoo pigments for their chemical or toxic ingredient composition. Tattoo pigments are not generally approved by Health Canada, however if they contain prohibited ingredients or prohibited concentrations of ingredients then these pigments could be unsafe, and pulled from the market.

To ensure that your camouflage tattoo professional is complying with the established safety protocols and regulations it is recommended  to search the name of their business in any local Public Health Inspections database.

When choosing an camouflage tattoo professional for camouflage tattoo consider the following:

• Am I comfortable with them? Can I communicate my expectations clearly and do we understand each other? Do we have a good rapport?
• Am I comfortable with their work? Can I envision myself with "their" work on my body?

Camouflage tattoo should always be performed by a qualified provider. Consult a local permanent makeup or skincare clinic to understand your options. You should choose a provider that is located close by so that you can access them easily for follow-up appointments, or to receive any additional skincare or aftercare support.  While out of town and fly-in clients are increasingly common we recommend choosing a professional that you can work with for years to come, and for other related services.

The cost of having camouflage tattoo depends on the area and condition of skin, pre-existing work, the quality of equipment and supplies, the experience and setting of the professional, and of course your objectives and budget.

Camouflage tattoo can be touched-up, or refreshed after several years. It's a good idea to plan your touch-up appointments in advance, and in accordance with the recommendations of your professional.

It is recommended to first request an official cost estimate request ("quote") and/or a virtual consultation with your camouflage tattoo professional before proceeding with any service. This can be done several months before scheduling your appointment.

Once you have made the decision to proceed with camouflage tattoo be sure to schedule both your appointment factoring in the precare and aftercare requirements.

During the scheduled appointment your camouflage tattoo professional will perform a final consultation where you will:

• Review the colour and area,
• Review and approve the colour formulation, providing feedback along the way
• Receive the initial camouflage tattoo treatment

Your initial camouflage tattoo treatment could take up to 3 hours, and follow-up appointments may take just as long. Therefore, it's a great idea to plan your day by having a snack before your appointment and using the toilet when you arrive.

Follow These Important Steps Before Your Camouflage Appointment

Follow These Important Steps After Your Camouflage Tattoo Appointment

You should take note of several important things to maintain your camouflage tattoo. Remember:

• Find a Skincare Routine. Great skin is the best foundation for any skin-related treatment. Adopt a consistent skincare routine and tackle any skincare concerns before investing in camouflage tattoo.
• Maintain Your Skincare Routine. Adequately protected and hydrated skin that balances any excess oil is critical to support longer-lasting camouflage tattoo.
• Schedule Your Appointments Around Botox, Fillers, or Surgery. If you are receiving camouflage tattoo in the same area as Botox or filler then be sure to leave yourself enough space on either side of a Botox or filler service (2 weeks) and up to a month before or after any plastic surgery or eye surgery.
• Temporarily Set Aside Exfoliants and Active Skincare. For the week before and after your camouflage tattoo avoid any skincare services or products that require the skin to undergo controlled injury and healing. Be sure to consult with the precare and aftercare instructions provided by your camouflage tattoo professional.
• Avoid The Sun. Prevent from burning and prolonged exposure to sun around your camouflage tattoo appointment. Support your camouflage tattoo pigment retention by avoiding sun tanning/burning altogether.
• Plan Ahead. Great camouflage tattoo professionals are often booked for months in advance. Be sure to pre-book your touch-ups and colour boosts.

It might seem like a good idea to choose a lower-cost, or first-available option when scheduling camouflage tattoo. This can sometimes lead to unexpected or undesirable results. Receiving bad camouflage tattoo can be emotionally difficult, time consuming, and cost considerably more than if you had made a different choice.

If you or someone you know has recently had a bad experience with camouflage tattoo then please consider these options:

• Immediately make contact with your camouflage professional so that they can hear your feedback, and provide you with guidance and instruction. If they are unwilling to work with you then reach out to their master trainer, or certifying body in case they can refer you to an alternative resource.
• If your camouflage professional is no longer available, or you do not feel comfortable working with them again then you can also ask your social network for recommendations for a new provider, sending them the criteria from this webpage.
• If several months have passed, and you are well outside of the healing period for your new camouflage tattoo consider speaking with a laser removal specialist to discuss your options.