Get a Good Look

Pale lips, odd eyebrows and asymmetrical features may not be things to worry about anymore. Permanent make-up can come to your rescue by giving you artificial eyebrows, colouring your lips, reshaping them, rectifying uneven features and even enhancing breast aerola.

The procedure is a cosmetic technique that employs tattoos (permanent pigmentation of the dermis) as a means of producing designs that resemble make-up. The treatment gives the impression of light make-up at all times.

Skin-deep Experts say that the treatment does not last forever, the results are visible for 4-5 years, after which the colour starts fading gradually. Skin care expert and MD of Eleganza Rejuvenation Clinic Dr Seema Malik says, "People mostly come here for lip colouring, artificial eyebrows and lip reshaping.

The permanent pigment is embedded into the skin to highlight lip-lining and eye-lining. Treatments cost Rs 3,000-30,000.

We also address skin problems like leucoderma in which we colour the white patches on the skin." Money matters Asha, 23, was upset with the uneven shape of her lips and went in for permanent lip reshaping.

Although she had to shell out Rs 25,000 for the treatment, she is happy with her look. "It cost a lot of money but I got the look I always wanted," she says.

Doctors state that the result appears harsh just after its application, but becomes natural after a few days or weeks depending on one's skin and healing power. Generally, the healing time is just one or two days.

Picture perfect Cosmetic surgeon Dr Anup Dhir of Apollo hospital gets 3-4 enquiries per week. But he says that he would not really advise just about everyone to go for permanent make-up because it is difficult and costly to remove.

"Laser treatment, which removes this make-up, is costlier than the make-up itself," he adds. But people who opt for the permanent make-up procedure generally like what they get.

Neeru, 31, got her lips coloured and had a mole placed above her lips - something like supermodel Cindy Crawford's famous beauty spot. "When I came to know about this treatment, I was excited because I could flaunt the look I always dreamt of," says Neeru.

Founder and director VLCC Vandana Luthra says the technique can mimic eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, lip liner, and lipstick. Permanent make-up is ideal for women who cannot afford the time to apply make-up throughout the day.

At the end of the day, the make-up looks as though it was just freshened. One can select from a wide variety of shades, or a new shade can be created.