What is Lip Blushing?
Lip blushing is a semi-permanent makeup tattoo that enhances the natural color of your lips, improving their shape and color to give you a more attractive, youthful look. Lip blushing is the perfect solution if you want to correct uneven pigmentation, have fuller lips, or achieve the perfect pout without having to apply makeup daily.
Benefits:
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Improved symmetry: Our talented technicians work with you to create a customized lip shape designed to complement your unique facial features.
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Fuller lips: Subtle yet impactful layers of color are applied to give the illusion of plumper, more youthful lips.
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Long-lasting results: Lip blushing can last up to two years, eliminating the need for daily makeup applications.
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Natural appearance: Your lips will look naturally beautiful, thanks to the fade-resistance of the pigments used in the procedure.
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​Scar coverage: Lip blushing can help to camouflage scars and uneven pigmentation for a smoother, more even appearance.
What to Expect:
Consultation: Show us photos and lipsticks you love to help us get a sense of your desired color. We’ll guide you in selecting a color closest to what you show us. Keep in mind that the pigment will fade by approximately 50% during the healing process, so we suggest choosing a color a bit brighter than what you’re hoping for. Together, we will choose the perfect shade and design for your lips.
Design Approval and Numbing: After you approve the shape and design, our tattoo artist will apply a numbing cream to ensure a comfortable experience.
Outline: The procedure begins with a delicate outline that defines the shape of your lips. The outline is initially visible for the first few days before it blends seamlessly with your lips.
Layered Pigment Application: We’ll go over your lips with 3-4 layers of pigment, ensuring a stunning and long-lasting result.
During the Procedure
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The procedure takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Feel free to bring headphones to listen to music while our expert technician enhances your lips.
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With the numbing cream applied, you should not feel much pain.
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​Typically, there is minimal bleeding during the procedure – if any occurs, it will be limited to small specks of pinpoint bleeding.
After the Procedure
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Day 1: Expect your lips to be swollen and a bit sore.
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Days 2-3: The swelling will have subsided, but your lips may appear dark and dry.
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Days 3-5: Your lips may peel and scab, and their color will become lighter.
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Days 6-28: It may appear as though the color is gone (don’t panic!).
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Day 28: The color will come back.
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Day 42: Final results! It takes about six weeks for the color to completely develop, so we encourage you to wait the full six weeks before making any decisions about your lips.
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​During the healing process, you might notice patchiness, darkness, lightness, or brightness. Trust the process, as it will lead to your desired results.
Does Lip Blushing Damage the Lips?
Lip blushing is a semi-permanent tattoo used to enhance the natural shape and color of your lips to achieve fuller, more vibrant-looking lips. The procedure does not damage your real lips — instead, it enhances their natural beauty using pigments. When done correctly by an experienced artist, there are minimal risks involved with lip blushing, and it should leave no scars or long-term damage.
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However, it’s important to be aware of possible side effects as with any cosmetic procedure. After the blushing session, you may experience some swelling and tenderness around the lip area, which will generally last for a few days. If you have sensitivities or allergies, discuss them with the artist beforehand to better understand any potential reactions your skin might have.
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​Generally speaking though, lip blushing is safe when done by a qualified technician – so as long as you take all necessary precautions beforehand, you can be sure that this treatment does not damage your lips in any way!
What are the Cons?
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One major disadvantage of lip blushing is that it is semi-permanent. This means that removing the pigments from your skin can be challenging and sometimes even impossible if you’re unhappy with the results. In addition to this, the color of the pigmentation won’t remain vibrant forever due to the continuous exfoliation by everyday activities such as eating and drinking, licking your lips, brushing your teeth, and washing your face.​
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​This means that once chosen, you must pay for regular touch ups every year to ensure that the original desired look is maintained. Before undergoing this semi-permanent procedure, make sure you are absolutely certain you love the result—because making changes can be difficult.
What is the Difference Between Lip Blushing and Lip Filler
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Lip fillers are a temporary solution to achieve fuller, smoother lips. They use injectable dermal fillers made of hyaluronic acid (a naturally occurring substance in the body) to instantly plump up the lips. The effects last anywhere from three to nine months until the fillers break down and are naturally reabsorbed by the body.
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Lip blushing is a semi-permanent makeup procedure that uses specialized pigments to give your lips an even color and shape without the need for daily makeup applications. The effects of lip blushing can last anywhere from two to three years with regular touch ups every year or so. Lip blushing does not add volume to your lips but instead enhances their natural shape and color. This procedure is best suited for those who want a subtle yet impactful result and don’t want to deal with the maintenance required for lip fillers.​
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​Overall, both procedures are excellent options for achieving fuller, smooth lips—it just depends on what you’re looking for in terms of longevity and desired results.
Can You Get a Lip Filler if You Have Lip Blushing?
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Yes! We recommend doing the lip blushing procedure first. Lip filler will change the shape of your lips so if you apply lip blush over lips that have been filled, your lip color and shape will change as the lip filler has dissolved.​
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​However, keep in mind that if you do get fillers after blushing, it’s important to be mindful of how much volume is added as too much may distort your desired result. We offer lip blushing and lip filler services in our clinic so if you’re considering both, it’s best to consult with one of our experienced professionals beforehand.
Who Doesn't Qualify for Lip Blushing
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Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers
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Currently taking Accutane, steroids, or blood-thinning medication
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Cold sores
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Acne, eczema, or rashes around the mouth
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Prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation
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​Severely chapped lips or extensive sun exposure
What are the Cons?
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One major disadvantage of lip blushing is that it is semi-permanent. This means that removing the pigments from your skin can be challenging and sometimes even impossible if you’re unhappy with the results. In addition to this, the color of the pigmentation won’t remain vibrant forever due to the continuous exfoliation by everyday activities such as eating and drinking, licking your lips, brushing your teeth, and washing your face.
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​This means that once chosen, you must pay for regular touch ups every year to ensure that the original desired look is maintained. Before undergoing this semi-permanent procedure, make sure you are absolutely certain you love the result—because making changes can be difficult.
What is 3D Areola?
3D areola tattooing is a specialized technique that uses advanced shading and color blending to recreate the realistic appearance of a natural nipple and areola on the skin. Often performed after mastectomy or breast reconstruction surgery, this tattooing method can restore a sense of wholeness and femininity. Unlike standard tattoos, it’s designed to give the illusion of depth and texture—even on flat skin—making it a powerful final step in the healing journey.
Many clients say this treatment helps them feel confident in their bodies again, reconnecting them with their sense of identity and beauty after breast cancer or surgery.
What will happen at my appointment?
The first step of your areola tattoo is the consultation. Once you complete the general medical history form and the tattoo consent form, we’ll discuss your expectations and your reconstruction history. I’ll take as much time as needed to answer all of your questions.
Before photos are required. Your face will not be included, but photos of your areola restoration are mandatory for your record. Once we have before pictures completed, we move on to the design part, where we select the size, placement, and color of your nipple tattoo.
The next step in the appointment is the actual tattooing. Each areola is completed in approximately 40 minutes. If you have any discomfort, we simply apply a topical anesthetic and you will be more comfortable after that.
Following the tattooing phase, we’ll take “after” photos and then we apply the Tegaderm bandage which you’ll keep on for 3 days. If you’ve previously been reactive to Tegaderm, we can apply a Telfa pad instead.
We’ll review all aftercare instructions with you and answer any remaining questions about healing.
What do I need to do prior to my appointment?
Do not use recreational drugs or alcohol for 48 hrs prior to nipple tattooing.
Nicotine constricts your vascular system and will impede healing. We *highly suggest* that you abstain from smoking at least 2 weeks before and after your session.
You will be sent home in a Tegaderm bandage so your tattoo will be protected. You will be most comfortable if you wear a loose-fitting top. You are free to wear a bra if you are more comfortable in one than without.
Do not take aspirin or NSAID at least 24 hours prior to your appointment. Tylenol is OK, as it does not thin the blood. However, DO NOT STOP regularly prescribed blood thinning medications from your physician, (aspirin or prescriptions). The tattoo is a superficial procedure, not an invasive surgery.
You must wait at least 6 weeks after ceasing chemotherapy. If it’s any sooner than 6 weeks, you must have written consent from your physician prior to your appointment.
Skin must be completely free of tinted or self-tanning lotions. We suggest to stop using self-tanning lotions at least 2 weeks prior to your appointment.
Is it painful?
While everyone’s pain tolerance is different, most patients report little to no pain with areola repigmentation. Depending on the type of breast reconstruction you had, there usually is decreased sensation of the skin — especially with flap (ie: DIEP/Latissimus) reconstructions. After your areola tattoo, you might experience discomfort that is comparable to a minor sunburn for a few days. During the nipple tattoo, if you experience discomfort, we can apply a topical lidocaine anesthetic.
How soon can I schedule
my appointment?
You should schedule your nipple tattoo only once you are completely healed from any surgery or invasive procedure. You should not have any additional revisions scheduled and you must receive approval for areola tattooing from your surgeon. You must be fully healed with no scabbing remaining. You should not schedule an areola tattoo sooner than a minimum of 12 weeks post-op. Regardless of the number of weeks you wait post-op (12, 16, 20+ weeks etc.), it is imperative that ALL incisions must be fully healed–without any scabbing and residual swelling must be gone.
How long will the appointment be?
Your session will take approximately 2 to 2.5 hours total. The bulk of the appointment is spent on the consultation, design, and color selection. The actual nipple tattooing process is typically only 40 minutes per areola.
