Lip tattoos: Why do people do it? What are the costs and risks?

Lip tattoos are artificial pigmentations of the lips.
The procedure is also called lip pigmentation or lip blushing or lip coloring.
It seems a simple procedure but it is not without side effects.

Infection is the most common problem noticed after the procedure. Read on to get more information on it!

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What are lip tattoos?

Lip tattoos are semi-permanent or permanent makeup for the lips. In this, colored pigment is inserted into the lips to give it color. This technique is done using small tattooing needles. This can be done on the inside or the outside of the lips.

This area is an extremely sensitive area of the face. Hence, lip tattoos and pigmentation procedure is more painful.

The procedure per se is costly. 1 sitting for a simple tattoo would cost around $ 50 or more. In this, only the inside of the lips is tattooed. But a full permanent makeup on the lips would run into $ 400-800. The cost would depend on the surgeon, the location of his or her clinic, and the area of lips covered with the pigment.

But the tattoos fade away faster. Hence frequent touchups are required. Thus, in the long run, the procedure would be costlier than imagined.

Risks of the procedure

Like all procedures on the body, this lip tattooing procedure is also not without ill effects or dangers. There is a high risk of infection due to the proximity to the mouth area which is teeming with bacteria and germs. It is difficult to keep the area clean. The tattoo needles themselves could spread infection.

Mouth rinses are also prescribed after the procedure to cut down on the infection risk. The inner lip tattoos are more susceptible to getting infected.

Additionally, the tattoo needles might inflict micro-injuries on the sensitive and vascular lip area. Hence, there might be more swelling involved. Cold packs around the area could decrease this swelling. It may take a day or two to subside.

There is also a risk of scarring when the wound of tattooing does not heal well. If the tattoo gets infected or the person is allergic to the dye injected, scarring is more. Besides, in allergenic individuals, the pigment that is a chemical might induce an allergic reaction.

Signs of the allergic reaction are rashes, hives, and itchiness. Rare cases of anaphylaxis and deaths are also reported. Not well-sterilized tattoo needles could transmit diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. 0.02 % of side effects of lip tattoos are severe.

The exact procedure technique

Do not eat or drink anything before the procedure. There is no anesthesia used during the procedure.

As with other tattoos, the tattoo artist would first let you choose the design you want on the lips. This will then be traced to the lips. And then with sterile needles, the desired colors would be inserted at the right places by slow and methodical punctures on the lips.

After the work is done, the area is covered with a clean and sterile bandage. There is pain and also some bleeding during the procedure.

The lip tattoo takes around two weeks to heal. When the tattoo artist one chooses is experienced and licensed, the risks are less. But see to it that the recommended inks are used for the lip tattoo.

Touch-ups might be needed in a few months. Lip tattoos are an artistic expression and are done only for that purpose. KUWTK star Kendall Jenner has a lip tattoo that says: MEOW

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