Four Weeks Before the Procedure

• Avoid any facial or peel treatments.

• Discontinue fish oil, vitamin A, vitamin E, Retin A, and other intense skincare treatments.

• Refrain from receiving Botox injections.

Two Weeks Before the Procedure

• Avoid becoming sick or having a compromised immune system.

• Avoid tanning or sunburn on the face.

One Week Before the Procedure

• Do not pick, tweeze, wax, or perform electrolysis.

• Avoid fish oil or vitamin E supplements (natural blood thinners).

• Refrain from waxing or tinting the treatment area.

Day of the Procedure

• Refrain from working out.

• Do not consume alcohol 24-48 hours before your tattoo.

• Avoid coffee before your procedure.

• Refrain from taking aspirin or ibuprofen (blood thinners).

• KEEP AREA CLEAN and open to the air.

• Do not cover with a Band-Aid or anything else, leave open to air. Air/oxygen provides good and faster healing.

• CLEANSE THE AREA with antibacterial soap. Apply the soap to a damp clean, lint-free cleansing pad and blot the area 3-4 times daily until all scabs fall off. Saline can be used instead.

• DO NOT SOAK the treated area in water.

  • You can shower as normal but keep the area out of the shower spray the best you can and do not let the area stay wet for more than a few minutes. It is best to keep it dry but if you do get it wet, gently pat dry.

• NO BATHING, SWIMMING, SAUNAS, HOT TUBS, TANNING, OR EXERCISE. NO EXCEPTIONS.

• DO NOT disrupt the scabbing process (i.e., no picking, scratching, etc.)

  • All scabbing needs to fall off naturally. If you force or pick a scab off you will disrupt the process and possibly cause scarring. It is critical to keep the scabs on as long as possible to achieve optimum results.

• TREAT AREA WITH TLC.

  • Do not do anything at all that could cause issues or problems to the treated area.

• ONCE ALL SCABBING HAS NATURALLY FALLEN OFF,

  • Apply one drop of Vitamin E oil 3 to 4 times throughout the day for a minimum of 4 weeks, or until the next lightening session.

  • DO NOT start applying Vitamin E oil UNTIL all scabbing has naturally and completely fallen off. It is our goal to keep the area as dry as possible until all scabs have naturally fallen off.

• LIPS:

  • Please drink all liquids with a straw until all scabbing has naturally fallen off.

  • Brush with Toms of Maine or Classic Crest (no whitening, no peroxide toothpastes).

  • Cut food into small bites... no biting into a sandwich. Try to keep mouth expressions to a minimum.

Important Notes:

• It is important to the process and integrity of the skin that 8 full weeks of healing take place before another lightening session can be done. No exceptions.

• Lightening unwanted pigment can be a long process and patience is required. This is true whether you are choosing a saline lightening product or laser. Please be patient and give the process a fair chance to work. Expect visible and wanted results in 2 to 5 sessions. How many sessions are needed will depend on how saturated the pigment is, how deep it was implanted, the location, the skin type, and how much needs to be lightened for the desired result. In many cases, only a percentage of the pigment needs to be lightened, and then we can continue the correction process by color correcting or color shifting. In those cases where we have pigment misplaced or in an unwanted area, color correcting will not be an option, and lightening as much of the pigment as possible will be our ultimate goal.

• Results cannot be foreseen, predicted, or guaranteed.

• If you have any questions or concerns, please call us. If at any time you notice any green or yellow pus in the area of the lightening procedure, or have any concerns during the healing process, please call us immediately.