How Permanent Lip Liner and Lip Color Can Help You
Permanent lip liner and color can improve the appearance of lips for women and men. It helps lips appear more defined without surgery or fillers and restores color to lips that are too pale. Permanent lip liner eliminates the daily use of pencils to outline, fill-in, or reshape lip borders. Permanent lip color decreases the need to reapply lipstick or lip gloss. Lip tattooing helps correct and balance the symmetry of lips that are uneven, too thin, too thick, or scarred. It can also enhance the natural color and shape of “perfect” lips.

Lip Shape, Design, and Color
Lips are an important beauty feature of the mouth. They form a smile and show emotions. They help “frame” a person’s teeth and determine attractiveness. When lips are well shaped and balanced, they align with the center of a person’s face and have even sides. The upper lip and lower lip should match and should be equally proportioned. A flattering Cupid’s bow (the top “points” of the upper lip) is one that is not too flat, pointy, or rounded.

At Artistic Cosmetic Solutions, each new permanent lip color procedure includes a face and lip shape analysis. Dr. Reed has over 30 years experience in conventional makeup artistry. She will work with you to create a custom designed lip shape that is flattering and pleases you. She will also help you choose a color that gives you flexibility to change it later by applying a different shade of lipstick when you want.

Quality and Safety of Your Lip Procedure
Dr. Reed is a lifetime artist and is highly trained in advanced color theory and innovative lip color techniques. She is experienced in tattooing lips using multiple colors and methods including a basic liner, lip liner with blending, and full lip color. As a doctor, she has extensive education in human anatomy, physiology, and infection control. Many physicians and dentists refer patients to her because they trust her knowledge and expertise. She has successfully tattooed lip color on patients with naturally uneven lip borders, very full lips, and thin lips. She has also helped patients with scars from accidents and reconstructive surgery (e.g. Cleft Palate).

Lip Tattoo Techniques
Blended Lip Liner: This method is for anyone who wants a lip liner that appears soft. Dr. Reed creates a liner on the lip border and then shades it inward slightly so it appears as if the person’s lipstick has been eaten-off. This technique is more attractive than a lip liner by itself (plain line) which can appear harsh and unnatural. Uneven lip borders can be balanced with this procedure.

Blended Lip Liner Technique
Before	After

​​Full Lip Color With Liner: This method is for anyone who wants the appearance of wearing lipstick with a defined lip line. Dr. Reed first creates a liner on the lip border then implants color inward throughout the fleshy part of the lips. When healed, lip gloss can be worn alone or different colors of lipstick can be applied on top. Uneven lip size can be adjusted by tattooing just outside or inside of the edges of the lips to balance thickness. Uneven lip borders can also be balanced with this procedure.

Full Lip Liner with Color Technique
Before	After

Preparing for Your Procedure Appointment
You should allow at least 3 hours for your initial procedure. If you remove facial hair around your lips by tweezing, shaving, threading, or waxing, that should be done a few days before your appointment. E lectrolysis or laser hair removal should be completed 5 to 7 days before. Taking an anti-viral medication is recommended, especially if you have a history of Chicken Pox or cold sores. You should also wear and bring your favorite color lipstick or lip pencil for color matching. Additional preparation guidelines will be given to you when you schedule your procedure appointment.

During Your Permanent Lip Color Procedure
You will fill out forms including a medical history that Dr. Reed will review. She will evaluate the shape of your face and lips including their symmetry and fullness. She will discuss techniques and colors with you. After the best design and color have been determined, a topical anesthetic will be applied to numb your lips. The final pattern will then be drawn and approved by you as the template Dr. Reed will follow during your procedure. She will continue to apply anesthetics during the process to keep you comfortable. Before and after photos will also be taken for your confidential file with your colors recorded for future references.

After Your Permanent Lip Color Procedure
You lips will be temporarily swollen right after your procedure. They will be tender and may have some minor bruising in some places that will go away in a few days. Your lip color will definitely be brighter and darker than what you want. It will lighten a lot after your lips peel (about 3 to 6 days post procedure). The color will continue to soften and stabilize over the next several weeks. Your lips will be bright and slightly larger than normal (from swelling) during the first week of healing, so you should keep this in mind when scheduling your procedure. To minimize any chance of infection or allergic reaction at home, Dr. Reed will give you detailed after care instructions with a complete kit containing safe medical grade products at no additional cost.

Follow-up and Maintenance Appointments
Your lips will gradually lighten and the color will stabilize over several weeks following your procedure. Lip tissue is different from regular skin, so it loses the most color following an initial tattooing procedure. Your lips will probably heal lighter than you want, but they can be darkened with a second application of pigment at a follow-up visit (“touch-up”). A follow-up might be needed to adjust shape or add color to areas that healed lighter from tissue swelling and bleeding during the tattooing process. Ideally, your second visit should be completed between 4 to 8 weeks post procedure. Because permanent makeup can fade over time, you can schedule maintenance visits every few years to keep your color looking fresh.

No Lipstick or Liner	Full Lip Color With Liner
Before	After
No Lipstick or Liner	Blended Permanent Lip Liner
Before	After

Blended Lip Liner Tattoo
Before (no lipstick or liner)	After (with clear gloss)

After (no gloss)	After (with lipstick)

No Lipstick or Liner	Permanent Lip Color & Liner
Before	After (with clear lip gloss)

Blended Lip Liner Tattoo
Before (no lipstick or liner)	After (with clear gloss)

After (no gloss)	After (with lipstick)