​Scar Camouflage

Scar camouflage can help with burn scars, acne scars, stretch marks, surgical scars and scars caused by accidents.

Scar relaxation can help to soften  scars, promote collagen production and make them less noticeable over time. 

Depending on the severity of the scar and other factors such as how long you've had the scar will determine the outcome.

• Alopecia Areata
• Breast Augmentation
• Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
• Breast Reconstruction
• Breast Reduction
• Burn Scars
• Scar Relaxation
• Scar Revision

• Face Lift Scars
• Hypo-Pigmentation 
• Surgical Scars 
• Trauma Scars

WHAT IS SCAR CAMOUFLAGE?
Skin or scar camouflage is tattooing of the skin with different colors of flesh tone pigments. Its purpose is to disguise a scar or skin area that is missing pigment or color. It is a specialized area of permanent cosmetics that falls under the category of Medical or Paramedical Tattooing. This process is also called Corrective Pigment Camouflage (CPC), Corrective Camouflage, Skin Re-pigmentation, Scar Camouflage, Skin Camouflage, Camouflage Tattooing, and Skin Color Tattooing. Scar Camouflage is a type of medical tattooing which helps reduce the appearance of scars from accidents, burns, surgery, or the repair of congenital disorders such as Cleft Palate. Other forms of medical tattooing include hair simulation which helps restore the appearance of missing hair lost to disease (Cancer or Alopecia), trauma, or natural thinning within an eyebrow, or scalp. Restorative camouflage like areola re-pigmentation helps post-mastectomy patients by creating a nipple and areola on the new reconstructed breast. The appearance of areola incision scars from breast surgeries for augmentation, reduction, and breast lift can also be masked.  
 
ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR SCAR CAMOUFLAGE?   
You might be a candidate if you meet the criteria below. Your scar should be:

• Healed and no longer pink or changing color: Your scar should be at least 9 to 12 months old with stable color. If it is red or pink or still changing color, the tissue may still be healing. A reputable, experienced medical tattooist will not work prematurely on scar tissue because it may cause further damage to the skin.
• Smooth and relatively flat: Camouflage tattooing cannot disguise or correct extreme changes in skin texture. If your scar or skin area is bumpy or raised, the process may not be effective. If you have any skin surface irregularity, please consult with a Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon first to see if any type of medical treatments can first improve the skin texture.
• Without dark edges: Dark edges or borders around a scar indicate Post Inflammatory Hyper-pigmentation (PIHP) from the initial trauma or surgery. It is possible that the camouflage tattooing process may increase the hyper-pigmentation and create a wider, darker border. The risk of this happening is usually greater with darker skin tones.
• Do not have one of the following: Keloid, scars with raised dark edges, Port Wine birthmarks; spider veins; freckles; age spots; under eye circles; hyper-pigmentation; or unstable vitiligo (not in remission). These can be improved with non-tattoo medical treatments such as lasers, sclerotherapy, or chemical peels. Please consult with a physician regarding the best course of treatment for these conditions.
• Have realistic expectations: Camouflage tattooing will not completely restore skin to the way it looked before it was injured. The process will not “erase” a scar or skin abnormality, so it appears completely gone and the area looks “perfect” again. It improves color differences to help disguise the scar or anomaly and make it less noticeable to other people.
• Do not spend time tanning: A scar camouflage tattoo will not be a “perfect” match to the surrounding skin color. This is due to the constant changes in skin tones from blood flow, body temperature, and tanning. The pigment in the tattoo will not darken if it is exposed to sunlight or tanning booths, so the tattoo may appear lighter if the surrounding skin tans. When the tattoo color matches tanned skin, it may appear darker once the surrounding tanned skin fades. Therefore, if you spend time outdoors, you will need to adjust your lifestyle or decide to match the tattoo to “winter” or “summer” skin and live with the changes in between.
• Do not expect results in one session: Camouflage re-pigmentation is a process, not a one-time "cure". It is performed on “unhealthy” skin that has been damaged or altered. Its response cannot be predicted—a scar or vitiligo patch may have areas that absorb pigment, reject it, or both. The area will look dark and red immediately after a tattooing session, and then it takes several weeks to show the healed color (or not). This requires time and patience.

 
WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
A consultation is required to determine if you are a candidate for scar camouflage tattooing and discuss your options. Consultations are $75 for up to 45 minutes and the cost of your consultation will be credited to your treatment cost if you are a candidate and wish to move forward with the treatment.

Scar RElaxation

What is Scar Relaxation?
Non-surgical Scar Revision also known as Scar Relaxation uses advanced skin needling techniques to reduce the appearance of scars.  Old scar tissue fibers deep within the skin are released when the skin tissue is punctured with micro-needles.  The treatment repairs the skin naturally, working below the epidermis layer in the dermis layer of the skin tissue. This takes time as new collagen and elastin fibers are formed, softening scars, generating new skin cells, and enhancing blood supply. Results can be seen in as little as a few weeks with a dramatic improvement of scars. This is a beneficial procedure for women and men who have surgical scars from mastectomy and breast reconstruction.

What is a scar?
A scar is a result of a series of wound healing steps that the body undertakes to repair damage to the skin. Scars that heal poorly may become:

• Discolored where a scar becomes lighter or redder than the surrounding skin 
• Raised or recessed like a dimple   
• Abnormally textured
  

What causes post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) of scars?
PIH refers to the increased pigment (darkening) of the area around a scratch, cut, burn or other injury to the skin.  Melanocytes are the skin cells responsible for making melanin, the substance that gives color to the skin.  Melanin is made through a chemical process that changes the amino acid tyrosine with the oxidative enzyme tyrosinase.  The process is stimulated by the exposure of the skin to ultraviolet light (UV).   Skin irritation, like rashes, contact dermatitis, acne, or exposure to chemicals, is sufficient to cause the problem of PIH in susceptible individuals.   Traumas to the skin like surgical incisions or burns can also trigger the enzyme tyrosinase to stimulate an increased production of melanin in the scar area.

Benefits of Scar Relaxation:

• Improved cosmetic appearance and reduced visibility of the scar   
• Improves the appearance of red and hyper-pigmented scars   
• Brings your skin back as close to its normal appearance as possible

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