August 2, 2010
Undoing tattooed eyebrows
Image by Don Regachuelo
Dear Dr. Perry,
Good day! I wrote because I would like to ask for information regarding my tattooed eyebrow.
Will tattooing again with the use of skin colored ink remove the ink previously used without leaving any pigmentation or marks?
You see, I had my eyebrow tattooed again last month for the purpose of removing the previous tattoo job. She used a light brown ink but when it healed, there was still no change. If I will resort to using white ink or a small amount of light brown mixed with white ink, would it be of help or would it make the problem worse? By the way, I have fair skin and am in my mid 20s.
If tattooing with the best ink suited to my skin color will not give best result, will cosmetic surgery be necessary? And also, can the scar caused by the infection due to tattooing be treated by means of scar revision or autologous transplantation?
Please help me doctor. I want my tattoo to be completely removed. You're the only one that I can trust. Thank you for your patience, and more power.
—Name Witheld
Dr. Perry replies:
Eyebrow tattooing has its advantages and disadvantages. You will appreciate its usefulness in the early weeks or months after the procedure.
After some time, the color fades and the form (design) changes. This is due to the absorption and/or migration of the pigment used. The form is also changed by the downward pull of the upper lid as a result of the ageing process. If and when these things happen, rectification procedures will come in different forms depending on the extent of the problem.
If the problem is just fading of the ink used, booster tattooing with the same color will help - a darker shade may also be used to heighten its effect. If the form of the tattoo has changed due to pigment migration, tattooing with skin-colored will cover the defect. If the change in form is due to the downward pull of the skin, a surgical procedure known as Browlift will correct the problem.
If you want to completely remove your previous tattoo, you will have to undergo a series of tattooing with the skin-colored ink. The number of sessions will depend on the depth of the previous tattoo, but there's no limit as long as your skin can tolerate the procedure.
With regard to the scar caused by infection, autologous fat transplantation or fat grafting may be resorted to if the problem is just scar depression. If it is cosmetically unacceptable, a scar revision would be more appropriate.
Scar revision involves removal of the existing scar, followed by a meticulous plastic surgical closure of the wound to produce a more acceptable, barely visible scar.
Dr. Perry de la Cruz obtained his medical degree from the University of Sto. Tomas. He is a diplomate of the Philippine Board of Cosmetic Surgery; a fellow of the Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery; and a member of the Asian Pacific Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. He pioneered research on "Serial Revision of Leg Scars" in 1988. His clinic is at:
Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Unit 518 Medical Office Building
205 Civic Drive, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Telephone no. (632) 771-9246
Visit his web site at www.geocities.com/docperryster or e-mail him at docperryster@gmail.com.
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