SMP is a non-invasive treatment using very small needles to deposit small dots using ink to give the illusion of hair follicles. Scalp micropigmentation can tremendously help people with any form of hair loss. The result creates a realistic illusion of tiny hair follicles that restore the appearance of fuller hair. Scalp micropigmentation is a very good option for people with:
This innovative, simple, and effective treatment can help both men and women who are experiencing any form of hair loss or density loss. When carried out by a licensed professional, scalp micropigmentation can create the look of close-cropped hair, create the look of a restored hairline, the look of a thicker hair, and camouflage transplant scarring.
The cost of scalp micropigmentation will highly depend on the area of skin that has to be worked on, as well as on how complex the process is going to be. Consequently, it varies from person to person, and only after a complete evaluation of your scalp will we be able to estimate the price you will have to pay for the treatment. However, the cost ranges between $350 and $3,500, with the average cost being $500. The following are cost estimates for various problems concerning the hair:
Every person has their own pain threshold, which means that some people who get scalp micropigmentation will experience a low to mild level of pain, whereas others may experience more moderate pain. Scalp micropigmentation uses a dotting technique, which is significantly less painful than a traditional tattoo scraping technique. In addition to your personal tolerance of pain, your perception of pain can be influenced by environmental, psychological, and emotional factors.
These are some of the additional factors that might affect the way you experience pain during scalp micropigmentation:
One thing you can do while the specialist is performing scalp micropigmentation in order to keep your mind off the pain and reduce the unpleasant sensation is keeping yourself distracted and busy, such as watching a video or a movie, scrolling through social media, and using your phone in general.
If done correctly by a highly skilled and trained professional, scalp micropigmentation can look incredibly real, and no one will know you have gotten the treatment unless you say otherwise. According to the experience of most people who decide to get scalp micropigmentation, their co-workers or family members say they look younger or ask if they got a new haircut without being able to pinpoint the exact change.
There are many factors the professional that will perform scalp micropigmentation will consider to ensure it will look as real as possible on the client, such as:
Unfortunately, if you struggle with permanent hair loss, scalp micropigmentation cannot make your hair grow back, as the purpose of the treatment is to create the illusion that you have more hair density than you actually have. On the bright side, scalp micropigmentation will give you the look of short hair or a tight buzz-cut. It is recommended to keep your hair on the short side in order to obtain the most natural outcome.
Lastly, if you are worried about scalp micropigmentation damaging the hair you already have, you should not be concerned at all, as this treatment is similar to tattooing. Therefore, the pigments used will have no side effects on hair follicles, and you should expect your typical hair growth to remain the same after you get scalp micropigmentation.
This minimally invasive solution to hair loss is safe. The deposits of pigment rest in the outer layer of the scalp, there is no blood drawn during the procedure. Similar to a tattoo, scalp micropigmentation is considered safe. However, you will have to precisely follow the instructions you will be given about how to care for your scalp for the following weeks to make sure it heals properly.
According to the FDA, scalp micropigmentation ink is cosmetic, and there is “a lack of evidence” that proves any harmful effects in ink. Consequently, as long as you go to a professional who is experienced and skilled in scalp micropigmentation, there is no cause for concern.
The answer to this question highly depends on the work that has to be performed on the client, more specifically on the area of the scalp that needs to be injected with ink. In general, a scalp micropigmentation session takes between 2 and 4 hours, but this period can vary slightly from client to client because each person has unique needs.
Therefore, the duration of a scalp micropigmentation session ranges from person to person, but you can have it estimated upon your first appointment. Finally, it is important to know that multiple sessions will be necessary to achieve the desired result, and each session is usually spaced approximately 7 to 10 days apart.
Regardless of how eager you are to see the results of scalp micropigmentation, the treatment, unfortunately, cannot be performed all in one session. For this reason, you will have to undergo between 2 and 4 sessions to enjoy a complete scalp micropigmentation with visible and satisfying results. You will see a gradual increase of pigment with each session. The number of sessions you will have to undergo highly depends on the extent of your hair loss.
However, other factors might come into play when it comes to how many sessions you will need to have, such as:
You should not rush the process, as the professional who carries it out knows exactly the time they should spend on each and every area of your scalp that needs micropigmentation so as to achieve the best results possible. You will experience some redness on the areas the practitioner worked on following each session, which will last 2-3 days.
Scalp micropigmentation is considered a semipermanent procedure, so you should expect the need for touch-ups once every 3 to 5 years. Nevertheless, as you can see from how long the results can last, scalp micropigmentation is a treatment worth investing in, as it will boost your self-confidence if you have issues concerning your hair and offer you results that will last for a long time. Even better, the cost of touch-ups will be considerably lower than the initial cost of the treatment, so all the more reason to decide in favor of it!
Over the years, the ink in the area of your scalp that was treated will fade because the skin naturally exfoliates itself, but the color should not change if a correct pigment was used – it will only lighten. The degree of fading depends on the technique used, the environment in which you live and work, and how you care for your scalp after the treatment.
If you have gray hair and experience hair loss, we have good news for you – scalp micropigmentation is also for people who have gone gray! We use a wide range of pigments, as hair comes in a vast array of colors, including gray. Therefore, you will be able to undergo scalp micropigmentation just as a person whose hair still has color. Our professionals will use a gray pigment that will match the color of your hair to carry out the treatment.
Actually, the beauty of scalp micropigmentation is that no matter your hair color, you can benefit from a natural-looking result. Our professional practitioners will prepare the pigment for you by creating a mix that is your perfect color.
Scalp micropigmentation as we know it today was first used on the skin on the head of 62 patients with scalp scars in 2001 by Dr. Traquina. The medical professional decided to deposit iron oxide pigments in the skin on the head of the patients because unsightly scalp scars, refractory to surgical revision, were posing a difficult therapeutic problem. This study was published in the journal Dermatologic Surgery.
Nevertheless, the practice of scalp micropigmentation dates back to decades ago, even though it was performed differently. The history of tattoos can be traced back to 3100 BCE, when the specimen known as Otzi the Iceman was discovered, having 61 tattoos, in the Alps. Nonetheless, he did not have scalp micropigmentation, which appeared as a possibility in the 1920s, when Sutherland MacDonald began performing permanent makeup procedures on his clientele.
The man's procedures were simple by our standards but revolutionary for the time, with such products as eyebrow shaping, lip liner, and blush. Nowadays, there is a bit of controversy over who is the true founder of scalp micropigmentation. However, it is clear that the practice has its roots in the early '00s and has since gained a lot of popularity. Extremely small needles, specially blended and crafted inks, and ultimate patience - all are coming together to create exquisite results.