It is highly recommended that you follow NOTO's Pre & Post Care instructions to ensure the best possible results and longevity of your tattoo. This information acts as a guideline only. We cannot guarantee results. Each client skin responds differently both in how long it takes to heal and the number of sessions needed for color retention and desired results. It is important that you take good care of your lips while healing and beyond.

RIGHT AFTER PROCEDURE:
Expect some redness and swelling right after the procedure. After procedure, your lips will appear too dark and unnatural. It will heal and lighten by 30-50%.
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INSTRUCTIONS:
1.    Day 1-7 Gently clean the area by dabbing cool water on your lips with a clean cotton pad or swab. After cleaning, make sure to pat your lips dry with a clean tissue. Use ice pack to help with swelling day 1-5

After cleaning, use a cotton swab to apply a very thing coat of lip ointment we provide. It is recommended to use lip ointment 3-5 times a day for 2 weeks. Your lips will feel chapped and dry for 2-3 weekks.

2.   Week 1: The lips begin the cracking and peeling stage. This is completely normal.

3.   Week 2-6 Lips may appear light for the first month and appear too light. They also may get darker. Everyone is different. THIS IS NORMAL.

4.   Week 8-12: Color takes up to 8 - 12 weeks for the full color to show. This is generally when you will see the true color of your lips.

It is crucial that during the healing period that you maintain facial hygiene and:

• AVOID DIRECT Water on your lips in the shower, only clean lips as needed by dabbing cool water on lips and pat dry. No Harsh wiping.
• AVOID eating foods that can potentially irritate the skin (i.e. spicy, hot, oily, salty, acidic, seafood, etc). Make sure to gently clean your lips and rinse your mouth after each meal.
• NO KISSING UNTIL PEELING STAGE IS OVER.
• DO not cover your lips with masks, bandages, plastic wrap, etc.
• NO swimming, hot yoga, saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs, or tanning bed for 10 days
• Touching or picking the lips (apply ointment with Q-tip). Picking can lead to color loss, scarring and infection (especially if hands are not clean).
• Any makeup on the area including lipsticks and glosses. You can use these once lips have healed closer to 6-8 weeks. Only Aquaphor and Tattoo Hustle Butter prior to this time.
• Workouts that involve a lot of sweating; sauna, facial massage and steaming (first 14 days)
• Sun tanning or salon tanning; swimming; excessive sun exposure (wear a hat when outside for a longer period)
• Drinking alcohol and smoking (may lead to slow healing and lead to poor results)

Final results and color will show at 8-12 weeks. Please trust the healing process and give it the full time it needs before judging the results. It takes at least this time to see final results. 

**ENHANCEMENT SESSION APPOINTMENTS**

A touchup session is considered a perfection session to fill in any spots that did not take pigment well. Touchups are recommended as everyone heals differently.

They can be scheduled anytime after 8 weeks, as it takes up to 8-12 weeks for full results. New procedures are a two step process and final results are not seen until a follow visit is completed. 

More enhancement sessions may be necessary to achieve desired results, as everyone’s skin is different and everyone responds to permanent make differently. PATIENCE AND TRUSTING THE PROCESS IS NECESSARY FOR ALL PERMANENT MAKE-UP.

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The color will look bold like lipstick immediately after. Your lips will look slightly larger than normal as if you may have had lip filler injection. This will only last a day or two. The size of your lips will shrink back to normal and the color will significantly fade up to 50% within the first 3 days. You will lose color on the inside of your lips first , the edges last. 

A crust that forms will start to flake away revealing a lighter and more natural color. 

In many cases the client wishes to go darker on their touch-up appointment. It is always best to air on the side of caution on the first procedure. It is easy to add more color, but not to remove it.

Lips will be tender at first. Drink through a straw. Choose foods you can place in your mouth with a fork without touching the lips.

Day of Appointment (Day 1)

You may apply an ice pack (which must be protected with a clean wet barrier film of paper toweling, towel or cloth) for 10 minute intervals for the first 48 hours. Ice may be applied every hour or so, if desired. Do not put ice directly on the area.

(Days 1 - 10)

The treated area may experience the following symptoms for 1 to 10 days after the treatment, which are all common and will dissipate in a short period of time.

• Swelling and redness. 
• Tenderness.
• Flaking and mild itchiness as the lips heal. 
• Dry skin that may remain for up to 3 weeks.
• In the first 12-48 hours, while the skin is in the process of forming a protective scab and the lymph secretion is active you may see fluid or ooze on the skin.  This is normal but the fluid must be patted dry with a clean paper towel so that the secretion does not crust and block the skin from breathing.
• Keep the lips clean at all times and moisturized with the ointment provided. Try not to disturb the crust when cleaning and let it fall off by itself. Lips will ooze a couple of days. 
• To cleanse the lips please use the water wipes provided to compress each morning, midday and at night. Each time after cleaning and several times a day apply a thin layer of the ointment provided to your lips with a Q-tip or clean hands with light touch. This will reduce the risk of secondary infection and should be done for at least 7-10 days post procedure. Do not allow lips to become dry. This may interfere with healed color. Do not use aggressive movements on the skin, be gentle. NEVER put the ointment on a wet or damp lip blush tattoo.
• Lips will peel for a week. Allow them to flake off on their own. Picking and pulling off skin that is not ready to come off will cause pigment loss and can pull out deeper tissue. The edges or lip liner will be the last to fall off. Pulling this off will result in an uneven splotchy line or an indented scar.
• During the peeling process it may look like there is not much color there. Color is more apparent by the second week and will continue to clarify until 5 weeks.

The following must be avoided:

• Do not rub, pick or scratch, as the color may heal unevenly and you could risk infection, which in turn could lead to scarring. Let any scabbing or dry skin naturally exfoliate away.
• Do not excessively stretch lips by smiling big or puckering lips with smoking while they are healing. Those motions push and pull against the lip edges, applying tension and friction between the strong normal skin surrounding the mouth and the broken inflamed lip edges. Lip skin is a continuation of the delicate mucous membrane in the mouth. It is not strong like normal skin.
• Avoid direct sun exposure/tanning or tanning beds for 4 weeks after the procedure. Wear a hat when outdoors and/or big sunglasses. 
• No smoking while your lips are healing (approximately one week). Smoking does hinder results.
• No kissing, rubbing or friction on the treated area until it is totally healed or else you will lose color.
• Avoid heavy sweating, exercise, sports, swimming, sauna, steam rooms, jacuzzi, and long hot showers for 10 days.
• When showering make sure you avoid direct water pressure on the treated area for 10 days. You may apply a small amount of ointment given to you at your appointment, to cover your lips. 
• Avoid use of skincare or cosmetics on the treated area (be careful using your foundation or powders.)
• Refrain from using cleansing creams or moisturizers that contain Retin-A, glycol acids, anti acne ingredients, AHA’s/BHA’s on the worked area.
• Avoid eating hot, spicy, salty and acidic foods for the first 2 weeks and drink liquids through a straw for 3 days. While eating, do not constantly wipe your lips with a napkin or keep licking your lips as this will impede the healing process.
• Avoid using toothpaste products with whitening properties as this can bleach the color in your lips also. Avoid for 10 days.
• Do not receive bleaching, waxing, electrolysis or laser hair removal treatments close to your enhancement. Avoid for 2 weeks. 
• Avoid using exfoliants, acids such as glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acids lactic acid, salicylic acid, fruit acid and Vitamin A on the tattooed area for 30 days. (causes premature fading) 
• Use a fresh pillowcase. Avoid sleeping on your face for the first 10 days.
• Do not schedule any facials, microdermabrasion, microneedling, peels or laser treatments for at least 4 weeks. They can darken/lighten or distort the pigment permanent makeup. 
• Avoid drinking alcohol in excess, as it may lead to slow healing of wounds.
• Do Not use Blistex, Carmex or Chapstick.
• Avoid driving in open air vehicles such as convertibles, boats, bicycles, or motorcycles.
• Do not perform tasks related to heavy household cleaning such as; garage or storage cleaning where there is a lot of airborne debris–now is not the time!
• Do not have cosmetic injections on lips for at least three weeks prior to your lip tattoo appointment.

NOTE: 

• All procedures must HEAL, PEEL and FADE! The approximate healing period is 10 days, however healing can be prolonged if your immune system is compromised, if you are generally stressed and by poor diet. 
• Clients with sun damage, scar tissue (from injury or fever blisters) and clients with implants may not have strong results. 
• Hyperpigmentation can happen on any lip client without warning. 
• Until your skin sloughs off and regenerates you will not be able to see true results. It takes 28 days for the skin to slough off and regenerate itself. Keep in mind that even with proper care, some areas may look uneven or patchy. It is absolutely normal because your natural skin regeneration is not a process that your artist can control. This is the purpose of the touch up recommended 8-10 weeks from the initial session to fine tune the richness of color, symmetry, density in the shape and desired effect is achieved. 
• Healed results vary per individual client. We have no control over what occurs during the healing process. Lips are a muscle and will need 1 to 3 sessions to complete the process of this procedure. Lips are unpredictable. Some clients will yield to a strong healed lip color. Others will only heal with slight color uptake. This will vary on an individual basis. 
• You can resume wearing lipstick once lips are healed. It is advised to use a new lipstick after all lip treatments.

Following the proper post-care is necessary to achieve the best results. When scheduling an appointment for a cosmetic tattoo keep in mind the healing time of the procedure will depend on your body’s regeneration, age, immune system and lifestyle.