Needles penetrate the skin a few millimeters, in what is basically a tattooing process. No downtime and resumption of most normal activities within 24 hours for majority of patients. Skin returns to normal by the next day. Swelling or redness is generally mild. Pigments are individually mixed for customized results, and designed to look natural.
Laser surgery is required to remove pigment.
Patients must avoid direct sunlight, refrain from applying make-up, and wearing contact lenses for a few days, and avoid swimming for several weeks. A small number of patients may experience allergic reaction or infection. Scarring is possible due to practitioner error. Pigments may cause interference with cranial MRI scans. Needles inserted too deeply in the skin can cause bleeding, spreading of pigments, and damage to hair follicles.