Your Treatment Guide - Lip Blush Tattoo
Everything you need to know during the healing process, and beyond.
WHAT TO EXPECT FOLLOWING YOUR LIP BLUSH TATTOO TREATMENT
Your lips will appear significantly brighter, very defined and may be a little swollen immediately after your treatment.
This is completely normal.
As your lip tissue heals, the colour will soften and fade by approximately 40–60%, revealing a much more natural result.
Please trust the healing process and avoid judging the final outcome too early.
It is common for certain areas to heal lighter than others or appear slightly uneven during the initial healing phase. Every skin type heals differently, and pigment retention will vary from person to person.
YOUR TOUCH-UP APPOINTMENT
Your touch-up appointment, scheduled 10 weeks after your initial treatment, is an important part of the cosmetic tattooing process. During this appointment, your artist will refine any areas that require additional pigment and make any necessary adjustments to achieve the most balanced and beautiful healed result possible.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT
As shown to you by your artist, please use the cotton rounds provided to you and wipe over your lips gently every hour until you run out of the cotton rounds. Ensure you wash your hands first.
Immediately after wiping them, you should start applying the aftercare ointment with the applicators provided to you. Do this each time you wipe them over the coming hours. Keeping the lips hydrated throughout the healing process is extremely important. Dry, cracked lips do not heal as predictably and may retain less colour.
This helps to squeeze out any excess lymph fluid and/or blood from beneath the skin, which will improve pigment retention during healing.
If your lips are still numb following treatment, please avoid hot food and drinks until full sensation has returned to avoid accidentally burning yourself.
YOUR HEALING TIMELINE
DAYS 1–2 | Swelling and bright colour
Immediately after treatment, your lips may appear/have:
• Minor swelling (not everyone swells)
• Brighter than expected
• Warmer or more vibrant in tone
This is completely normal.
The initial colour you see is not your healed result. During the first few days, your lips will often appear significantly brighter than they will once healed.
Swelling varies from person to person. Some clients experience only minor swelling, whilst others may swell more noticeably. This usually settles within 24–48 hours.
Some clients may also experience mild superficial bruising, particularly if they are prone to bruising. This generally resolves within the first few hours following the treatment.
As the numbing wears off, your lips may feel tight, tender or similar to mild sunburn.
Apply your aftercare ointment whenever your lips begin to feel dry.
DAYS 3–14 | Flaking and the ‘ghosting phase’
Around day 3, the outer layer of skin will begin to dry and naturally shed.
Your lips may feel tight and flaky during this stage.
Please do not pick, peel or bite at any flaking skin.
Removing flakes prematurely can interrupt the healing process and may result in uneven colour retention.
Once the flaking begins to come away, many clients become concerned because the colour underneath appears extremely light, or sometimes appears to have disappeared altogether.
This stage is known as the ghosting phase. The ghosting phase can last up to about 2 weeks post treatment.
During this time, a fresh layer of healing skin is still covering the implanted pigment, causing the colour to appear muted or almost invisible.
This is a normal part of the healing process and not an indication that your treatment has failed.
Trust the process.
WEEKS 2-10 | Colour Development
Although the surface of the lips may appear healed within a week or two, the deeper healing process is still taking place beneath the skin.
Over the following weeks:
• Colour may appear uneven at times
• Areas may seem lighter or darker than others
• The colour will gradually re-emerge and soften
• The final healed tone will become more apparent
This is why touch-up appointments are not performed immediately after treatment.
The skin requires adequate time to complete its healing cycle before the true healed result can be properly assessed.
For this reason, we allow approximately 10 weeks before any perfecting session.
COLD SORES
Lip tattooing may trigger a cold sore outbreak in some individuals.
If you have a history of cold sores, we recommend discussing preventative antiviral medication with your GP or pharmacist prior to your appointment.
It is important to understand that many people carry the cold sore virus (Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1) without ever having experiencing an outbreak. As a result, even clients who have never had a cold sore before may still develop one following a lip tattoo procedure.
Please note that this is a recommendation only. The Rabbit Room and its artists are not medical practitioners and cannot advise whether antiviral medication is appropriate for you. Any decisions regarding medication should be made in consultation with your doctor or pharmacist, who can assess your individual circumstances and medical history.
If a cold sore develops during the healing process, please contact your healthcare professional for advice regarding appropriate treatment and continue to keep the area clean and moisturised as per your aftercare instructions.
FOR THE FIRST 3 DAYS, AVOID
• Colourful food and drinks. Think beetroot, paprika, turmeric, red wine etc
FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS, AVOID
• Picking or peeling flaking skin
• Excessive sun exposure
• Swimming pools, spas or saunas
• Excessively spicy foods if they cause irritation
• Lip scrubs or exfoliants
• Cosmetic treatments directly on the lips, including lip waxing
FOR THE FIRST 6 WEEKS, AVOID
• Lip fillers / injectables in the immediate area
USING YOUR AFTERCARE OINTMENT
STARTING IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT
Apply the aftercare ointment provided by your artist.
✓ Use only a pea-sized amount.
✓ Apply a thin layer at least 3 times daily. Re-apply when your lips absorb the previous application.
✓ Dab gently onto the lips, do not rub from side to side.
✗ Do not rub the area
✗ Do not apply thick layers, keep it thin so your skin can breath
If too much ointment is applied, gently blot away the excess with a clean paper towel.
Remember: less is more.
LONG-TERM CARE & MAINTENANCE
Your lip blush tattoo is designed to fade gradually over time. Most clients can expect their results to last anywhere from 2–5 years following their initial treatment sessions, however this varies significantly from person to person.
How long your results last will depend on a number of factors, including:
• Your natural lip undertones
• Lifestyle and sun exposure
• Smoking and other environmental factors
• Skincare products and treatments
• Your body's individual healing response
• The colour and saturation of pigment implanted
As your tattoo naturally softens over the years, you may notice yourself reaching for your favourite lip products more often, or that your lips don't appear quite as vibrant as they once did. This is usually a good indication that a colour refresh may be approaching.
When that time comes, simply get in touch and we'll assess your lips to determine whether a refresh appointment is appropriate, or whether it's worth allowing the pigment to fade a little further first.
One thing we strongly believe at The Rabbit Room is that cosmetic tattoo refreshes should never be booked simply because a certain amount of time has passed. Some clients may be ready for a refresh after 18 months, whilst others may still have beautiful colour retention several years later.
The best time for a refresh is when your lips have faded enough to benefit from one—not simply because a certain amount of time has passed.
Every client heals differently. Every client fades differently. That's why we tailor our recommendations to YOUR lips, rather than following a one-size-fits-all timeline.
Protecting Your Lip Tattoo
Like anything exposed to the elements, your lip blush tattoo will gradually soften and fade over time. Whilst this is completely normal, there are a few things you can do to help maintain your colour for as long as possible.
One of the biggest factors affecting the longevity of your lip tattoo is sun exposure. UV rays can cause pigment to fade more quickly and may also influence how the colour appears over time.
Once your lips have fully healed, we recommend using a good quality lip balm containing SPF whenever you're spending time outdoors.
Other factors that may contribute to faster fading include:
• Frequent sun exposure
• Smoking
• Certain medications
• Skin and lip health (keep them hydrated!)
• Individual healing characteristics
• Your body's natural pigment retention
Because every person is different, some clients may retain their colour beautifully for years, whilst others may require refresh appointments a little sooner.
Future Treatments & Procedures
If you are planning any future cosmetic or medical treatments, it's important to let your provider know that you have had a lip tattoo.
This includes:
• Chemical peels
• Laser treatments
• IPL treatments
• MRI scans
Some treatments may affect the colour, appearance, or longevity of your cosmetic tattoo, so it's always best to mention it before proceeding.
Skincare Products & Premature Fading
Many modern skincare products are designed to encourage skin renewal and increase cell turnover. Whilst this can be great for your skin, it can also cause cosmetic tattoo pigment to fade more quickly over time.
Take care when using products containing:
• Retin-A / Tretinoin
• Hydroquinone
• Retinol-based products
• Chemical exfoliants
• AHA, BHA and fruit acids
• Brightening or pigmentation-correcting ingredients
Although these products are not typically applied directly to the lips, it's important to be mindful of migration from surrounding areas and to follow the advice of your skincare professional where appropriate.
The combination of good skincare, healthy lips, and daily SPF is one of the best ways to keep your lip blush tattoo looking fresh and vibrant for as long as possible.
QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about the healing process, please contact us 0422 164 004, or reach out to us on our socials.