Problems with permanent eyeliner

[JAMES HEMMIG]

Anyone seen complications from the procedure that creates permanent eyeliner for either the upper lid, lower lid, or both?

[Terry Connor]

I am not sure about possible complications, but a few months back I had a patient come in because her eye was bothering her following getting the eyeliner tattoo. The "certified" stylist had performed the procedure without magnification and drug the needle across the cornea. I have great pictures. It was a birthday present...Happy Birthday!

[JAMES HEMMIG]

My wife was considering this procedure for herself, but not now! Thanks for the reply.

[AdminWolf]

I am not sure about possible complications, but a few months back I had a patient come in because her eye was bothering her following getting the eyeliner tattoo. The "certified" stylist had performed the procedure without magnification and drug the needle across the cornea. I have great pictures. It was a birthday present...Happy Birthday!

I am curious, does this sort of a procedure require any sort of licensing? does it vary by state?

[Alan David]

I am curious, does this sort of a procedure require any sort of licensing? does it vary by state?

A lot of it is done by hairdressers who took a short course.

These lids look scary under high mag & I've seen several with tear gland issues after having it done.

[Della Simmons, OD]

I had two patients who had went to the same salon with the same "stylist" on the exact same day. Both developed viral conjunctivitis.

You can make the argument of where they got the conjunctivitis, whether it was from the procedure itself or from the doorknobs into the place, but I did report it to the health department.

In Minnesota, we are in kind of a loophole right now. Stylists don't have to have a license until January 1, 2011. The other thing that the second patient told me was that they were using the same brush. She realized this when she thought about it later. She said the person who normally gives her tattoos (on the rest of her body) makes a big deal about opening up sterile equipment right in front of her so she knows it is sterile and hasn't been used on anyone else. That didn't happen with this tattoo.

That being said, I also have plenty of patients who've had it done without any problems.

[Alan Homestead]

I have a certificate for "Microdermal Pigmentation Application" after a 40 hour course a few years ago. I provided permanent make-up in my office, but have not done so for a while. My wife and staff are among the women who took advantage of the procedures. I did eyeliner, eyebrows and lips. The attraction for me was another stream of non-insurance income, a substantial fee per procedure, a safe environment, a "doctor" providing the treatment, no other "doctor" competition (in Seattle nor any other town I knew of), and women love it.

Tattooing is not regulated in my state, so anyone can buy a tattoo gun and pigment and open for business without any training whatsoever. It seems odd that ODs have to fight for injections while tattoo artists have unregulated freedom to inject a non-regulated dye into anyone's skin.

Alan Homestead OD
Seattle WA

[Douglas G Smith OD]

I have a certificate for "Microdermal Pigmentation Application" after a 40 hour course a few years ago. I provided permanent make-up in my office, but have not done so for a while. My wife and staff are among the women who took advantage of the procedures. I did eyeliner, eyebrows and lips. The attraction for me was another stream of non-insurance income, a substantial fee per procedure, a safe environment, a "doctor" providing the treatment, no other "doctor" competition (in Seattle nor any other town I knew of), and women love it.

Tattooing is not regulated in my state, so anyone can buy a tattoo gun and pigment and open for business without any training whatsoever. It seems odd that ODs have to fight for injections while tattoo artists have unregulated freedom to inject a non-regulated dye into anyone's skin.

Alan Homestead OD
Seattle WA

It is now ten or twelve years maybe more since I saw my my first patients with eyeliner tatooing. They are a bit unhappy later on. The stretching and redundent lids have a leeching or bleeding look similar to the lips of the elderly women ( at least in our area) whose lipslick has sunk into the cravaces of aging lips .

doc bison aka Doug Smith

[James D. Sargent]

I have had three with suspected bacterial blepharoconjunctivitis over the years.

They have responded to Vigamox. Curiously, I saw one Monday with hyperemia, exudate, and redness and swelling spreading down onto her cheek. I treated with Augmentin 875mg. BID and Tobradex ST (out of Vigamox samples).

I advised her to call me yesterday if worse and scheduled PE today. She did not call so I am assuming the best.

If she is not improved today I will advise.

[Stephen Rollins]

I have had three with suspected bacterial blepharoconjunctivitis over the years.

They have responded to Vigamox. Curiously, I saw one Monday with hyperemia, exudate, and redness and swelling spreading down onto her cheek. I treated with Augmentin 875mg. BID and Tobradex ST (out of Vigamox samples).

I advised her to call me yesterday if worse and scheduled PE today. She did not call so I am assuming the best.

If she is not improved today I will advise.

Write a prescription for the medication. Samples should be used for chronic care only. When treating limited problem write the script.