As of 2024, a wide range of treatments and procedures exist for hair loss. From medication for hair regrowth to transplants, options do exist if you are willing to pay for them. However, talk to people who had these procedures, and you’d understand the not-so-desirable side effects.
As Mayo Clinic points out, these can include everything from allergies to heart disease and hypertension, as is the case with minoxidil. Similarly, finasteride, another popular medication, is known to cause permanent erectile dysfunction.
On the flip side, scalp micropigmentation, or SMP, is a more interesting solution that’s both simple and effective. In this article, we will cover how the aesthetics of an SMP changes with time, among other considerations. Let’s dive right in.
How Long Does Scalp Micropigmentation Last?
According to Ink2Scalp, quite a long time! Even at the one-year mark, the pigments will still appear stable, and you shouldn’t notice any changes. If it has been your first year since the procedure, it is recommended to get an annual check-up.
By the two and three-year mark, the SMP clinician will plan out if and when a touch-up is required. At the five-year mark, you might notice some more fading with the pigmentation looking considerably lighter. It’s at this point that many go for a full refresh. However, others are more than happy with the light, buzzed look.
It’s worth noting that there’s no hard and fast rule that by a certain period, a certain amount of fading would have occurred. It’s possible that you can go shorter or longer without needing touch-ups or a full refresh compared to others.
Understanding the Reality of Pigment Fading
The first thing to remember is that SMP is a cosmetic tattoo. It uses a fine needle to create dots of pigment that look identical to natural hair follicles. The pigments used in SMP are carefully selected to match your hair color, and they are also formulated to not fade with time.
That said, it’s certainly not a one-and-done deal, and after ten years without any touch-ups, the pigment might have faded considerably. Clinics in every big city will have staff that can educate you about how time will change or affect the aesthetics. So if you are visiting a Scalp Micropigmentation Toronto clinic, they will give you similar information as clinics in New York or London.
The tech hasn’t advanced to the point where you can expect lifelong pigmentation after one procedure. You have to remember that SMP relies on the injection of pigments into your skin. Your health is a priority, which means any clinic promising that you won’t need touch-ups or full refreshes after some years is dangerous. Let’s find out why.
Why Don’t Clinics Use Permanent Pigments?
It’s natural to feel like clinics asking you to get touch-ups is a money-making tactic. However, this is not the case. Your immune system gradually breaks down pigments and your macrophages (a type of white blood cell) also work on removing pigment particles in your body.
Along with this, skin regeneration and UV exposure also cause pigments to fade. However, this is a good thing. There’s a reason that permanent pigments aren’t used for SMP procedures. For one, your skin tone and hair color can change with age. Using permanent pigments would mean that in the future, your SMP procedure might stand out and be far more noticeable.
With semi-permanent pigments, you can adjust and correct things after a five or a ten-year period. More importantly, permanent pigments have a tendency to change color over time. When you combine that with the natural change in hair and skin tone, it can lead to some truly unappealing results.
Another problem with permanent pigments is that they have a tendency to blur, migrate, and distort with time. This is in complete opposition to the original purpose of an SMP procedure. There are several other factors like these, which is why the semi-permanent pigments are the most popular among clients.
To summarize, SMP is a fantastic option for people who wish to have the appearance of more hair density. It’s a simple process with no major side effects and satisfies people with its semi-permanence. Yes, after ten years or so, you would need to have touch-ups and maybe a full refresh if you wish to keep the same appearance as year one.
However, most people are more than happy to make that compromise, and we aren’t surprised. SMP is one of the few hair loss procedures that doesn’t create unrealistic expectations. You know upfront that this is an aesthetic procedure, and that makes it attractive for people tired of being jerked around by false advertisements. All you need to do is be informed and choose wisely.
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