Does Scalp Micropigmentation Look Real?

You may be looking into having scalp micropigmentation treatment done for your own self-confidence, you may have pattern baldness and long for a fuller head of hair. We can use scalp micropigmentation to create natural pigments and a permanent solution for most clients. We use tiny dots in our treatments to create a natural look on the hairline to make it look like real hair and create the desired look.

Microscopic pigmentation, sometimes called “scalp micropigmentation” or “micro scalp freckles,” is a type of pigmentation in the hair. It’s a small, dark area of pigment that appears on the hair shaft where the hair meets the skin.

It occurs when the pigment cells on the hair’s surface, called melanocytes, produce melanin improperly. When this happens, the melanocytes overproduce melanin.

This extra melanin is then deposited in the hair shaft, where it spreads out over the surface of the shaft and appears as a dark dot or area.

Scalp micropigmentation involves injecting tiny needles into the existing hair follicles to blend the pigment of the scalp.

Keep reading for everything you need to know on the scalp micropigmentation treatment and if it looks real!

What is scalp micropigmentation?

If you have experienced hair loss, receding hairline, baldness or thinning hair, you may be looking into this treatment to change your appearance and create a new look with this non-invasive treatment. First, it’s essential to know what scalp micro pigmentation is NOT. Scalp micropigmentation is not a hair-related procedure, it’s a cosmetic technique that relies on a little change to the pigment of the skin. The treatment is done under local anaesthesia and lasts about 30-45 minutes.

How is it performed?

Unlike in some other cosmetic procedures, such as micro-needling, SMP can be performed in a salon or clinic and clients can achieve a natural scalp micropigmentation finish.

Scalp micropigmentation is done by using tiny needles. The dermal injector, a small, hollow needle, is used to inject a combination of fat graft and pigment. The hands used in scalp micropigmentation are short, and the process is quick. Usually, only one injection is needed, and it doesn’t require any recovery time for clients.

The most crucial aspect of scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is that the client is in good physical and emotional health. If the skin or hair is damaged, SMPs aren’t performed. Also, it is essential to check with your dermatologist to confirm the use of allogeneic or donor-specific cells.

Does SMP Look Realistic?

Scalp Micropigmentation can look natural and fantastic when performed by a skilled doctor. 

Why is SMP so popular?

Scalp micropigmentation is a hair option for men and women who are looking for a look that is low maintenance. People like the fact that SMPs don’t leave the hair dry or frizzy. Plus, they are a one-time commitment and can be covered with hair extensions. So, what is scalp micropigmentation, and what does it look like? 

What are the results like?

Results are different with every patient, but the patient can typically expect to see results between 6 months and two years after SMP is done. The ideal patient is someone with red or blond hair, but I’ve done SMPs on people with black hair as well. The results aren’t immediate.

When a micro-pigmentation treatment is performed, it’s not a full cosmetic hair transplant. So the patient will need time to see a change. If you get scalp micropigmentation and your hair doesn’t change in six months or a year, you may need to have another consultation. 

What is the recovery time like?

I saw a Facebook post from a woman asking how long it takes to recover after scalp micropigmentation. She claimed that she didn’t have the post-op bumps from SMPs, but she wanted to know how long it would take her skin to recover. And for her, the recovery process took about 2-3 months.

At first, the skin does not look remarkably different. It’s just as smooth as it was before micro-pigmentation. The lines are apparent, but they aren’t the result of the hair being over-dyed. 

One standard product to use to aid healing is Wrinkle Heal. This is a multi-step serum that reduces acne, minimising fine lines and wrinkles, rejuvenating skin texture, and reducing sunspots.

What SMP can do for hair growth

Scalp micropigmentation is a relatively new hair modification that can be done in just a couple of hours. It is a nonsurgical hair colour and growth treatment that has been around for many years. Similar to tattooing, though many people mistakenly think it’s permanent. SMP is permanent in the sense that permanent hair loss is involved.

The growth factor is a temporary treatment that patients can discontinue.

What are the risks with SMP?

SMP can be an excellent choice for those suffering from pigmented scalps and hair loss. But this treatment is far from hair transplant procedures and is generally safer. The problem is that hair transplants require your body to accept a new hair type or a different colour. 

Thus, if you change your hair colour too much, your body goes through a natural process that becomes a natural reaction, which is a skin reaction, which is not as easy to reverse.

Your body becomes resistant to the new hair, then the hair you removed grows back, and you have this cycle all over again. That’s why it’s so difficult to maintain the new colour. SMP is like tattooing your head with permanent hair, and although SMP is often claimed to be temporary, it is not, you cannot un-pigment a scalp.

Whereas scalp micropigmentation is a type of cosmetic tattoo, and they’ve been done for a long time. SMPs are permanent-ish, as your skin naturally exfoliates. This lessens the SMP treatment effects over time.

What causes micropigmentation of the scalp?

Although there are many possible causes, the most common cause is hereditary — people with light skin who have lighter-skinned siblings also tend to have fair hair.

But it can also happen after contact with the sun, particularly during puberty and the teen years, when the sun’s harmful UV rays can damage hair follicles and skin. This is why it is often associated with tans. 

Even when people are not tanning, the sun can still damage hair follicles and appear darker than it is. Naturally, dark-haired people also can have micro freckles, but it’s less common. It is thought to be more common in people with albinism. The sun’s ultraviolet radiation can also lead to reddish hair colour, which is not generally associated with UV damage to hair.

Conclusion

So, does scalp micropigmentation look real? The short answer is yes! A scalp micropigmentation treatment can look fantastic if performed by a skilled physician. It’s important to note that you should avoid tattoo parlours that claim to offer similar services. This rarely works out as well as the SMP procedure. 

Book your appointment with SMP Liverpool today!