Paramedical Services
What is paramedical tattooing?
Paramedical tattooing, also called paramedical micropigmentation or medical tattooing, uses cosmetic tattoo techniques to restore the look of skin after surgery, injury or illness. Instead of decorating the skin, the goal is to make something less noticeable, such as a scar or a stretch mark, or to recreate something that was lost, such as an areola. At Elite Permanent Makeup and Cosmetology College in West Los Angeles, our paramedical services are scar camouflage, inkless stretch mark treatment, 3D areola reconstruction, and freckles and beauty marks.
Our paramedical services
Scar camouflage
Skin-toned pigment is placed into a pale, flat scar so it blends with the skin around it. It works best on surgical scars, such as tummy tuck, C-section or facelift scars, and on old injury or burn scars that have settled. It changes color, not texture, so raised scars are not a good fit. Details and examples are on our scar camouflage page.
Inkless stretch mark treatment
A needle-based treatment that works on the texture of mature stretch marks without adding pigment. Results build gradually over several sessions. Pigment camouflage is the other option, for flat marks that are lighter than the surrounding skin. Learn which suits your marks on the inkless stretch marks page.
3D areola reconstruction
For people who have had a mastectomy or breast reconstruction, shading and highlights create the look of a nipple and areola on flat skin. It can also restore color to an areola that has faded or lost definition after surgery. See our areola reconstruction page.
Freckles and beauty marks
Small, soft marks placed where you want them, in a color matched to your skin. Some clients want a sun-kissed look without sun damage; others want to replace a beauty mark that was removed. They fade gradually, which keeps them looking natural. More on our freckles and beauty marks page.
Who is a good candidate?
- Your skin in the area has fully healed and is no longer red, pink or tender.
- The scar or mark is flat or close to flat. Raised or keloid scars usually need a dermatologist first.
- You are not currently pregnant, in active cancer treatment, or dealing with an infection or skin flare in the area.
- Your doctor or surgeon is comfortable with you having the area tattooed, if you are under medical care.
- You want improvement, not perfection. Camouflage reduces how much a mark draws the eye; it does not erase it.
How a paramedical consultation works
Paramedical consultations at Elite are free and private.
- We look at the skin. Color, texture, size and how settled the area is tell us whether pigment, inkless treatment, or no treatment is the right call.
- We go over your health history. Surgery dates, medications, radiation, healing problems and allergies all matter. If you are under a doctor’s care, we may ask you to get clearance first.
- We talk about color and expectations. We explain how many sessions are likely, how the area heals, and how the result may change over time. A patch test may be suggested before a full treatment.
- You decide in your own time. There is no pressure to book on the day. Healthcare financing, including CareCredit, is available.
How long to wait after surgery
Tattooing skin that is still healing gives an unpredictable result, so timing matters as much as technique. Scars keep changing long after the stitches come out. UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh explains that a scar takes six to 18 months to reach its final appearance, softening and fading along the way, and that a scar still pink after 12 to 18 months should be discussed with your care team (UPMC Children’s Hospital: scar management).
| Situation | General guidance |
|---|---|
| Surgical or injury scar | Wait until the scar has matured: flat, soft and no longer pink. For many scars that is about a year or more after surgery. |
| Areola after breast reconstruction | The American Cancer Society says nipple and areola tattooing is usually done about 3 to 4 months after reconstruction, once the area has fully healed, and that there is no rush (American Cancer Society). Your surgeon should confirm you are ready. |
| Stretch marks | Wait until marks have faded from red or purple to pale. New marks are best seen by a dermatologist first. |
| Freckles and beauty marks | No surgical wait, but the skin should be clear of sunburn, breakouts and recent peels or laser. |
If you are not sure whether your skin is ready, bring your surgery date and any notes from your doctor to the consultation and we will tell you honestly whether to go ahead or wait.
We Accept CareCredit
How it works
CareCredit helps you pay for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for you, your family, and even your pets! Once you are approved, you can use it again and again to help manage health, wellness and beauty costs not covered by insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
We change people’s lives
It uses similar tools, but the goal is different. Paramedical tattooing uses skin-matched pigments and soft shading to blend or restore skin, not to create visible artwork, and it needs extra knowledge of how scar tissue and healed surgical skin take pigment.
Sometimes, for areola tattooing that is part of breast reconstruction. The American Cancer Society notes that some insurance plans cover nipple tattooing, so check with your insurer. Cosmetic scar and stretch mark camouflage is usually paid out of pocket, and healthcare financing such as CareCredit is available at Elite.
Usually more than one. Pigment is built up in layers with healing time in between, so the color blends rather than looking patchy. The number depends on the size of the area and how different it is from the surrounding skin; we give you an estimate at your free consultation.
We recommend waiting until your active treatment is finished and your medical team agrees the skin has healed. Bring their guidance to your consultation so we can plan around it.
You have the option of getting your Brows done with Mahnaz (Founder of Elite) or getting them done with our master artists who have been doing Microblading for over 5 years. Mahnaz charges more as she has people request her from around the world.
Grand Master Mahnaz (Founder): $700, second session $250
Master Artists (five years + experience): $500, second session $200
Elite Artists (trained and certified at Elite): $350, second session $150
Microblading lasts 1-2 years and varies depending on your skin type and lifestyle. Microblading done on oily skin tends to fade faster than dry or normal skin.
Your brows will need to heal for 10 days before you see the final result. During that healing process, the color of your brows will be slightly off and they might scab. You then come in for a follow up appointment 4-6 weeks after the initial procedure. (CLICK HERE FOR FULL AFTER CARE)
