Semi-Permanent Makeup Removal Southampton
Laser removal for botched brows, microblading, lip blush and suitable eyeliner tattoos, with urgent cases seen as quickly as we can
Has your semi-permanent makeup changed colour, faded unevenly or simply no longer looks the way you want it to? We offer advanced semi-permanent makeup and cosmetic tattoo removal for suitable unwanted pigment. Whether you want your cosmetic tattoo lightened for correction or are aiming for as much removal as realistically possible, your treatment plan will be designed around the pigment that is actually present in your skin.
- Q-Switched Nd:YAG technology
- MHRA-registered device
- Botched brow correction
- Microblading removal
- Migration and blowout
- Brow tattoo removal
- Lip blush assessment
- Individual pigment assessment
- Mandatory patch testing
- Over 15 years’ laser experience
- Level 5 practitioner
- Clients aged 18+ only
From £45 per session
Consultation, pigment assessment and patch test – £10
- Over 15 years’ laser experience
- Level 5 qualified laser practitioner
- Advanced tattoo-removal qualifications
- UK Responsible Person, MHRA
- Multi-wavelength Q-Switched Nd:YAG
- Mandatory patch testing
Complete removal can never be guaranteed. Some cosmetic pigments are extremely resistant, and certain pigments can darken rather than lighten after laser exposure. This is why patch testing is mandatory before we treat a larger area.
Results from our own clinic
Genuine Skintastic clients treated at our Southampton clinic with our Q-Switched Nd:YAG. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed, and the number of sessions depends on the pigment in your skin.
Semi-permanent makeup removal in Southampton
Permanent makeup is designed to fade gradually, but it does not always fade in the way we expect.
Over time, cosmetic tattoo pigment may
- Become too dark
- Fade unevenly
- Change colour
- Develop red or orange tones
- Become grey or blue
- Lose its original shape
- Sit outside your preferred brow shape
- Become blurred
- Remain visible for much longer than expected
- Clash with newer permanent makeup styles
Sometimes the problem is not that you dislike permanent makeup. You simply dislike the permanent makeup you currently have. Removal or controlled lightening can provide an opportunity to start again.
We can assess
Permanent makeup removal prices
Final pricing depends on the treatment area, amount of pigment and complexity of the cosmetic tattoo.
| Treatment | Per session |
|---|---|
| Small brow correction or tail removal | From £45 |
| Full eyebrow or microblading removal | £59 |
| Both brows, full PMU removal | £59 |
| Lip liner removal | From £69 |
| Lip blush removal | From £79 |
| Suitable eyeliner tattoo removal | From £89 |
| Small PMU colour correction area | From £45 |
| Consultation, pigment assessment and patch test | £10 |
Eyebrow tattoo and microblading removal
Eyebrow tattoo removal is one of our most requested cosmetic tattoo treatments. Treatment can be performed with two very different goals.
Complete removal
For clients who would like as much of the old pigment removed as possible. This typically takes longer.
Lightening for new brows
Sometimes complete removal is not necessary. Your permanent makeup artist may simply need the old pigment reduced enough to create a new brow shape or colour. Controlled lightening may be a more appropriate goal.
Brow tails and small areas
Suitable clients may have small areas treated rather than the entire brow. Useful where brow tails are too low, brows are too long, the shape needs changing, one section is uneven, or a new artist wants to redesign the brow. From £45.
Microblading is often described as semi-permanent, but pigment can sometimes remain visible for years. As it ages, the original hairstrokes may blur together, become blockier, change colour, turn grey, turn red or orange, become uneven, or no longer suit the desired brow shape.
Microblading pigments can contain mixtures of several colours. A dark-looking brow can sometimes reveal red, orange or yellow pigment during removal. This does not necessarily mean something has gone wrong. It may represent underlying pigment previously hidden within the original colour mixture.
Why brows can change colour during removal
Permanent makeup pigments are more complex than ordinary black tattoo ink. A brown eyebrow pigment may actually contain several different colours blended together to create the final shade.
Colour unmasking
Imagine a brow pigment made from black, red and yellow. Together they appear brown. If the laser removes the darker component first, the remaining pigment can suddenly appear red, orange or yellow.
The laser has not necessarily created that colour. It may simply have revealed one of the pigments that was already present. Several wavelengths or treatment stages may therefore be needed.
Paradoxical darkening
This occurs when certain cosmetic pigments become darker rather than lighter after laser exposure. It is particularly associated with flesh-coloured, beige, pink, red and white-containing pigments.
Permanent makeup pigments may contain compounds such as iron oxides or titanium dioxide. Certain forms can react to laser energy and produce unexpected darkening, leaving pigment appearing grey, dark brown, black or dark violet.
This is why we patch test permanent makeup. Your pigment response must be assessed before we commit to treating a larger area.
Lip blush, lip liner and permanent lip colour
Lip blush can be beautiful when performed correctly. However, clients sometimes seek removal because the colour is too strong, the pigment has healed outside the natural lip border, the shape is uneven, the colour has changed, the lips appear overdrawn, old pigment is interfering with new work, or they simply no longer want the treatment.
Cosmetic lip pigments commonly contain red pigments, pink pigments, orange pigments, white components, titanium-based pigments and iron oxide pigments. These can behave very differently under laser energy compared with ordinary black tattoo ink, and some can darken when exposed to laser.
We will never simply treat an entire lip-blush tattoo without first assessing the pigment and carrying out an appropriate test area. Lip liner removal from £69. Lip blush removal from £79.
Permanent eyeliner removal is not the same as brow removal
Permanent eyeliner is one of the most specialist forms of cosmetic tattoo removal because the pigment is positioned extremely close to the eye. Laser treatment close to the eye requires significantly greater caution.
Laser radiation can cause serious eye injury if inappropriate exposure occurs. Permanent eyeliner sits in one of the most sensitive anatomical treatment areas, so it must never be approached in the same way as an eyebrow or ordinary body tattoo.
Before considering eyeliner removal we assess
Not every eyeliner tattoo will be suitable for treatment. If we cannot safely treat the eyeliner, we will not perform the treatment. Suitability is determined during consultation rather than through online booking. Suitable eyeliner removal from £89 per session.
What laser do you use for permanent makeup removal?
Suitable cosmetic tattoo removal is performed using professional Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser technology. Our system provides multiple treatment wavelengths, allowing the practitioner to select treatment according to the colour and characteristics of the pigment being assessed.
Different colours absorb different wavelengths. This is why there is no single laser setting that removes every cosmetic tattoo colour. Your treatment settings are determined individually following consultation and patch testing.
Is laser better than saline removal?
Laser removal
Laser energy targets suitable pigment and fragments it into smaller particles which the body gradually clears. Advantages can include fast treatment time, no need to repeatedly tattoo remover solution into the skin, particular effectiveness for suitable darker pigments, and the ability to lighten in a targeted way.
Saline or chemical removal
These involve working a specialised solution into the tattooed area using a tattooing technique. They may sometimes be considered for pigments that do not respond appropriately to laser, but involve greater disruption of the skin surface and require a healing period.
It depends on pigment colour, pigment composition, treatment area, skin type, previous treatments and desired end result. There is no single method that is automatically best for every permanent makeup tattoo.
Which colours can and cannot be removed?
Red and orange pigment
Red and orange residual brow pigments require careful wavelength selection. They may become visible after darker components have been treated. We will assess the colour and determine whether additional treatment is appropriate. Not every pigment behaves predictably.
Grey and blue brows
Suitable grey, blue or dark brow pigments can often respond well to pigment-specific laser treatment. However, the pigment underneath the visible colour can sometimes become apparent as treatment progresses.
Yellow pigment
Yellow is one of the more difficult tattoo colours to remove and some yellow cosmetic pigments respond poorly to conventional pigment lasers. We will not continue repeatedly treating pigment if there is no meaningful response.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no fixed number. Some cosmetic tattoos only need one or two sessions to lighten sufficiently for new permanent makeup. Complete removal can take substantially longer.
1 to 3 sessions
For controlled lightening before new permanent makeup.
3 to 8 or more sessions
For more substantial pigment removal. Some complex cosmetic tattoos may take longer.
The number depends on
Permanent makeup needs sufficient time to respond and clear between laser sessions. Treatments are not performed every couple of weeks. In many cases, several weeks are required between treatments, and your next treatment will only be carried out once the skin has fully recovered.
Not always complete removal. Many clients only need the old pigment lightened sufficiently for their permanent makeup artist to create new work. If you are having removal specifically so another artist can redo your brows, ask them what level of lightening they require.
What we will not treat, and the risks you should know
We would rather decline an unsuitable treatment than risk damaging your skin. We may postpone or decline treatment if:
Possible adverse effects
Laser tattoo removal always carries potential risks, including temporary redness, swelling, blistering, crusting, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, textural changes and scarring. Appropriate treatment parameters and aftercare help minimise these risks, but no laser procedure is risk-free.
Semi-permanent makeup removal is available to clients aged 18 and over only, in accordance with our insurance requirements.
Consultation, patch test and treatment
Consultation
We assess the treatment area, original procedure, approximate age of the pigment, how many PMU sessions you have had, pigment colour, current colour, any previous removal attempts, medical history, medication, skin type, scarring and desired outcome. We also discuss whether you want lightening or maximum possible removal, because these are not the same treatment goal.
Patch test
Permanent makeup pigment can respond unpredictably to laser, so patch testing is particularly important. A test area helps us assess immediate pigment response, unexpected colour changes, darkening, colour unmasking, skin response and treatment suitability.
Treatment
Your pigment and skin are reassessed. Appropriate laser protective eyewear is used, with additional specialised safety requirements for treatments close to the eye. Suitable pigment is treated using the selected wavelength and parameters.
Assessment and aftercare
Your immediate skin and pigment response are assessed. Cooling may be applied where appropriate and full aftercare instructions are provided before you leave.
A successful test area does not guarantee complete removal, but it gives us valuable information before treating a larger area.
What it feels like and what happens afterwards
How it feels
Most clients describe treatment as a series of quick hot flicks or elastic-band-like snaps. Cosmetic tattoo areas are relatively small, so the actual laser treatment can often be very quick. Sensitivity varies depending on treatment area, pigment density, skin sensitivity and treatment settings.
Straight after treatment
You may experience redness, swelling, temporary whitening or frosting, tenderness and temporary pigment colour change. The final result cannot be judged immediately. The pigment will continue to change as the skin settles and the body gradually processes fragmented particles.
Your natural brow hair
Our goal is to target tattoo pigment within the skin rather than permanently remove your natural brow hair. Temporary changes to brow hair can occasionally occur depending on treatment. Your practitioner will explain what to expect before treatment.
Two things worth knowing
Recent permanent makeup
If your cosmetic tattoo has been performed extremely recently and you are unhappy with it, contact us for advice. Fresh permanent makeup requires a different assessment from healed pigment.
Do not attempt home removal. Do not apply acids, bleach or unapproved chemicals to newly tattooed skin. We will advise whether laser treatment, another removal method or allowing the area to heal first is the most appropriate pathway.
Laser hair removal and permanent makeup
Treatment planning matters where permanent makeup is present close to another laser treatment area. Pigment absorbs light differently from untreated skin, so permanent makeup should be clearly identified and appropriately protected or avoided.
Always tell your practitioner about cosmetic tattooing before any laser or IPL treatment.
Why choose SkinTastic for permanent makeup removal?
Cosmetic tattoo removal requires more than treating pigment with a standard tattoo-removal setting. Permanent makeup pigments are complex and can change colour during treatment.
Botched brows and permanent makeup gone wrong
Correction work is a large part of what we do. If you are looking for botched brow removal, a botched microblading fix, or eyebrow tattoo removal in Southampton because something has gone wrong, you are in the right place, and you are far from the first.
The brows we are most often asked to remove or lighten:
- Too dark or over saturated. Solid blocks of pigment where fine strokes were promised.
- The wrong shape. Too thick, too long, too high, or simply not matching each other.
- Migrated or blown out. Pigment that has spread under the skin and lost its crisp edge.
- The wrong colour. Brows that have turned orange, red, grey, blue or purple as the pigment has aged.
- Microblading gone wrong. Strokes that healed patchy, uneven or far bolder than expected.
- Work done abroad or at home. Unknown pigment at an unknown depth, which is the hardest to predict.
- Old permanent makeup. Tattooed brows or eyeliner from years ago that no longer suit your face.
There is no standard recipe. We assess the pigment that is actually in your skin, patch test it, and plan from what we see, because pigment behaves differently depending on what it is made of and how deeply it sits.
Urgent brow removal and tattoo disasters
If you have just had permanent makeup done and you cannot live with it, get in touch and say that it is urgent. We will tell you honestly what can be done and when, and we will fit you in as quickly as we can.
Timing matters more than most people expect. Laser removal is carried out on healed skin, so brand new permanent makeup needs to settle before the first session. At your consultation we will tell you when it is safe to start and what to expect in the meantime.
While you wait, three things help. Follow the aftercare you were given and leave the area alone, keep it out of the sun, and do not have a cover up or a colour correction tattooed over the top before you have been assessed. Adding more pigment over unwanted pigment almost always makes removal slower and harder.
Tattoo disasters are not only brows. We treat unwanted and badly done body tattoos with the same medical laser, and you can read about that on our laser tattoo removal page.
Laser removal or saline removal, and why we use a medical laser
Two methods are commonly offered for unwanted permanent makeup. Saline removal opens the skin and draws pigment up and out as it heals. Laser removal passes light through the surface and breaks the pigment into fragments small enough for your body to carry away. Both usually need more than one session, and both depend on what the pigment is made of.
We use a Q-Switched Nd:YAG, a registered medical device, at 1064nm and 532nm. Working under the surface means the skin is not reopened, and having two wavelengths gives us more than one way to approach a colour. Treatment is carried out by a Level 5 qualified practitioner with over fifteen years of laser experience, on a device we supply and support ourselves as the UK Responsible Person registered with the MHRA.
It is not automatically the right answer for every case. Some pigments respond poorly to light, and if we believe another route would serve you better, we will say so at your consultation rather than sell you sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Can laser remove microblading?
Suitable microblading pigment can often be lightened or removed. The response depends heavily on the pigment composition and colour.
How much is eyebrow tattoo removal?
Full eyebrow or microblading removal is £59 per session. Small corrections or brow tails start from £45.
My brows were done last week and I hate them, can you help?
Yes. Get in touch and tell us it is urgent. Laser removal is carried out on healed skin, so we will assess your brows, tell you when it is safe to start and give you a realistic plan. Please do not have anything tattooed over the top in the meantime.
Do you remove botched brows done somewhere else?
Most of our removal clients had their permanent makeup done elsewhere, including abroad. We do not need to know who did it. We only need to see what is in your skin and patch test it.
How much is lip blush removal?
Lip blush laser removal starts from £79 per session, subject to suitability.
Can you remove permanent eyeliner?
We can assess suitable permanent eyeliner. Because of its location close to the eye, specialist assessment and additional safety requirements apply. Not every eyeliner tattoo will be suitable. From £89 per session.
Can lip blush be completely removed?
Sometimes significant removal is possible, but complete removal cannot be guaranteed. Lip pigments can contain difficult colours and compounds that behave unpredictably under laser.
Can eyebrow tattoo removal turn red?
Yes. Brown brow pigment can contain red or orange components that become visible as darker pigment is removed.
Can permanent makeup turn black after laser?
Certain pigments containing iron or titanium compounds can potentially undergo paradoxical darkening. This is one reason patch testing is mandatory.
Why do you need to patch test SPMU?
Cosmetic pigments can contain mixtures of colours and ingredients that respond differently to laser. Testing a small area gives us information about both the skin and pigment response before a larger area is treated.
How many treatments will I need?
Some clients only require one to three sessions for lightening. More substantial removal may require three to eight sessions or more.
Can you guarantee complete removal?
No. No responsible practitioner should guarantee complete cosmetic tattoo removal, because some pigments are extremely resistant or unsuitable for continued laser treatment.
Can I have new brows after laser removal?
Yes, once the skin has fully healed and sufficient pigment has been removed or lightened. Your permanent makeup artist should decide when the area is ready for new work.
Can you treat yellow pigment?
Yellow pigment can be particularly resistant. Suitability and realistic expectations will be discussed following assessment.
Does SPMU removal scar?
Scarring is a potential risk with any tattoo-removal procedure, although appropriate assessment, treatment parameters and aftercare are designed to reduce this risk.
Do I need a patch test?
Yes. Every cosmetic tattoo removal client requires consultation, pigment assessment and patch testing before full laser treatment.
What age do I need to be?
You must be 18 or older. We cannot provide this treatment to under-18s due to our insurance requirements.
Book your SPMU removal consultation in Southampton
You do not have to live permanently with permanent makeup you no longer love. Whether your brows have changed colour, changed shape, become too dark, faded unevenly or simply no longer suit you, we can assess whether professional laser lightening or removal is appropriate.
Your first appointment is about understanding the pigment before attempting to remove it. If we believe laser is appropriate, we will create an individual treatment programme. If we believe your pigment or treatment area is unsuitable, we will tell you.
Consultation, pigment assessment and patch test – £10
SkinTastic Aesthetics Southampton
26 The Avenue
Southampton
SO17 1XL
Telephone: 02381 946394
