Permanent Lip Contour Aftercare in Buca
Buca, İzmir’s most vibrant, youngest, and 24-hour-lively district, is known for the dynamism created by Dokuz Eylül University students, the shopping intensity of Forbes Street, and the never-ending activity of Şirinyer. In this fast-paced environment, “Permanent Lip Coloring” (Lip Blush) offers great convenience for women who don’t have time to apply makeup or don’t want to constantly refresh it. However, the most important rule that clients who have this procedure done at clinics in Buca should know is this: “The success of the procedure depends 50% on the expert’s skill and 50% on the aftercare you provide.” Lip coloring is a procedure that involves placing pigment into the upper layer of the skin with micro-needles and technically involves an “open wound” healing process. Especially Buca’s windy weather (Tınaztepe effect), dusty streets, and street food culture are factors that require extra attention during the healing process.
Your lips may look amazing when you come out of the procedure, but the real result is revealed when healing is complete. The proper trapping of pigments under the skin, the correct removal of scabs, and the even distribution of color all depend entirely on your aftercare discipline. A wrong move (e.g., picking at scabs or drinking hot coffee on the first day) can lead to pigment loss, color gaps, or infection.
Critical Phase: The First 24 Hours (Protective Shield)
The “golden hours” of permanent makeup are the first 24 hours. During this time, the micro-channels in your lips are open and vulnerable to external factors.
- Lymph Fluid Cleansing: A clear fluid (lymph) may accumulate in your lips for the first 2-3 hours after the procedure. You should clean this fluid with sterile water and cotton, as recommended by your doctor, using gentle “dabbing” motions. If you don’t clean it, the liquid will dry and form a thick crust (scab), which will cause the pigment to be shed.
- Avoiding Water Contact: Do not let tap water touch your lips for the first 24 hours. You should take extra care when brushing your teeth or washing your face.
- Prohibition of Hot and Spicy Foods: You will have to wait a while to eat Buca’s famous gevrek and boyoz. On the first day, avoid extremely hot, extremely cold, spicy, and hot foods. Use a straw if possible.
Environmental Factors of Buca: Wind and Dust
The most important external factor affecting the healing process is the environment you live in. Buca, especially the Tınaztepe campus and its surroundings, has a very windy and dusty environment.
Tınaztepe Warning: If you live in the windy areas of Buca or are going to the campus, you must protect your lips by wearing a mask outdoors for the first 3 days. Dust particles carried by the wind can stick to micro-channels that haven’t yet closed, increasing the risk of infection. However, make sure the mask doesn’t stick to your lips and is sterile.
Recovery Schedule: What Will Happen Day by Day?
The process you will experience after permanent lip makeup is like an emotional roller coaster. Knowing this schedule is important to avoid panicking.
Days 1-2 (Dark and Swollen): Your lips will appear 2 shades darker and swollen than they are. This “lipstick-wearing” look is temporary. Never worry that “the color is too dark.”
Days 3-5 (Flapping and Peeling): This is the most critical stage. The lips begin to dry out and shed a thin layer of skin. This looks like “cracked lips.”
RULE: Never, ever remove the scabs with your hands! If you remove the scab, you will also remove the pigment underneath, creating gaps in your lips. Let it fall off naturally.
Days 6-10 (Ghosting Phase): When the scabs fall off, the color underneath may appear very pale, even as if “nothing was done.” This is called “ghosting.” The pigments have penetrated to the lower layers of the skin. Don’t be upset thinking “the treatment didn’t work.”
Weeks 3-4 (Color Return): As the skin renews itself, the pigments rise to the surface, and the true color (bloom) begins to settle. The color will have lightened by 40-50% and become more natural.
The Biggest Enemy: Cold Sores (Herpes)
The biggest problem you might encounter after lip coloring isn’t infection, but the triggering of the herpes virus. Needle trauma can awaken the dormant herpes virus in the lip nerves.
Antiviral Protection:If you’ve ever had a cold sore, the likelihood of getting one after the procedure is very high. Cold sores expel pigment, and the color doesn’t stay in that area. Therefore, consulting your doctor or pharmacist before the procedure and taking antiviral creams or tablets is vital for a perfect result. This is not a treatment, but a protective shield.
Moisturizing: The Key to Success
During the healing process (first 10 days), lips should never be allowed to dry out. Dry lips stretch, crack, and lose pigment.
What to Use? Consult your doctorYou should apply the restorative ointments containing vitamins A and D or pure petroleum jelly (petrolatum) frequently throughout the day in a thin layer. However, applying it in a “loose” layer is also wrong as it will prevent the skin from breathing; a thin layer of moisture is sufficient.
Table of Prohibitions and Permissions
You can use the following table as a guide to facilitate the care process.
| Activity / Situation | When Can It Be Done? | Why Wait? |
|---|---|---|
| Lipstick and Makeup | After 10 Days | To prevent infection risk and chemical contact. |
| Kissing | After 5 – 7 Days | To prevent bacterial transfer and friction risk. |
| Teeth Whitening / Fillings | After 2 Weeks | To prevent lip stretching and chemical contact. risky. |
| Sunbathing / Solarium | After 3 Weeks | UV rays fade the pigment and change the color. |
| Sports (Excessive Sweating) | After 5 Days | The salt in sweat burns the open wound and carries a risk of infection. |
Conclusion: Patience Pays Off Naturally
In conclusion, the aftercare process for permanent lip contouring in Buca is a 1-week period requiring some patience and discipline. During this process, staying away from Buca’s dust, wind, and chili peppers (for a short time) will ensure you have great-looking lips without lipstick for the next 2-3 years.
Remember, the procedure ends in the chair, but the results take shape at home. Don’t neglect moisturizing, don’t pick at the scabs, and enjoy the process knowing that your reflection in the mirror will change every day. A month later, you’ll be walking the streets of Buca with those natural, vibrant lips and saying, “I’m so glad I did it!”
