Before your actual treatment begins, you will have a detailed consultation with the SMP Practitioner who will be conducting your treatment. This will make sure that you are suitable for the treatment you desire, that the artist is confident of your results and that your goals and expectations for the procedure are reasonable.
We will also take your medical history at this time and with your permission, we will take photographs to provide an accurate ‘before and after’ comparison for you.
This consultation can often be scheduled for the same day as your treatment.
Before your appointment, you may wish to take some painkillers to minimise the slight discomfort of the procedure. This is not necessary for all clients, and you should discuss the need for this during your consultation.
Next, the artist typically marks out the area of your scalp that will receive the treatment, using a simple cosmetic pencil. These marks wash right off after the procedure.
Finally, a fully sterilised handheld electrical device – similar to a traditional tattoo needle – is used to apply the pigment just under the outer layers of your skin.
In all, your treatment might take as much as 2 hours or as little as 30 minutes, depending on the size and complexity of the task. Your artist will be able to make a fairly accurate prediction of the procedure time during your consultation.
It is common for a procedure to require more than one appointment, generally three sessions are required to achieve perfect results, as some areas of the skin absorb pigments at different rates. Again, your artist can make a prediction about the number of sessions your desired effect will require at your consultation.