Thank you for choosing Lovely Monkey for your tattoos. Now that your tattoo session is complete, it’s time for the healing process to begin. Tattoo aftercare is extremely vital to the healing process.  How your tattoo looks and heals depends on how you treat it after the tattoo is complete.

 

Your tattoo is essentially a series of shallow wounds in your skin, and even small wounds can let in bacteria and become infected. Because of this, it is very important that you follow our aftercare instructions.

 

Jamie has sent you home with your tattoo covered in Dermshield, which is a clear, waterproof film dressing that protects the tattooed area from becoming contaminated. Designed with tattoos in mind, Dermshield is a polyurethane acrylic adhesive medical bandage. Dermshield tattoo bandages are breathable and flexible, yet durable enough to protect your tattoos from outside irritants. The tattoo bandage is notably permeable enough for oxygen and water vapor to pass through it

 

Dermshield acts like a second skin, allowing you to wear a bra after the procedure if you like. You can take a shower with it on – as Dermshield will stay on the skin even when wet.

 

Please keep the Dermshield bandage on for 3 days. If your bandage is compromised or falls off before 3 days – you can purchase Tegaderm (a version of Dermshield) at your local drugstore.  If applying a new bandage at home, wash your tattoo completely with a mild soap, and dry completely. The tattoo cannot have any ointments or lotions on it – while wearing the bandage.

 

If that’s not available – please call us and we will arrange to put on a new Dermshield bandage at the studio.

 

The clear Dermshield bandage may fill with plasma, blood and some ink – this is completely normal.

 

After 3 days, remove the Dermshield bandage and gently wash the tattooed area in the shower with warm water and mild soap.  New tattoos leak and scab, so you’ll want to gently wash it using your clean, wet hands in a circular motion.

 

Don’t try to scrub it with a washcloth or pick at any crusts or scabs, as this can cause potential loss of ink, and therefore fading. Be sure to remove all surface blood and rinse off all remaining soap

 

Pat your tattoo dry with a clean paper towel.

 

Then with clean, dry hands, apply Aquaphor (a high-grade white Petroleum Jelly - available without a prescription at your local drugstore) for up to 3 days.

 

Aquaphor forms a protective barrier over your tattoo that helps keeps dirt and bacteria out.  It can also sooth irritation and promote healing.

 

Apply Aquaphor very lightly – like a lotion versus an ointment. It’s very thick in consistency. A very little goes a long way. Try not to over saturate the tattooed area as your tattoo needs oxygen to heal, and putting on too much Aquaphor can suffocate the skin and clog pores.

 

To make sure you’re not using too much, use a clean paper towel to dab off the extra ointment after you apply it. Don’t worry about taking off too much. As long as you’re not wiping it, it should be fine. Again, it only takes a small amount to keep your tattoo protected. If you start to get bumps like pimples or a rash, then your skin might be telling you you’re using too much Aquaphor.

 

***Be sure to wash your hands before and after applying the Aquaphor. It’s important to minimize touching your tattoo with your hands while it’s healing.

 

***Apply Aquaphor 2-6 times per day depending on your skin type and time of year. If you have dry skin, then you may have to apply more often.

 

***While using Aquaphor, please wear shirts and bras made of breathable, soft materials in dark colors because it will stain your clothing.

 

Some people notice ink leaking from their tattoo when they use Aquaphor. The truth is that all new tattoos bleed out some excess ink. It’s nothing to worry about, and your tattoo is still going to have plenty of color when it heals. In fact many 3D Nipple and Areola tattoos appear very dark when first done. The color should lighten up after your tattoo heals.  Jamie will make any color corrections and repigment any ink loss during your second session.

 

After 3 days of Aquaphor usage switch to a regular, scentless lotion.  We recommend Lubriderm or Aveeno – both are available at your local drugstore without a prescription.

 

The tattooed area may feel dry and tight as it heals. This is why it is important to keep lotion on it during the healing phase, to sooth your skin and minimize flaking.

 

Similar to the Aquaphor, apply the lotion very lightly to the tattooed area several times a day, with clean, freshly washed hands.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

 

You may experience slight discomfort after your pigmentation much like a scrape or sun burn. The more feeling you have in the skin of your reconstructed breast, the more discomfort you may feel.

 

It is also very common that a new tattoo be sensitive, red or slightly inflamed. Most people experience some irritation a day or so after getting a new tattoo (it differs depending on the size, placement and amount of work in the tattoo).

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DO:

• Wear clean, loose clothing to allow the tattoo area to breath

• Avoid direct sunlight to the tattooed area

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DON'T

• Soak in a tub or take long showers

• Swim in chlorinated water, hot tubs, oceans or lakes.

• Expose your tattoo to direct sunlight or tan while healing

• Exercise excessively.

• Rub, pick or scratch the tattoo as it heals – doing so could open the area up to infection and make the color heal unevenly. There may be scabbing or flakes which is completely normal.

• Try to speed healing by removing crust. Your body will shed the scabs naturally

• Touch the tattooed area excessively

• Apply Neosporin or Antibiotic ointments to the tattoo

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It usually takes 2-4 weeks or longer for your tattoo to heal completely. Very sensitive skin could take more time to fully heal.  Your tattoo is healed when there are no more scabs, flakes or shiny spots.

 

If you have questions about your healing tattoo, please call us at 734-333-5067 or email artist@lovelymonkeyink.com

 

Please consult a physician if any signs or symptoms develop such as the following: excessive redness at the site, green/yellow discharge, foul smell and/or fever.

 

SECOND PIGMENTATION SESSION:

 

Please wait a minimum of 3 weeks for healing between appointments. For some tattoos – you might need to wait up to 12 weeks for a second session. Jamie will advise you on healing/wait time.

 

Don’t forget to follow up with your plastic surgeon after healing so that she or he may see the finished result.

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