NicH0le007

The only way to make SMP truly 3D is to add hair via FUE. Otherwise, smp is 2d (dimension 1 is scalp, dimension 2 is follicle replication). With that said, I have seen some good work that I wouldn't call 3d but I'd say it's dimensional. But, this is advanced technique so I'd only go to people with experience using pigment that won't change color. Scalp Micro USA, Jonathan Gerow, Brandwood Clinic in the UK.

Trico pigment is composed of : white titanium dioxide, red iron oxide, yellow iron oxide, black iron oxide, water, glycerin, and isopropyl alcohol. Beauty Medical pigments are fully compliant with the European Union requirements for the production of dyes for intradermal implantation (micropigmentation or tattooing). The importance of this is that the EU more strictly regulates, controls, and certifies the production process, selection of raw materials, packaging and labeling compared to any other country. The pigments are the highest quality and contain the safest ingredients from the approved list for use in permanent makeup.

It's hard to get a good visual without photos.Trico is def a process and if you have any skin irritation it's a good thing that he didn't do any work in that area. ( Your skin would more than likely just kick it all out anyway. but, the irritation will compromise the healing process of the trico and the trico will compromise the healing of the irritation) I see all my patients in a 3 sessions series and I tell everyone not to have high expectations until the end. Trico is very different from permanent smp in that when you implant the impressions into the skin they grow slightly larger with the healing process. (with permanent they shrink when the scab falls) Because of this growth it's important the monitor the fading process and go slow and steady so that everything looks extremely natural. Sounds like you are on the right path...just be patient. Remember, always easier to add then subtract and better to be inconvenienced with time than repair...

Without maintance trico disappears after 2 years. If you email me at Nicole@shapiromedical I can talk to some patients and have them contact you. Turkey is my nightmare. I have many repair cases due to their fantastic price structure...

You are correct that not many people post about their smp experiences after the fact. But, It's not because they dislike their procedures or are now living in caves of shame ...it's because once the procedure is complete it's like a weight has been lifted and they are ready to move on with their lives and be done with anything hairloss related including talking about the process or even coming to look at the forums. A new chapter in their lives have started. Happy people move on...

If you do decide to switch from a system to SMP be very sure to work with a clinic who has experience in this procedure. It requires some very important before care in order to achieve a great result. This is a tricky procedure so please ask for help and advice along the way so we can make sure you choose to go into good hands...

Hi, I am in Minneapolis. If you would like to send me some photos I would love to chat with you. nicole@shapiromedical.com

I have a few patients who are now opting to transition to a "more permanent" form of pigmentation that we offer. It is still semi-permanent but it only requires a touch-up approx. every 2-3 years. It's a gradual process and needs to be done by someone with experience in both procedures so that they understand how both pigments work. But, yes it can be done...

The body will break down iron oxides in the same way they breakdown iron supplements. When iron oxides are introduced into the body in small amounts they will absorb them in the same way. It's why women who are pregnant are not allowed to get permanent make-up (which is made up of mostly iron oxide pigment) because the body will absorb the iron in the pigment and they will not retain any color. It's also why if patients who have high levels of pigment rejection are asked to get their iron levels checked. As far as safety of the pigments are concerned: Beauty Medical is one of the only companies (if not the only) who has released a full list of ingredients that their pigments are made up of, as well as, the full manufacturing process. You will not get this with any other pigment company. Most will just tell you that their pigments are made of "propriety ingredients". Beauty Medical pigments are also manufactured in the EU which has much stricter and more highly regulated protocols for ingredients, manufacturing, and labeling of pigments than any other country in the world. There is no medical evidence that supports dr. rassmussens claim. And, again I invite him to release the ingredients of his pigments.

Hello HairingisCaring, Thank you for your questions. However, I don't believe the patient, Dr. Shapiro, nor myself mentioned that Mac went to GLI for his procedures. I also reviewed all of Mac's older posts and he never once mentioned GLI by name. You have come out with both barrels blazing with a list of questions directed toward Dr. Shapiro and myself as well as Mac to put Mac's experience and our motives into doubt. Assumptions are one thing but you have prevented assumptions from being a part of your questions and have carried on as if you know where Mac went specifically. You appear to be anxious to discuss the facts so how do you explain this fact? No one mentioned GLI by name so why is it that you are asking specific questions about GLI and their supposed involvement in this case? With regards to the dates of my employment with SMG, I can hardly imagine what the specifics of this represent. In order to remove any questions I will be glad to clarify the facts. First, Dr. Shapiro did not have the dates exactly right because he was traveling when he posted and didn't double check the specific dates. This shouldn't really be an issue but you seem to think it is so, as a correction, I started working at GLI in July 2012 and left in May 2013. At the time of my hire I was an administrative assistant and it was not until about five months later that I began my SMP training. My hire date and my SMP training date remove any possibility of me being Mac's technician during his procedures. I did however meet Mac while I was at GLI since I was in charge of communicating with patients after their treatments. When I returned to Minneapolis at the end of summer 2013 I wrote to Dr. Shapiro and explained my situation. I asked if he would consider hiring me. He had just finished his own training with Beauty Medical in Tricopigmentation. We talked and he liked the fact that I had sought training at my own expense. He felt that I was ethical and cared about patients, and he liked my eagerness to learn new things. With respect to my previous SMP experience, he felt that it was beneficial to some degree that I had seen negative results as it made me more aware of what not to do, and the problems that could exist when SMP is performed incorrectly. He eventually sent me to Italy to get more training from Milena Lardi personally. Since then I have also traveled to England to have additional training with HIS Hair and Brandwood clinic. This has only added to my overall knowledge and experience with multiple forms of SMP and the methodologies used to administer them. At this time I am a very well rounded SMP technician due to the various trainings I've gone through and the disciplines I've learned. It has allowed me to learn much more than I imagined was possible before I started working at SMG. So that is the factual unfolding of my SMP experience, both before I arrived at SMG and since. I'll be honest, I'm a little worried about your line of questioning and the determination you've shown to get more information about me. It is unusual that you felt so strongly about this issue that you announced my full name to the entire forum community. Also, interesting that you think you even have the right to question details of my employment. Why do you care and why would any non-provider care why Dr. Shapiro hired me? This is what it feels like to be stalked, which I do not appreciate, and quite frankly this is making me feel uneasy. **It should be noted that today GLI is now under new ownership and operation and my experience is not a reflection of the current management and ownership at GLI.

Well, since many of those quotes above are mine. I chime in. Permanent SMP done by a reputable clinic is the most important part in this decision because they have safe protocols in place and pigments that have been tested over time. We used to see lots of color change because clinics were using pigments that were designed to never fade (tattoo ink). Today, we use special pigments that are "more permanent" but they too will fade but not totally disappear. They fade to a light grey. So, you will need to touch up all SMP now (if you are going to a reputable clinic).

Stay completely away from any rollers or multi needle heads. THEY DO NOT WORK AND THE RESULTS THEY PRODUCE ARE UNETHICAL. Beauty Medical has a great machine for people just starting out because it has a guarded needle or Finishing Touches has a good machine. If you are new I hope you will look into training. I would recommend Beauty Medical or Brandwood Clinic.

I agree with Mickey. If you want the BEST concealment a combination of FUE and SMP is the best route to go.

Check out Brandwood Clinic in the UK. That's my top choice for referral.

I agree with hairthere - smp in a strip scar looks best at a 0 guard. But, fraxel and FUE are also huge helps! They won't hurt that's fore sure!

We charge $400 for the donor per session. You will need 3 sessions to get started and maintenance 1x per year.

I agree with you that due diligence in finding a provider is really #1 and please do not take what I wrote as me disagreeing with you -- my focus is always the best patient care no matter who they choose to go to for their actual procedure. I'm a big fan of predictability. Although, I do believe the SPC is a fantastic organization (I'm a member) I would be very cautious recommending that as a place to find a skilled SMP technician. We have to remember SMP is still new to the permanent cosmetics industry. And, in my experience what I believe that will lead to is lots of people "trying" to do it without all the existing knowledge that we have gained in the SMP industry practicing out here as a separate entity from them. Many of these people will be trained by their pigment companies or a machine manufacturer without real insight into what the long term fading will look like or without understandingprocedurly that SMP really requires a special machine and special needles compared to what they have been using. Today, we (smp industry) know traditional permanent makeup pigments and tattoo ink are not compatible with the scalp for the long term because treating the scalp is a whole new animal compared to eyebrows, eye liner, lips, and really any skin on the body. The sebaceous glands, varying epidermal depths, natural thinning of the skin due to male pattern baldness, and transplant micro-scarring present a much different challenge than their traditional methods. I feel certain in predicting this training pattern because I receive almost daily phone calls from pigment reps wanting me to test their pigments or try their pigments on my patients. They offer no real science other than "because we say so" or "we are the best" and lot's of examples of great work in other procedures. Now, these reps don't care what the result will be they want to make a sale. But, these makeup artists who have had great results with these pigments in their eyebrow clients don't know all that. And, all these companies now have at least a 1-day training for SMP which never discusses general science but only how to use their product and get a business started. And, I won't start on the topic of how testing a pigment on a patient without some knowledge of how it will react in the long term is 100% irresponsible. My personal preference to using a pigment that fades really has nothing to do with "a company" so to speak but more to do with the science. Same thing with finding a provider who spreads treatments into multiple sessions. It's not a personal issue I have with "the clinics" that provide these 1 and done treatments its the science that doesn't make sense. And, trust me if I could find a pigment that would last forever and spare people time, travel, and expense I'll be in line to purchase and use it. Thus far, everyone I have tried (on myself) doesn't hold up. Every pigment I have ever used I try on my feet to see how they hold up in the long term. If they change color in the foot the scalp stands no chance. Thus far, I have 2 pigments I will personally endorse and neither one will last more than 5 years. Pigment that is not designed to fade has a larger molecule that cannot escape the cell wall. So, even if it's properly placed in the dermal layer in time it will produce a color changing effect. Here is why: because the skin over the top of the pigment will change with time causing it to appear faded. And, by faded I mean it will appear a shade or two lighter. So based on the science of color, take the color black for instance which is made up of several layers of the color blue. Even if I implant it at a nice color and it stays true to color at the dermal layer if that skin damage in the epidural layer makes it look a shade or two lighter it will look blue at the surface level. Think of like wrapping a black ball in layers of cellophane. It's the optical illusion. Now if the provider used a pigment that was carbon based and it lasers out easy than this is not such a big issue but if they used something oxide based it will be harder to get out. IE: big pain in the butt. I worked for a company who did many good same day treatments that's actually the model I first knew and I know many great techs who are still doing that model. But, I also saw and continue to see many complications due to this model. The model not the tech. The problem comes from inflammation. When the scalp becomes inflamed it makes it harder structurally speaking for the skin to support the pigment in the incisions. So, lets say I'm using a 3-prong needle which will make three little incisions very close together with one poke that look like a triangle and I do a full head treatment. Inevitably all the triangles (3 incisions in 1 poke) will become 1 larger dot. Now, lets say I have many of these placed very close together all over the head the trauma and inflammation from the incisions makes it very hard for the skin to not only support that 1 dot but if another incision was placed too closely now that will now join the dot next to it. I would be nice to think that this could be avoided by a good provider and I know many who claim it won't happen to them but skin is skin and the scalp has so many different epidermal depths that this phenomena is not really about the skill that day during that procedure but the knowledge of knowing when enough is enough and telling somebody we can't do it all in one day for their safety. Maybe 7 out of 10 times they would be fine in a one and done procedure but I don't want to be one of those 3 patients that aren't. That's why you will also notice that all of these places have a laser in house. Because inevitably small migrations need to be corrected. They just act like it's normal. Well, and always claim the laser is there to correct other people mistakes never their own. I hope this is making better sense of what and why I gave a bit of a different recommendation above. It wasn't to insult you or attempt to start a debate. We really want the same thing...for patients to get the best possible care and treatment out here. All the best

I have had patients use both! I have a patient who posted a thread on here I don't know the exact title but it's "permanent pigmentation major repair - trico/fue combo" or something like that. His name is mmac. He had 11 laser treatments during his FUE process attempting to remove some permanent pigmentation. Msg him about his experience and I'm sure he will be glad to chat with you.

Your SMP looks awesome! I wouldn't lower that hairline at all! Matt does a great job and you are in great hands! Each of us has an opinion on which company we like best. Personally, I was trained in permanent pigmentation and actually started my career in this industry in that field. I can tell you that today based on that inside knowledge if I have patients that want permanent pigmentation I really only refer to previous HIS employees . IE: Matt at ScalpMicro and Simon or Paul at Brandwood in the UK. The technique and pigments that they were trained with are far superior and much safer than those of some of the other more permanent companies (not including Vinci). Touch-ups are a far better inconvenience than color repair.