Questions about cost and scar treatment

[wylie]

I recently learned that the cost for an SMP session to address strip scars was $800.00, and that the treatment consisted of either two or three sessions. The first session is the base pigment, and it's typical to see scars reject around 50% of the pigment in the first session. The next session is where the majority of the ink is applied, and then the third session is for touch up.

 

So here are my questions:

 

1) For three sessions, are these done 24 hours apart, meaning three days in total? If not, what is wait time between sessions?

 

2) if the quoted price is $800.00, that is the price of each individual session? So around $2400.00 for the three session treatment?

 

3) Are there any other hidden costs to be considered, such as blood work, anesthesia, etc?

 

I've been told that the final result can fade in as little as 6 months. This means a cost of five grand a year to maintain coverage. This gets pricy.

 

Anyone been down this road and can give a newbie some guidance? Thanks.

[MirkoMensInk]

I speak for myself:

 

the price for a SMP scar treatment is 500 euro, the price includes 3 sessions, 2 sessions in consecutive days and the third after a month.

No hidden costs.

The annual touch up costs 250 euro, if you need a touch up every 6 months, the cost is divided into 2 (125 and 125).

 

Greetings

 

Mirko Bruscaini

 

Dermo Beauty Center

[wylie]

Thanks so much for the info., Mirko, much appreciated.

 

I've also learned today that each session is performed 6 weeks apart, which means flying somewhere is not really viable financially. Thankfully there are a few clinics here in the Midwest.

 

 

Best Regards.

[fixstrip]

I can tell you right now from mich experience that if you want your scar concealed so you can start shaving your head dont waste your time and money with any of the companies often mentioned on here. I have had the temporary smp done at one of these conpanies and it faded and turned real blotchy. I had that laser removed quite easily. What I DO reccommend is going to a regular old permanant makeup person. I went to rosie wells in milwaukee and she made my hideous scar look not there. I can shave my head pretty low and my scar is not noticable. Oh yeah, it only cost me $300. Yes its permanant but she uses pigment not ink so the color remains.

[wylie]

Rosie the Riveter? I don't know man.....

[fixstrip]

Obviously youre affiliated with one of these crooks to spread disinfo like that.

[wylie]

Obviously youre affiliated with one of these crooks to spread disinfo like that.

 

Lighten up Francis, it's a joke. I'm not affiliated with anyone. I'm just trying to find someone good at SMP that is in the Midwest. Permanent ink is too much of a risk for me.

[fixstrip]

Lol..."Francis" sorry man. You doing the scar, or the whole head?

[scar5]

she uses pigment not ink so the color remains.

 

Cool.

So what is the difference between pigment and ink anyway? And how come pigment color remains and ink doesn't?

[scar5]

she uses pigment not ink so the color remains.

 

Cool.

So what is the difference between pigment and ink anyway? And how come pigment color remains and ink doesn't?

[fixstrip]

Really I'm not the person to ask if you want a thorough answer because I don't remember the ingredients but I'm sure a qualified permanent make up specialist could give you the info you're looking for.

[scar5]

OK..got it.

But you know that pigmentation is different than ink, right?

And you know that pigmentation is permanent, right?

And ink is not permanent, as you said in your previous post?

So I am assuming that someone told you that?

 

Not trying to be too much of a wise-guy, but as far as I know, pigment and ink are the same. I could be wrong, but that is what I have always assumed. Ink is made of pigments, some natural, some synthetic.

 

And I gotta add, asking the specialists about ink is like asking Shiva to hand over the Ganges to you. All you get is, 'It's special ink' 'Special, proprietary ink'. All suppliers add a dash of this or that (supposedly) and that gives the buyer the right to call it 'proprietary' and that's how they do it. Consumer knows nothing. I thought I'd ask you, 'cause you seemed like you knew something new.

[fixstrip]

It was explained to me and I used my judement and made my decision. I am satisfied with the results. That is really all I can say, what you decide to do is entirely up to you.

[hairthere]

fixstrip, sorry to hear you had a bad experience with temporary SMP. However, the assumption that all temporary SMP practitioners are "crooks" is not really fair or accurate, imo. The reason temporary was developed was to prevent possible color change and to give the client the option to let it fade completely. These seem like pretty obvious advantages over permanent SMP.

 

Regarding the actual ink, Scar5 is correct in his assertions. While there can be variations in formula/ingredients, there isn't really a difference between the ink tattoo artists and micro pigmentation practitioners use. The difference between permanent and temporary has to do with the size and shape of the particles. Temporary has particles that are 15 microns and are all perfectly round in shape. These particles are small enough that they can be "eaten" by the body's cell defense system and are therefore expelled. Permanent has particles 20+ microns and they are various shapes.

 

There are also differences in the depth permanent and temporary needles work at, and the equipment varies as well.

 

Hope this info helps!

[fixstrip]

My assumption is that all hair restoration practitioners in general are nothing more than crooks. They charge iutragous prices and make promises that arent realisic, whether they do smp or not. I had a bad experience with temp smp. After all of the money Ive spent and all my experiences I think it is fair and accurate to say they are all crooks. That is my opinion and others with have theirs.

[wylie]

My assumption is that all hair restoration practitioners in general are nothing more than crooks. They charge iutragous prices and make promises that arent realisic, whether they do smp or not. I had a bad experience with temp smp. After all of the money Ive spent and all my experiences I think it is fair and accurate to say they are all crooks. That is my opinion and others with have theirs.

 

Well, you have not gone thru a fraction of what I've gone thru with failed surgeries, and there are a lot of crooks in this industry, that's why forums like this one are so important, to vet honest doctors and expose those who are not, to allow patients and doctors to discuss their experiences, and provide answers and evidence for potential patients. I only wish there were forums like this when I first talked to a doctor about hair restoration. It would have spared me much grief.

 

After all I've gone thru over the past 20 years, I know not all doctors are crooks, and someday you should arrive at the same conclusion when you are not as bitter and angry. Over time you will.

 

Make no mistake, SMP scares me, that's why I'm sticking with temporary ink when I eventually find someone who can do it for me. The pool of those practicing this competently is very small, but I trust it will grow. I hope someone in the Midwest emerges soon that I can trust, but I've yet to find them.

[fixstrip]

Im not at all bitter or angry although I once was, but not anymore as I've realized those decisions were my own. Plus I'm satisfied with where I am now. I just know I am done having any procedures done.

[BaldKen2]

There is a lot of spin these Hair Replication Tattoo Clinics are giving you.

Pigments can only be made out of certain things and in certain ways.

Certain things - there are your organic and inorganic and also the iron oxides and

certain ways - mixing them with certain vehicles which are water glycerin and alcohol

which are combined in many ways by many different manufactures.

I seen some crazy claims from these companies, but I promise you that there are no magic tattoo inks made especially for the scalp. That' ridiculous!

 

Some blacks due turn a bit blue (never seen green) and many don't...but all colors will fade eventually in the sun. That is a law of nature.

COSMETIC AND TATTOO PIGMENTS do not spread - the inks make from pen ink, soot or dirt can and might "migrate" or spread Those types of "inks" were used in the olden days and in jails. Pigment Migration occurs when ink enters a blood vessel, and these cases are rare and usually pertain to women having permanent makeup near the eye region where there are many blood vessels.

As far as the needles and equipment go, traditional tattoo artists have the same equipment and needles as an SMP clinic. All that the artist needs is a machine capable of 100-180 punctures per second.

 

The reason these SMP clinics are getting thousands for this procedure, instead of the several hundred dollars you would pay a traditional tattoo artist for the same job, is because tattooing dots on men's heads are all they do, so people assume that it must take a special skill to perform this procedure. Then they use scare tactics, and photoshop blue-spotted scalp pics and say that "this is what happens if you don't come to us."

As far as insertion depth, it is a fact that to make the pigment permanent it must be injected into the dermal layer. Any clinic that claims they only go into the epidermal layer is either lying or their tattoo will fade quickly. SMP tattoos and Traditional Tattoos inject ink 1-2mm into the scalp. Any deeper and you will have excess bleeding; any shallower and the tattoo will exfoliate with epidermal shedding.

I've had a procedure at one of the US clinics that left me unsatisfied, and I am planning to go to a tattoo artist, who is a friend of mine, to fill in some areas that faded. I will definitely report back with pics and let you all know what the price was vs the SMP clinic price.

[scar5]

Pigment Migration occurs when ink enters a blood vessel, and these cases are rare..

 

The dispersal of the ink particles occurs over time as the cells which contain them either divide, or die and exit the body

 

 

Dr Ian Eames, a Reader in Fluid Mechanics at UCL,

 

All tattoos lose definition.

 

I like your direct approach and input to the discussion. It's rare to see people come in and say it. Just the usual back-slapping. So I really welcome your input. About time.

 

I disagree about what you are saying and wonder how you plugged those US clinics ..

 

You must know about Milena's technique and you must apply your brains to looking at that, please. it has been all over this site for two years. Search beauty medical , it has been promoted by two of the most powerful hair transplant sales representatives on this board.

 

It is a temporary procedure, dotting the epidermis only, and with color , no black, so they don't get the blue look.

[BaldKen2]

Hey there Scar5, and thank you for your reply. Yes mate you are right on the button about the cellular migration, but that happens over time. Like over 15-20 years. I was just referring to the migration that can occur after a tattoo procedure (usually in cases of women and permanent eye makeup) but it seems that some clinics out there are using it as a scare tactic. That's all I meant for it.

I have read some of your posts, and they are really great and informative! You have had quite a journey. I havent read all of the threads yet but I will try to read as much as I can. We all just have our own journey I suppose. What works for me, may not work for you and vice versa.

I didn't mean to plug those clinics on my previous post. If I broke a forum rule I appologize to the moderators. Those are simply the clinics in the US that I learned to produce good work, but I am sure there are dozens more that are just as good or better than the ones I mentioned. If anyone knows of any other good smp clinics please share them (assuming that is allowed).

Yes Ive looked into Bella Medical a couple of years ago and exchanged emails with Milena. I am well aware of her temporary method. She has taught this method to Dr. Shapiro in Minneapolis. Her results look amazing! For me though, I simply cannot afford the travel and upkeep expenses.

If youd ever like to look at my scalp pics I would love your opinion on what I should do as far as enhancing. I know that you know your stuff and have done your homework. I am just not quite sure what to do moving forward. Maybe FUE? IDK:confused: