The following is a post I made at another site.
It is very important that people research before getting SMP/ tricopigmentation just as they should before a hair transplant.
Btw, this post was a reply to a reader who had posted certain assumptions. So, please do not get confused (my replies are the one in bold font).
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1. is it painful? If you see the first video, saying its much less painful compared to strip is a misleading comparison. It is much less painful than a regular tattoo. I personally do not like pain and was apprehensive. But I was pleasantly surprised how painless it was.
2. did you bleed? Bleeding is a big NO. Because if there is any blood coming out it is most likely that the pigment inserted will come out with the blood. That is why tricopigmentation and transplant can not be done on the same area simultaneously. The options are - a) Do tricopigmentation 30 days before HT or b) do tricopigmentation a few months after HT (when the skin redness and inflammation has subsided)
3. when can you return to work? You can go back to work the moment you leave the clinic. Not one week, not one day not 1 hour.
4. post op care? Very different from hair transplant and not minimal. Do not shampoo on that day. Use mild shampoos thereafter. Do not use acidic pH products on scalp. The more you expose to ultraviolet light (shaven head and sunbathing), the faster the pigment will disappear. The more you expose to chlorine treated water (swimming pool), the faster the pigment will disappear.
Excessive perspiration, sauna, turkish baths etc will all lead to faster disappearance of the pigment.
5. bandages? Why, not required.
6. maintenance? We already know it is temporary so yes of course we have to go back for touch up. But a clarification. If you decide not to invest more money in tricopigmentation, you just stop. The pigment will disappear. Unlike HT, where if you get a hair transplant and lose more hair, the situation may look unnatural and you will need to go for further HT.
7. Can I get a hair transplant later? of course, it is temporary so why not?
I answered this above
8. is the ink safe? Unlike what the rumor mongers are saying, the pigments are actually tested and approved by competent regulatory bodies as being safe and I have seen the documents and also have copy of them. However, on request of Milena Lardi/beauty Medical, I have left it to them to post these documents.
9. How does the ink disappear? it has been discussed over and over again in the forum the truth is that nobody really knows for sure.
a) Wrong - The pigment particles are enveloped by macrophages that take them to the lymph node.
b) Contextualy wrong because, even in permanent pigments, the smaller particles are similarly disposed off by the macrophages (that is the reason the color of the tattoo changes). If readers wish I can elaborate on this further and those who have got tattoos done can vouch for it.
10. cost? depends on how big an area and where in the world you are getting the work done. ------------------------------------------
Regards,
Dr. A
P.S. - When I talk about tricopigmentation, I am referring to the technique, pigments and instrumentation of Milena Lardi/Beauty Medical. These do not apply to other companies.
