Permanent makeup removal & correction

Can old permanent makeup be fixed?

Almost always, yes. Old permanent makeup can be improved in one of two ways: by working over it with fresh pigment to correct the colour and shape, or by removing it first so you can start from a clean base. Which route is right depends on how dark the old work is, how much pigment is there, what colour it has faded to, and the shape you have been left with. Sometimes the answer is a bit of both.

Correction and cover-up work is one of Megan's specialisms, so whatever state your brows or lips are in, the first step is simply an honest assessment of what is possible.

Correcting and covering: working over existing ink

When the old work has faded enough and the shape is not too far off, it can often be improved by working over it. Fresh pigment is used to rebalance the colour, soften hard edges and bring the shape back into proportion.

The thing to understand is that old pigment does not disappear under new pigment. It sits beneath it and influences the final colour, so a brow that has healed to a cool grey or a warm orange needs colour-correcting pigments to neutralise that tone before a new shade will read true. A skilled artist plans for this rather than simply covering over the top.

Covering works beautifully when the canvas allows it. When the old work is very dark, heavy or sits well outside the shape you want, covering it risks a compromised result, and that is where removal comes in.

Often, protecting the final result means lifting the old work first rather than chasing it.

Removal: starting from a clean canvas

When the old permanent makeup is too dark, too large or the wrong shape to cover well, removing some or all of it first gives a far better foundation. It is not a failure or a drastic step. It is simply the route that protects your final result, and often the one that gets you to the look you actually want.

Megan offers two methods of removal, and the right one depends on your situation.

Laser and saline removal

Laser removal uses pulses of light to break the pigment into tiny particles that your body then clears away gradually. It works well on many pigments, though some colours need more sessions than others.

Saline removal works differently. A gentle salt-based solution is worked into the skin using the same technique as the tattoo itself, drawing the pigment up and out as the area heals. It can be a good option for areas and pigment colours that laser finds stubborn, and it avoids the colour shift that laser can occasionally cause in certain pigments.

Both usually need more than one session, spaced several weeks apart to let the skin recover. Which method suits you, and how many sessions you are likely to need, is something Megan assesses in person, because it depends on how much pigment is there, how deep it sits and what colour it is.

If your old work is microblading

Microblading deserves a special mention, because it is the most common reason people come in for correction. As it is done with a blade rather than a machine, it can heal patchy, blur or migrate over time, and it often fades to a cool or grey tone. Whether the answer is correcting over it or removing it first, the goal is the same: to replace it with a result that heals cleanly and lasts, which is exactly what machine work is designed to do.

Your free consultation

Because every case is different, the honest first step is a consultation, and at High Brow Society it is free, either in person or over a video call. Megan will look at what you have, tell you plainly whether covering or removing is the better route, and set out what is realistically achievable and how many sessions it might take.

Removal starts from £45. If you go on to have a fresh set, brows in any style are £310 and include the perfecting session that makes all the difference to how the final result heals.

There is no pressure and no obligation. Even if you are not sure you are a candidate for a cover-up, the consultation is there to give you a straight answer.