Old Permanent Makeup Tattoo-Laser Removal vs Correction

Laser Removal or Correction: Which Is Better for Old Permanent Eyebrows, Lip Tattoo or Eyeliner Permanent Makeup?

In the last few years, corrective work has come to constitute around 50% of my total practice. Many clients now inquire about the possibilities of reworking old tattoos or previous microblading, ombre brows, permanent lip tattoo, and eyeliner tattoo. Some treatment areas are heavily saturated—sometimes with a nice shape, but often with problematic shapes, raised skin from overworking, or mismatched and asymmetrical sides. Others have just a residue of colour in various intensities and shades, some of which are unnatural and require neutralising or gradually replacing with a shade that matches the client’s natural coloration.

Removal Methods

Laser Tattoo Brows Removal

With the evolution of laser technology, we now have high-quality devices that promise removal in as few as one to four sessions. For certain cases, like very saturated eyeliner with an incorrect shape, laser removal is often the best solution. This also applies to lip liner that has been placed outside the vermilion border: if it’s strong enough to distort the lip shape, when light reflects against the boarder, laser is typically the only remedy.

Saline Salts Solution Old Permanent Makeup Removal

Other removal methods involve saline or salt solutions, introduced into the skin to loosen existing pigment particles. This stimulates blood supply and exfoliation using the healing process, gradually lightening or replacing the old pigment with a more flattering colour. Sometimes, the saline solution can leave the area considerably lighter, or even completely free of old pigment, if the residue was faint to begin with.

When is the correction of an old permanent makeup tattoo better than removal?

In cases whereas a fairly faint residual colour remains—reworking can be done by carefully covering with fresh pigment, or even using skin-toned pigment in some areas. Old, unflattering shapes or mismatched sides and unflattering old tattoo colour can often be gradually reworked.

Laser removal is reliable, but requires multiple sessions spaced out over time to allow for healing. In the best-case scenario, after a few months, the client achieves complete removal—but then must start from scratch for any new enhancement. Reworking means generating an improved, elegant enhancement at the same time.

On average, most clients decide to—and qualify for—reworking rather than full old permanent makeup removal and correction techniques can incorporate the existing pigment residue to create a specific design, such as a nano combo brows with ombre shading, using the residue as a soft background and adding new hair strokes at the beginning of the brows or simply covers using ombre shading techniques and colour cancelling the unnatural shades.

Whether a client chooses laser removal or reworking with a gradual new enhancement depends on their objectives and their particular situation. Each approach has its place, and the best solution is always tailored to the individual.

What to Know Before Deciding on Correction of Old Permanent Brows, LipsTattoo or Permanent Eyeliner

Process of infusing new corrective colour particles or a saline salt solution to loosen up the particles of old tattoo residue, prompting the skin to exfoliation of old colour residue.

It is of paramount importance to find someone with genuine artistic flair and aptitude—preferably with an artistic background or education. Every single situation is different, and correcting or reworking old permanent makeup truly requires an artist’s eye and creative approach. This isn’t something that can be learned from a textbook or by following a formula.

If a practitioner lacks experience and that essential artistic sensibility, they may not be able to improve the situation—in fact, I often see old mistakes simply repeated. Thoughtlessly covering previous work can lead to the same unflattering shapes, further oversaturation, and, essentially, adding insult to injury. Proper correction demands much more than technical skill; it requires the ability to see what’s possible and to adapt to each client’s unique needs.

Can any Permanent Makeup Artist Correct Old Microblading?

Reworking requires true artistry. 

My background in fine art and years of experience with colour theory give me the ability to improvise on the spot—almost as if painting or sketching directly on the skin. Sometimes, it’s about creating the impression of a photo negative, breaking up blocks of unwanted pigment with carefully chosen skin tones, or reconstructing shape and colour at the same time. Reworking eyeliner or lips—especially when correcting shapes outside the vermilion border—demands not just technical skill, but genuine artistic flair. Every correction is unique, and every client deserves a result that’s both beautiful and natural.