FAQ
What is a derma pigmentologist?
Only successful graduates of the Swiss association examination receive the quality label and are authorised to use the professional title ‘Certified Derma Pigmentologist’. The quality label is labelled with a year. In order to receive a new, current annual number every year, it is necessary to complete further training days or workshops.
What assurances do I have?
‘So consider carefully before committing yourself!’ – Even though permanent make-up does not last forever, it is extremely important to find out exactly who you are entrusting yourself to before taking this important step.
The longer durability and the awareness that the skin is being worked on show that even in the worst case, such a treatment is associated with risks. Severe distortions, infections or injuries can be the consequences of improperly performed work and cause lasting damage to those affected.
For this reason, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV) has issued new guidelines for this area. At the time, the Swiss Professional Association for Cosmetics (SFK), together with representatives of the Swiss Professional Association for Permanent Make-up (SFP), drew up conditions for comprehensive training that would do justice to this responsible activity and defined the corresponding admission requirements for the permanent make-up section.
This training can be completed with a professional examination, which only successful graduates are entitled to use the protected title ‘Dipl. Derma-Pigmentologin’ (Certified Derma-Pigmentologist). It is the highest quality award for permanent make-up. I myself have held this distinction as a Certified Derma-Pigmentologist SFP since 2002.
In addition, I served for several years as vice president and examination expert for the Swiss Professional Association for Permanent Make-up.
What can be pigmented?
Permanent make-up, also known as PMU or cosmetic pigmentation, involves inserting colour pigments into the skin to emphasise or correct certain areas of the face, such as the eyebrows, eyes or lip contours.
With permanent make-up, colour pigments are inserted into the upper layer of skin, whereas tattoos go deeper and are permanent.
In my opinion, PMU should never completely replace make-up, but rather provide a basis for even more, if desired.
Features of permanent make-up:
Application:
Colour pigments are inserted into the top layer of skin using fine needles.
Durability:
Durability varies, but is usually between 2 and 4 years before a touch-up is necessary.
Areas of application:
Eyebrows: emphasise, thicken, correct shape and colour.
Eyes: Intensifying the eyes, emphasising the eyelashes.
Lips: Contouring, shading, filling in lip colour, correcting asymmetries.
There are also medical-cosmetic permanent make-up treatments such as areola pigmentation, trichopigmentation, vitiligo, scar retouching, etc.
What does a Permanent Make-up cost?
It depends entirely on what the customer wants and what the initial situation is. Treating customers with alopecia areata (circular hair loss) or after chemotherapy is not the same as treating a customer with good or very good eyebrows.
That's just one small example.
I have been offering customers the following prices for 24 years. These prices include the initial treatment and follow-up work, i.e. perfection. A fee of £90 is charged for the preliminary consultation and information session. This amount will be deducted from the treatment price if treatment is carried out.
All prices are final prices, i.e. VAT and the perfection appointment are included (VAT no. CHE-226.713.700).
Eyebrows: CHF 900 or CHF 1000 or CHF 1100 incl. perfection/touch-up after 5-6 weeks at the earliest
Upper eyelids: CHF 700, including perfection/touch-up after 5-6 weeks at the earliest.
Lower eyelids: CHF 600, including perfection/touch-up after 5-6 weeks at the earliest.
Lip contour including shading: CHF 1500, including perfection/touch-up after 5-6 weeks at the earliest.
Refresh prices, including perfection appointment, amount to 50% or 70% plus, depending on the refresh period. Detailed information on this can be found under “Terms and Conditions”.
My goal is for the customer to be completely satisfied and for me to be able to stand behind my work 100%.
Satisfaction and perfectionism are part of my mission statement. Only satisfied customers remain customers.
Is it painful?
Some feel nothing at all, others feel a slight tingling sensation. In any case, it is easy to tolerate.
During the preliminary consultation, I always mention to my clients that they should follow the precautions I have personally communicated to them in writing before treatment.
In addition, the mental and physical well-being of a client plays a major role.
What colours are used?
For years, I have worked exclusively with the Swiss company Swiss Color, both in the field of pigments and PMU devices.
The Swiss Color brand offers outstanding pigments for all permanent make-up treatment areas. The PMU devices enable maximum precision.
The pigmentation colours I use are made exclusively from registered and approved raw materials with purity certification. They fully comply with the specifications and guidelines of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV).
REACH-compliant pigments, which have been mandatory in Switzerland since 1 February 2025, but which I have been using since 2022, are free of iron oxides, nickel and other allergy-causing preservatives. They have a high pigment density, good pigmentation and flow properties, and offer maximum, gentle pigment deposition in the skin.
The colours used in my practice are additionally checked at regular intervals by the food inspection authority, the cantonal chemist (Office for Consumer Protection). The certificate can be viewed on request.
How long does pigmentation last?
Depending on skin type, skin condition and customer behaviour, permanent make-up (PMU) lasts between 2 and 4 years, based on experience. Permanent make-up fades slightly each month as the skin renews itself, but this is completely normal. The PMU can be refreshed or repigmented at any time at the customer's request. This is then done at special conditions, including a perfection appointment, of course. A PMU treatment is never perfect after just one treatment.
What is Permanent Make-up?
Permanent make-up is a contouring procedure for eyebrows, lips and eyes, which experience has shown to last between 2-4 years. (Cosmetic pigmentation)
There are also medical-cosmetic Permanent Make-up treatments such as areola pigmentation, trichopigmentation, vitiligo, scar retouching.
Colour pigments are implanted into the skin using a discreet method tailored to the customer.
How is it done?
Before each treatment, a detailed information and consultation session is held with the interested party.
If the interested party decides to undergo treatment, the skin is first cleansed and disinfected at a newly scheduled appointment, pictures are taken, and the shape is sketched out precisely according to the rules of visagism, the golden ratio, discussed with the customer and approved.
Then, based on the client's natural features (skin undertone, eyebrow colour, hair and eye colour), I make a colour recommendation, including a renewed explanation of colour theory, and discuss this with the client.
Now nothing stands in the way of the work and the gentle pigmentation can begin.
In permanent make-up, colour pigments are implanted into the skin at a depth of approx. 0.06 to 0.12 mm using a device and a module (needle attachment).
How long does the treatment last?
The entire treatment (cleansing, sketching, soothing ointment, work, explaining care instructions, arranging a follow-up appointment, etc.) takes approximately 2 to 2½ hours.
After the treatment, soothing skin compresses are applied and the customer is cared for so that she can, of course, go straight out in public or back to work.
What is a Q-label?
The Q label is a quality mark in the field of hygiene. It was created in collaboration with professional associations and the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO). This gives customers the assurance of a quality recognition mark. These studios operate in accordance with the ‘Guidelines for Good Working Practice’ developed by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) and the basic requirements for carrying out this sensitive activity contained therein. I have my inspections carried out directly by the cantonal chemist of the canton of Zug.
What does hygiene certification mean?
Hygiene certification:
Hygiene certification (in force since 2007) is a certification in accordance with the guidelines of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV) and fully complies with the requirements for good working practices in the field of tattooing, permanent make-up, piercing and related practices. These are recognised by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV) and various professional associations and are a prerequisite.
The inspection and certification of my studio is carried out by the cantonal chemist of the canton of Zug.