Two different things, often confused.
Most people arrive asking for “correction”. Which of these you actually need depends entirely on how much old pigment is in the skin.
Correction
Working with what is already there
Where the existing work is light enough and the shape is workable, it can sometimes be adjusted directly — reshaped, rebalanced, or the colour corrected. Faster, but only honest when the skin can genuinely take it.
Recreation
A clean canvas first
Where the skin is oversaturated, or the colour has shifted too far, removal comes first and new permanent makeup follows. It takes longer — and it is the route that produces a result worth having.
Why we sometimes say no.
Adding fresh pigment to skin that is already saturated is how a bad result becomes a worse one. If your skin needs time, or removal, or simply needs to be left alone, that is what Helen will tell you — even when you have arrived hoping for something faster.
Being willing to decline is not caution. It is the whole qualification.
The route back, in order.
1
Honest assessment
What is actually in the skin, and what it will realistically do.
2
Lighten or lift
Laser, saline, or a combination — sequenced across sessions.
3
Let the skin settle
Unhurried. This is the step most often skipped elsewhere.
4
Create it properly
New permanent makeup designed around your features.
This is stage three into stage four of The Permanent Makeup Company Journey — renew, then begin again.
Common questions
The things people most often ask.
What is the difference between correction and recreation?
Correction works with what is already there. Where the existing work is light enough and the shape is workable, it can be reshaped, rebalanced or colour corrected directly. Recreation means creating a clean canvas first: where the skin is oversaturated or the colour has shifted too far, removal comes first and new permanent makeup follows. Which you need depends on how much old pigment is in the skin.
Can you just tattoo over my old permanent makeup?
Sometimes, but not always. Adding fresh pigment to skin that is already saturated is how a bad result becomes a worse one. If your skin needs time, or removal, or simply needs to be left alone, Helen will tell you, even if you arrived hoping for something faster.
How long does correction take?
Direct correction can be relatively quick. Recreation takes longer, because the old pigment is lightened or lifted over several sessions, then the skin is left to settle before new permanent makeup is created. Helen will give you a realistic timescale at your consultation.
Do you correct work done by other artists?
Yes. Whoever did it and however long ago, bring the work you are unhappy with to a free consultation. Helen will tell you honestly what can be done, in what order, and how long it will realistically take.
What happens at a correction consultation?
Helen looks closely at what is actually in the skin and what it will realistically do, then explains your options: correction, laser, saline, a combination, or sometimes nothing at all. Consultations are free and there is no obligation to go ahead.
