• By Julia Gibson February 17, 2022

Scars: they’re with us forever. But sometimes they can be an unpleasant reminder of not-so-good times, like a serious illness or a traumatic accident. Enter paramedical tattooing. This new treatment is gaining serious traction as a permanent way to deal with unwanted marks on the body, whether it’s a surgery scar or stretch marks. We chatted with Jody Stoski, paramedical tattoo artist and CEO and founder of Cinnamon Girl Clinic, to learn more about paramedical tattooing and how this procedure is changing appearances and lives.

JG

What is paramedical tattooing?

JS

Paramedical tattooing focuses on the restoration of the skin in a way which conceals signs of past trauma. It is a critical step in the healing journey of survivors of an accident, illnesses like cancer, trauma, and injury. It restores the healthy appearance of the skin, and further helps to restore the survivors emotional and mental well-being. “Para”-medical is broken down literally to mean “alongside” medical treatments. As Paramedical tattoo artists, we can be an intimate part of our client’s physical and emotional healing process.

JG

What kinds of scars can be covered with tattooing?

JS

I can camouflage scars from burns, skin grafts, cleft lip surgery, mastectomy, c-sections, tummy tucks, facelifts, top surgery procedures (for gender affirmation), self-harm and stretch marks (which are a form of scar). Not all scars can be camouflaged but many can.

JG

Who is a good candidate for this procedure?

JS

Anyone of almost any age who wishes to conceal signs of past trauma and make improvements from their current state is a good candidate. There are technical reasons why someone may not be a great candidate for paramedical tattooing, such as being prone to keloid scarring or hyperpigmentation while healing. There are also some psychological factors that may need to be considered: for example scar camouflaging will often result in significant improvement, however it is unlikely that results will be perfect. Anyone seeking perfection may not be an ideal candidate for this treatment. Fortunately most clients in this space are seeking improvement rather than perfection, which is often sought after in cosmetic tattooing procedures such as brows and lips.

Above all, the scar needs to be completely healed. The longer the healing time the better, but at least one year and maybe longer if the area of concern is still red or pink. Quite often I will have clients contact me just a few months after surgery, but the scar is far from healed by that time and I will advise that they apply a healing cream daily and come back to me after the one-year mark.

@jodystoski

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♬ SUN GOES DOWN – Andreas Roehrig

“As paramedical tattoo artists, we can be an intimate part of our client’s physical and emotional healing process.”

JG

Does it hurt more than a typical tattoo?

JS

This is a super common question, and the honest answer is that it varies by client and scar. In some cases it can be painful, but we utilize numbing when required and when it will not interfere with the results of the tattoo. I also find my clients have a different relationship with pain when it comes to healing from their past traumas — for some it would not matter how painful the procedure is, they want to camouflage the signs of the past regardless.

JG

How should someone prepare for a paramedical tattooing session?

JS

It’s just like you would prepare for a permanent makeup session: avoid alcohol the night before, no Advil or caffeine the day of, and follow the aftercare instructions following the procedure.

JG

What is aftercare like?

JS

It varies by client or scar, but I generally recommend patients avoid swimming pr heavy sweating for 7-10 days and apply an aftercare treatment for some period of time afterwards. Many of my clients are able to return to work the same day they have their camouflage sessions.

JG

How many sessions does it usually take to see results?

JS

In some cases, such as with stretch marks, you can see 70%+ improvement after the first session. I’d say on average a good camouflage requires somewhere between 3-5 sessions approximately 6 week apart.

JG

Are there any other applications for paramedical tattooing in addition to scar coverage?

JS

Yes! I camouflage vitiligo, create realistic 3D areolas for mastectomy and top surgery procedure patients, create vermillion borders (aka lip lines) for cleft lip surgery patients and skin cancer survivors, just to name a few.