A comprehensive evaluation of safety and awareness in eyebrow microblading: a cross-sectional study
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
The importance of eyebrows in facial aesthetics has long been recognized, and eyebrows restoration is carried out by carefully depositing pigments into the epidermis. This cosmetic procedure is known as microblading which is very popular because of the progress in social media platforms. This study was designed to determine the awareness of eyebrow microblading, complication and laser removal in general population of Saudi Arabia. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in four different regions in Saudi Arabia (Asir, Qasim, Jawf, and Eastern province), from June 2023 to December 2023. Only females were included, and an online questionnaire was distributed. A convenient non-probability sampling method was adopted to gather data from participants. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21. A total of 705 participants were included in the study, with the majority 281 (39.9%) falling into the age group >35 years, and the mean age was 29.1±11.9 years. The study revealed a moderate level of awareness (65%) among participants regarding eyebrow microblading. However, alarming gaps regarding hygiene practices in microblading setups still exist. Notably, facing complications during the surgery was identified as a statistically significant factor associated with a higher level of awareness (p=0.049). Of the participants, 17.4% had undergone eyebrow microblading, with friends being the source of advice for 39.5% of them. Laser removal was chosen by more than 60% of microblading recipients, with varying degrees of pleasure and satisfaction reported. Eyebrow microblading is a successful cosmetic procedure with aesthetic advantages. However, this study also emphasizes the necessity for extensive public education regarding microblading, including its associated risks, restrictions, and appropriate practices. To ensure safe and ethical practices, stringent laws and licensing for certified professionals are also deemed essential.
Marwah MK, Kerure AS, Marwah GS. Microblading and the Science Behind it. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2021;12(1):6-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_230_20
Sano ED, Truong J, Chenevert L. Bilateral periorbital cellulitis after eyebrow microblading. Visual Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visj.2021.101172
Zhitny VP, Iftekhar N. Ancient Roots of Microblading-A Permanent Makeup Art. Journal of Skin and Stem Cell. 2020;6(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/jssc.101833
Haney B. Aesthetic Procedures: Nurse Practitioner's Guide to Cosmetic Dermatology: Springer; 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19948-7
Garg G, Thami GP. Micropigmentation: tattooing for medical purposes. Dermatol Surg. 2005;31(8 Pt 1):928-931; discussion 931. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00042728-200508000-00007
Leight-Dunn H, Lemly V, Chapas A. Delayed Granulomatous Reaction After Eyebrow Microblading. Dermatol Surg. 2022;48(1):142-143. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000003236
Rassman WR, Pak JP, Kim J. Scalp micropigmentation: a useful treatment for hair loss. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2013;21(3):497-503. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsc.2013.05.010
Seyhan T, Kapi E. Scalp Micropigmentation Procedure: A Useful Procedure for Hair Restoration. J Craniofac Surg. 2021;32(3):1049-1053. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/SCS.0000000000007208
Geisler AN, Eber A, Kim K, Arndt KA. Lasers for the treatment of eyebrow microblading and cosmetic tattoo pigment: a review of the literature. Lasers Med Sci. 2023;38(1):256. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-023-03921-z
Ortiz AE, Alster TS. Rising concern over cosmetic tattoos. Dermatol Surg. 2012;38(3):424-429. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-4725.2011.02202.x
Starnoni M, Pinelli M, Franceschini G, De Santis G. A Rare Case of Nipple-Areolar Complex Partial Necrosis following Micropigmentation: What to Learn? Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2019;7(11):e2494. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000002494
Hartman N, Loyal J, Borsack S, Goldman MP, Boen M. Retrospective Review of the Laser Removal of Facial Cosmetic Tattoos. Dermatol Surg. 2023;49(6):559-565. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000003766
Tierney E, Kavanagh GM. Koebnerization secondary to microblading. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(4):1040-1041. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.13695
Wetzel CL. Permanent cosmetics. Plast Surg Nurs. 2012;32(3):117-119. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/PSN.0b013e31826929c6
Francis A, Criton S, Shojan A, Philip R. Micropigmentation in vitiligo of lateral lower lip. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2013;6(4):236-237. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-2077.123416
Gurnani P, Williams N, Al-Hetheli G, Chukwuma O, Roth R, Fajardo F, et al. Comparing the efficacy and safety of laser treatments in tattoo removal: A systematic review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022;87(1):103-109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2020.07.117
Heidekrueger PI, Juran S, Ehrl D, Aung T, Tanna N, Broer PN. Global aesthetic surgery statistics: a closer look. Journal of plastic surgery and hand surgery. 2017;51(4):270-274. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2000656X.2016.1248842
Macura M, Ban Frangez H, Cankar K, Finžgar M, Frangez I. The effect of transcutaneous application of gaseous CO(2) on diabetic chronic wound healing-A double-blind randomized clinical trial. Int Wound J. 2020;17(6):1607-1614. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.13436
Luthra P, Hussain A, Balkrishna N. The Science behind Microblading. Journal of Coastal Life Medicine. 2023;11(1):3323–3327.
Verhaeghe E, Cuyper C. Tattoo Removal: Techniques and Devices. 2018. p. 177-201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77098-7_8
Menozzi-Smarrito C, Smarrito S. Laser Removal of Cosmetic Eyebrow Tattoos with a Picosecond Laser. Dermato. 2023;3(3):182-192. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/dermato3030014
Copyright (c) 2024 the Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.