Lip blushing is becoming a popular treatment for those who want the illusion of fuller lips. While cosmetic products can plump lips temporarily and lip fillers can add volume, a lip blush tattoo can enhance your natural lip color and shape. Lip blushing is painful and the lip must heal before taking shape. What are the lip blush healing stages ? In this article, everything about lip blush will discussed as well as lip blush healing stages.
What is lip blushing?
Lip blushing is a semi-permanent tattoo that can enhance the color and shape of your lips and give the impression of more fullness. This is done by depositing color ink into your lips and along your lip line to improve the overall look. The color is subtle to give natural-looking results.
How does lip blushing compare to popular lip fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane®?
Lip fillers are a gel made of hyaluronic acid, a substance that’s found naturally in your skin. The gel is injected into your lips. It’s easy to control the outcome of how full you want your lips to look.
“With fillers, some are very thin like water, others are very stiff like Jell-O™,” says Dr. Khetarpal. “Depending on what people’s goals are, we determine which product is best for them.”

Lip blush enhances your lip color and creates an illusion of bigger lips without adding volume, while lip fillers add volume, but not color.
Lip blushing tattoo procedure
A lip blushing procedure is similar to lip tattooing. It’s accomplished in the following way:
- First, your provider will numb your lips so that you’ll feel less pain and discomfort.
- While you’re waiting for the numbing agent to take full effect, your provider will go over your desired lip shape and tone, as well as any sketches that need your approval.
- Next, they’ll insert a natural-looking pigment into your lips using small needles. This is done in multiple layers to help create an even tone.
- In all, the process can take between 1 and 3 hours.
Does lip blushing hurt?
People may experience some discomfort during a lip blushing procedure. The level of discomfort may vary depending on how each individual feels pain.
To minimize pain, a provider may apply a topical numbing cream or anesthetic to the area beforehand.

Cosmetic blogs and articles also state that the pain from lip blushing is minimal and similar to a scratching or pinching sensation.
If people are experiencing any extreme pain from the procedure, they will need to communicate this with the provider.
Lip blush healing stages
The lip blush healing stages is similar to that of a tattoo. You’ll see swelling and redness, which you can help treat with ice or cold compresses. While it may be tempting to bandage your lips, you should let them air-dry for best results.
As your lips start to heal, the skin will scab for about a week. Do not pick at these scabs — this may cause scarring and uneven tone as your lip tattoo heals.
Place petroleum jelly on your lips for relief and protection.
You may also consider avoiding intense workouts for a few weeks as your lips heal. Avoid direct sun exposure during this time, too. Don’t worry if your lips look darker than you anticipated; this is a normal side effect that will wear off as your lips heal.
Expect to see full results from lip blush in about a month. Your provider may ask you to come in for a follow-up appointment at this time to assess your results.
A touch-up session may be required after a couple of months to achieve the precise color you want.
Potential side effects and precautions
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are many approved color additives for cosmetic use, but none have approval for intradermal injection.
Due to the lack of regulations and scientific research around lip blushing, there is a risk of adverse effects.
The FDA warns of the following risks around permanent makeup and tattooing:
- Infection: Unsterile equipment and needles or contaminated ink may result in infection.
- Allergic reaction: There have been reports of allergic reactions to some shades of ink in permanent makeup. This may be problematic, as the ink can be difficult to remove.
- Granulomas: Granulomas are small areas of inflammation that occur when the body perceives a substance, such as tattoo ink, as foreign.
- Keloids: Keloids are raised scars that can form in response to any injury to the skin. However, keloids are more likely to occur from tattoo removal than from a procedure such as lip blushing.
- MRI complications: Some pigments in permanent makeup may react with the magnets in MRI scans. People with permanent makeup may experience swelling or burning of the area if they have an MRI scan. This is usually a rare and temporary occurrence, but people with lip blushing should inform their doctor or radiologist before having an MRI.
It may also be difficult to remove or reverse a lip blushing treatment.
If people have cold sores on the lips, they may need to take an antiviral medication before having the procedure.
Lip blushing cost
Lip blushing is a cosmetic procedure, so it’s not covered by medical insurance.
On average, permanent makeup procedures cost a minimum of $400 to $800 per session. Due to the multiple layers required in lip blushing, the cost may go much higher.
However, your total cost will vary based on your provider and where you live.
You may also ask your provider about financing and payment plans to help offset your up-front costs.
Never enlist the services of someone who’s unlicensed or inexperienced in order to save yourself some money. You may end up with poor results — or even dangerous side effects — that you may need to have a professional fix.
Is lip blushing better than lip injections?
Lip blushing isn’t “better” or “worse” than lip injections—it’s all just personal preference. Lip blushing will add color and definition to your lips, while lip fillers will add volume and shape. They both last about a year before requiring touch-ups, take a week or so to heal, and have about the same level of pain. So again, it really just depends on the results you want, but know that you also don’t have to choose: You can get both lip blushing and lip injections, as long as you wait six weeks in between, and start with the filler first.
Does lip blushing make lips look bigger?
Yep, lip blush can make your lips look a little bigger. No, lip blush can’t add any real volume, but it can make your natural lips look more defined, especially around the Cupid’s bow, which will give you the illusion of more depth and fullness. You can also chat with your artist to see if they’re able to add a color gradient to the edges of your lips to increase the volumizing effect even more. But, again, if you’re looking for true volume, go for lip filler (or both).
Conclusion
Lip blushing is a cosmetic procedure that applies permanent coloring to the lips. A provider will tattoo pigment into the lips to provide an even coloring. It will usually be darker immediately following a procedure, before the lips heal and the color fades to the intended shade.
Before you get your lip blushed, talk with a dermatologist about any concerns you have with your lips, so they can help you understand your treatment options.
If you decide that lip blushing is your best option, work with a licensed and reputable provider who’ll also go over any risks associated with the procedure.