PRESS RELEASE:

Lake Country Publications
"Living Well" Home Today
Article: "Cosmetic Surgery"
featuring: Lynn Duncan's Permanent Cosmetics
by: Cindy Crebbin
Date: Fall, 2001

"Women are still the prime clients for cosmetic surgery today. But, besides facelifts and eyelid surgery, women, as well as men are also looking for other options to improve their appearance.

As a child, Lynn Duncan loved experimenting with makeup, not only applying it to her face, but also to her brothers and girlfriends faces.

So, it's no surprise Duncan's passion for makeup and helping people look good as good as possible has led her to specialize in applying permanent cosmetic makeup, whether it be for eyeliner or breasts.

A specialist in micropigmentation and a Registered Occupational Therapist, Duncan's business was located in Hartland for three years and is currently located in Delafield. She shares the clinic with Dr. David R. Madenberg, who specializes in removing tattoos with lasers.

Duncan, who is recognized as an Instructor nationally for her Beginning and Advanced training for the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals, has expertise in applying permanent cosmetics or cosmetic tattoos for eyeliner, lips, brows and breasts.

While most of her clients are women ages 40 and up, she does see men who have had disfiguration or scarring. Women have to be 18 years old to have permanent cosmetics applied.

'More than anything else eyebrows are the number one request for permanent cosmetics. Women are really embarrassed and very self-conscious when they don't have eyebrows or have to draw them on, said Duncan.'

'Women who request permanent eyelineer want this as a timesaver in the morning,' she said. Young mothers who are very busy appreciate waking up with eyeliner. In the lake country area here, women want to be swimming with company and this is important to them,' Duncan said of the permanent eyeliner.

According to her, for permanent lip color, generally women are seeking a very natural shade -- the lip color they had when they were 10 years old.

'For breasts, a lot of women will have had breast augmentation and so they want larger areolas to complement their larger breasts.'

In other cases, women have allergies to conventional makeup and enjoy permanent cosmetics. 'The pigment we use is all natural', she noted.

The medications used to numb the area for permanent cosmetic application are the same medications used in the hospitals, said Duncan. Also, 'there's little to no swelling' for the client after a permanent cosmetic procedure is done.'

Duncan explained that as the years go by, the permanent cosmetics will fade to a softer tone than the initial color. So, in three to five years, people may desire color enhancements to refresh their permanent cosmetics at a fraction of the price.

Actually, the fading of color is an advantage because the color will fade naturally with the aging process, she said.

'The greatest fear people have is they think they'll end up looking like a street walker. I cannot emphasize enough that a true artist in permanent cosmetics will create a very natural, subtle, realistic look,' she said.

At first, nail technicians and hairdressers were Duncan's largest group of clients. But today, 98 percent of her business is through word of mouth.

But, Duncan said she not only applies permanent cosmetic makeup, but spends a good deal of time fixing other makeup technicians' mistakes. 'I know how to shape a brow - a lot of people think they know how an eyebrow should look, but it's misshapen. They want me to fix it. It costs a lot more to correct someone else's mistakes, than if I would have done it from the start', she said.

Madenberg, who is Duncan's husband and Medical Director, is certified to remove permanent tattoos with lasers.

Since Madenberg is a physician, Duncan has access to prescription anesthesia and medical advice. 'We're a physician's clinic'. This is what sets us apart from other people applying cosmetic tattoos in hair and nail salons', said Duncan."