You’ve had the surgery, the swelling’s gone, and your results are settling in, but there’s one final detail that can really complete the transformation.

Vanessa Dougherty is a tattoo artist who specializes in scar camouflage and restorative micropigmentation. She works closely with plastic surgeons to help patients take their results to the next level using color, care, and craft.

Vanessa shares how she got into medical tattooing, why technique and color matching matter so much, and how every procedure has to be tailored to the individual. It’s not just about hiding scars; it’s about understanding skin tone, selecting the right pigments, and applying them with expert precision.

Timing is important. You’ll usually want to wait about a year post-surgery before starting, and expect at least two sessions, plus a possible touch-up later. Results can last anywhere from two to five years.

Aftercare is also a big deal. You can’t get a tattoo and head straight to the beach! Proper healing makes all the difference in how the pigment holds up.

From recreating nipples after mastectomy to blending facelift or breast lift scars, Vanessa sees how this final step transforms not just the body, but how people carry themselves.

Find out what to expect in terms of pain, cost, and results—plus how to find a truly qualified medical tattoo artist, and why she believes this should be part of the standard aftercare plan for surgical patients.

Links

Learn more about Restorative Permanent Makeup

Follow Vanessa on Instagram @restorativepmu and TikTok @restorativepmu

Subscribe to Vanessa’s YouTube channel @restorativepermanentmakeup 

Learn from the talented plastic surgeons inside La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, the 12x winner of the Best of San Diego and global winner of the 2020 MyFaceMyBody Best Cosmetic/Plastic Surgery Practice.

Join hostess Monique Ramsey as she takes you inside LJCSC, where dreams become real. Featuring the unique expertise of San Diego’s most loved plastic surgeons, this podcast covers the latest trends in aesthetic surgery, including breast augmentation, breast implant removal, tummy tuck, mommy makeover, labiaplasty, facelifts and rhinoplasty.

La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre is located just off the I-5 San Diego Freeway at 9850 Genesee Ave, Suite 130 in the Ximed building on the Scripps Memorial Hospital campus.

To learn more, go to LJCSC.com or follow the team on Instagram @LJCSC

Watch the LJCSC Dream Team on YouTube @LaJollaCosmeticSurgeryCentre

The La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Podcast is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io