Microblading – Who Is at Fault for Injuries from a Botched Procedure?
If you spend any time in the salon, you have heard about microblading.
In fact, it is quickly becoming one of the hottest trends in beauty. This is because, if a woman can withstand the pain, she can have perfectly sculpted brows that last longer than average plucking or waxing times. However, the pain is the main issue here. When the esthetician performing the procedure is not trained, uses faulty equipment, or exercises negligence, a person could suffer from permanent injuries, especially when microblading goes wrong and requires correction.
What Is Microblading and Why Is It so Popular in West Palm Beach Salons?
Microblading is a tattoo-based technique that uses a handheld tool with small needles that permanently press pigment into the skin in the same color as the existing eyebrows.
The person performing the technique is like an eyebrow architect. They must assess your current arches and brow coverage, then work to fill and shape so you have a permanent, flawless look.
While the process is meant to be precise, because it uses a pen tattoo procedure, the eyebrows are still done freehand. Even though the device offers some guidance, if the brows were messed up, uneven, or required correction, the process is extremely painful.
During the microblading, the needles finely implant pigment using featherweight strokes. The dye is medical-grade, but a person might still suffer irritation or allergic reaction – another risk to the procedure. It is supposedly pain-free, and if there is pain it is supposed to be nothing more than a paper cut feel.
Like Tattoos, but Not Tattoos
One reason the industry is not heavily regulated is the process. Microblading uses a tattoo-like procedure but is not a tattoo. Tattoos go into deeper layers of the skin, which requires laser removal. Microblading focuses on the surface and fades in 18 months.
The strokes are fine and resemble real hair.
The Steps of Microblading
To see where this procedure could go wrong and why there are risks that many clients are unaware of, you must first look at the steps of the process. These steps include:
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Threading and Shaping – Before the actual microblading process starts, the brow area is threaded, cleaned, and shaped to prepare it for treatment.
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Numbing – A topical numbing agent is applied to the skin, which may cause an allergic reaction in those with susceptible skin.
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Measurements – The esthetician takes measurements around the brows, considers their clients’ symmetry, and plans how they will tattoo the eyebrows into place.
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Needling – The pigment is lightly implanted in small strokes around the brow using a superficial lining process. At this stage, if the hand makes a slip or the technician goes off their lines, the client will have uneven brows.
When Microblading Goes Wrong
In November 2018, a woman visited a salon in Ohio to get her eyebrows done using microblading. Unfortunately, the woman suffered from permanent facial scarring.
As the brows were applied, she noticed that the brows were uneven and told the technician. After the procedure, the technician told the woman that the issue would be fixed easily. However, the woman reports that the process was excruciatingly painful, blistering, and left her with permanent damage to the skin above her eyes.
Even plastic surgeons cannot correct the damage done, and the scarring might never go away.
When microblading needs removal, a technician typically uses a saline solution or laser removal. In this woman’s case, it was supposedly saline. However, some speculate something was added to that saline because of the burning effect she had on the skin afterward.
Other ways microblading can go wrong due to negligence:
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Infection: The needles used still penetrate the first few layers of the skin. While they do not go deep, the needles require sanitizing to prevent distributing bacteria that may lead to a skin infection – especially in those with compromised immune systems.
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Allergic Reaction: The pigments can still cause an allergic reaction. And while rare, these reactions can be life-threatening for some victims.
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Scarring: Whether it is during removal or the microblading itself, a person could suffer from permanent scarring when the procedure goes wrong.
Can You Sue for Microblading Injuries?
When serious injuries occur from microblading (such as burns, permanent scars, or infections), victims may be able to hold the salon, the technician, or the company that created the device responsible for their injuries.
To hold someone responsible for your botched microblading, you would need to establish the four cornerstones of an injury claim:
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Show a duty of care was owed. When you pay for a professional service, there are risks. However, it is still the technician’s job to discuss those risks and ensure that they do not create unnecessary harm in the process.
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Show there was a breach of duty. Did the technician use acetone instead of saline to remove an error? Did they fail to sanitize their equipment which caused an infection? When negligence leads to injury, there is a breach of duty.
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Were there injuries? Even if there is a breach of duty, there must also be an injury. If you walk out of the salon and are fine, you have no claim.
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Were there damages? In addition to an injury, you need to have damages, which might include medical costs, lost wages, pain, and suffering.
Speak with an Injury Advocate
To see if you have a case against a salon, or if you were seriously injured in another type of incident, you should always consult with an attorney to see if your case qualifies for compensation.
The Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A., can assist you with your case. We will meet during a free consultation and discuss your rights and options. Then, we will aggressively seek compensation from the at-fault party.
To get started, schedule your free case evaluation at 954-677-0155 or request more information online.
