Robin Hays, of Chattanooga, said she was after a “natural look“ when she first had eyeliner tattooed around her eyes at age 23. Allergies kept maikng her eyes water, making it difficult to keep conventional makeup in place.

“Now that I have two children, the eyeliner is really more of a convenience factor,“ she said.

Mrs. Hays has since had permanent makeup tattooed on her lips and eyebrows. For the past 13 years, she has worked as a permanent makeup artist Shire Facial Plastic Surgery on Shallowford Road.

“Most people who come iun don't understand that we use pigment instead of actual ink,“ she said. “They are comfortable though because many of them are either referred by another person who's come or by a physician.“

The board-certified dermapigmentation therapist usually see about 20 patients a week in Chattanooga. Mrs. Hays said that the procedure has gained in popularity in the region. Physicians refer their patients who have a need for reconstructive medical tattooing, such as after mastectomies, or who have grown allergic to their own cosmetics.

“It also works for people who have eyesight loss or shaky hands from arthritis or after a stroke,“ she said.

Prices range between $400 and $600, and can be slightly higher for some lip procedures.