Scalp Micropigmentation Singapore (SMP)

What is scalp micropigmentation (SMP)?

Scalp micropigmentation, often called SMP or a hair tattoo, places thousands of tiny pigment dots in the upper dermis of the scalp. Each dot is sized and spaced to look like a short hair follicle, so from a normal viewing distance the scalp reads as closely shaved hair, or as denser hair where the scalp was showing through. It is one of the semi-permanent makeup treatments, and like them it fades slowly over years.

SMP changes how the scalp looks. It does not grow hair, slow hair loss or treat the scalp. That is why the cause of thinning is assessed first. Scalp micropigmentation is offered at IN Eternity Clinic. The cause of your hair loss, your scalp and the design are assessed at consultation under Medical Director Dr Sin Yong, and you are told at that consultation who will carry out each step.

What SMP can do: buzz-cut look, density, partings and scars

The illusion is easiest where dark hair meets a lighter scalp and harder with fair, grey or white hair. A design that is softer and slightly higher than a youthful hairline usually ages better.

SMP and medical hair-loss treatment: why the cause comes first

Pattern hair loss is progressive. Pigment placed today sits under a hairline and crown that may keep changing, so a plan that ignores the cause can look wrong in a few years. Thinning in women in particular often has treatable contributors such as low iron or thyroid problems. At IN Eternity Clinic the order is: diagnose, treat what can be treated, then design pigment around the hair that is likely to remain.

Medical options are set out on hair loss treatment in Singapore, female hair loss treatment and hair restoration, including the clinic’s H2LT laser and Regenera Activa micrografting. When SMP and these treatments are combined, sessions are timed so the scalp is not treated while it is still healing, and any light- or laser-based scalp treatment is planned with the pigment in mind. Hair transplant surgery is not offered at IN Eternity Clinic; where it may help, a surgical opinion is discussed.

Who SMP suits, and who should wait

Often a good fit: advanced pattern loss with a preference for a shaved look; stable thinning where hair is still present and dark enough; scars that are flat and fully healed.

Better to wait or plan differently:

• Hair loss whose cause has not been diagnosed, or that is changing quickly.
• Patchy loss (alopecia areata) that is still active, or any red, scaly, itchy or scarring scalp condition: these need medical treatment, and pigment can hide signs a doctor looks for.
• Active scalp psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, folliculitis or infection.
• Keloid tendency, or past reactions to tattoo pigment.
• Blood thinners, poorly controlled diabetes or immune-suppressing medicines: discussed with the doctor first.
• Expecting a full head of hair: SMP gives the look of short hair or density, not length.

See hair concerns for how causes are told apart.

How many SMP sessions are needed?

Density is built in layers rather than in one sitting, so that each layer heals and can be judged before more is added. A typical plan is two to three sessions, sometimes four for large areas or scars, followed by touch-ups as pigment fades.

Each session usually takes two to four hours depending on the area. Numbing cream is used; most people describe a scratching sensation that is uncomfortable rather than very painful, and the crown and hairline are more sensitive than the back.

SMP healing day by day

• Day 0 to 1. Redness and slightly raised dots; the scalp may feel tender.
• Days 2 to 5. Tiny crusts form over the dots, which look darker and sharper than they will heal.
• Days 5 to 10. Crusts flake off. The dots soften and lighten.
• Weeks 2 to 3. Settled enough to judge, and ready for the next session.
• After the final session. Colour and density settle over about a month.

SMP aftercare

• Keep the scalp dry for the first few days after each session; then wash gently without scrubbing.
• Avoid heavy sweating and the gym for several days, and swimming, saunas and steam for about two weeks.
• Do not pick crusts; let them fall off.
• Hold off shaving the treated area until the crusts have gone, then shave gently.
• Keep the scalp out of strong sun while healing, then use a hat or scalp sunscreen long term; sun is the main cause of fading.
• Message the clinic about spreading redness, pus, swelling or fever.

More on caring for treated skin: aftercare at IN Eternity Clinic.

How long does SMP last? Fading over years

SMP pigment usually lasts several years, fading gradually and needing a touch-up every few years to restore density and tone. Sun exposure, oily skin, exfoliating scalp products and the depth of placement all affect how fast it fades. Dots that are placed too deep can spread and merge, or take on a blue or greenish tint; correct depth is part of what makes SMP look natural for longer.

Risks of SMP: infection, allergy, granuloma, colour change, MRI

• Infection, usually bacterial and treatable. Sterile single-use needles opened in front of you are essential.
• Allergic or granulomatous reactions to pigment: itching, bumps or swelling, sometimes months later.
• Colour change and blurring: blue or green tones, or dots merging into a flat shadow.
• A hairline that no longer suits as the face and remaining hair change.
• MRI: brief warmth or swelling is occasionally reported with cosmetic tattoos. Tell the radiographer, but do not avoid a scan you need.

At IN Eternity Clinic, a reaction is assessed by a doctor in the same clinic.

Can scalp micropigmentation be removed?

Unwanted or over-dark SMP can usually be lightened with picosecond or Q-switched laser over several sessions, on the platforms used for tattoo removal and pico laser. A hairline that is too low or too sharp can be softened, and blurred areas reduced, but complete clearance is not always possible and nearby hair can lighten for a while. A conservative first design is the simplest protection.

SMP vs hair transplant vs medical treatment vs hair fibres

How much does scalp micropigmentation cost in Singapore?

Cost depends on the area (hairline, crown, full scalp, scar), density, the number of sessions and whether touch-ups are included. Below are other Singapore providers’ published prices, quoted as written.

Published costs of medical hair-loss treatment are discussed in hair loss treatment cost in Singapore.

Questions to ask before you book SMP

• ☐Has the cause of my hair loss been diagnosed, and is it being treated?
• ☐Who will do the work, and how much scalp work do they do?
• ☐How will the hairline be designed to suit me in ten years, not only now?
• ☐How many sessions, how far apart, and are touch-ups included?
• ☐Are needles single-use and opened in front of me?
• ☐What pigment is used, and how is depth controlled?
• ☐Who manages a reaction, and who can lighten it later?

Background reading: scalp micropigmentation vs hair restoration.

Frequently asked questions

Book an assessment

IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210. By appointment with Medical Director Dr Sin Yong. Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm. WhatsApp or call +65 8815 3008. The consultation fee is waived with any medical treatment.