PMU and MRI: What to Tell Your Imaging Team
Prepare pigment and procedure information for your MRI team, and understand why PMU or tattoo history should be discussed beforehand.
The short answer
Does having permanent makeup mean you can't get an MRI?
Tell the radiology team about any permanent makeup or tattoos before your MRI. The clinical team decides how to proceed. Do not cancel a medically recommended scan solely because you have PMU.
"I have powder brows โ is it okay to get an MRI?"
"I heard the pigment contains iron, and I'm worried about getting burned during the scanโฆ"
"I have an MRI coming up โ is there anything I should know?"
These are worries we hear surprisingly often from people who have, or are considering, permanent makeup.
Hello, I'm CYAN (HSIN SIAN), director of CYAN PMU in Hongdae, Seoul ^^
I'm a PMU artist with a national qualification in clinical psychology, a judge at permanent-makeup competitions, and a Korean instructor who has taught powder brows (eyebrow PMU) at clinics in Japan. To date I've completed 30,000+ procedures with clients from around the world.
Let me be clear up front.CYAN is not a medical institution โ we're a semi-permanent makeup (PMU) studio โ so whether an MRI can be performed is a medical decision that belongs to the medical institution doing your scan. This article explains, as general information from someone who works with pigment, "why this comes up" and "what to prepare before a scan so you can feel at ease" ^^
1. Can PMU pigment affect an MRI scan?
Tell the radiology team about any permanent makeup or tattoos before your MRI.The clinical team decides how to proceed.Do not cancel a medically recommended scan solely because you have PMU.
2. Why do people say "pigment is a problem with MRI"?
The FDA describes reports of swelling or burning around tattoos or permanent makeup, and interference with MRI image quality.Pigment colour or quantity alone cannot establish whether a scan is safe for an individual.
3. What can actually happen?
The FDA describes these reports as rare.That does not guarantee that an individual will have no reaction or only a mild one.Tell the technologist immediately if you feel heat, pain or discomfort during the scan.
4. What should you do if you have an MRI scheduled?
Share the treated area, approximate procedure date and any available pigment information with the imaging centre.Follow its advice about additional information and scheduling.
5. How can CYAN help with this?
CYAN can help check available procedure and pigment records.We do not decide MRI suitability or interpret scans.Ask about your procedure records.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Does having permanent makeup mean you can't get an MRI?
Tell the radiology team about any permanent makeup or tattoos before your MRI. The clinical team decides how to proceed. Do not cancel a medically recommended scan solely because you have PMU.
Why can PMU pigment be an issue with MRI?
The FDA describes reports of swelling or burning around tattoos or permanent makeup, and interference with MRI image quality. Pigment colour or quantity alone cannot establish whether a scan is safe for an individual. The FDA describes these reports as rare. That does not guarantee that an individual will have no reaction or only a mild one. Tell the technologist immediately if you feel heat, pain or discomfort during the scan.
What should I do if I have an MRI scheduled?
Share the treated area, approximate procedure date and any available pigment information with the imaging centre. Follow its advice about additional information and scheduling. CYAN can help check available procedure and pigment records. We do not decide MRI suitability or interpret scans. Ask about your procedure records.
Results and longevity vary by individual skin and aftercare. Pigment allergy, infection, and temporary swelling or redness are possible. Details are explained in the pre-procedure consultation.