How to prepare for your camouflage appointment

A little preparation makes a camouflage appointment calmer, safer and more effective. Whether you are coming for a consultation and colour test or for a treatment session, this guide covers what to do in the days before, what to bring and what happens when you arrive at the clinic in Vaughan.

Consultation or treatment: know which one you are booking

Most people's journey has three steps:

1. A free phone consult or a free photo assessment from home, to check whether camouflage looks suitable.
2. An in-clinic consultation, where Evelyn examines the area in person, tests colour on your skin and builds a plan.
3. Treatment sessions, spaced weeks apart.

Preparation for a consultation is simple. Preparation for a treatment session matters a bit more, because the skin will need a few weeks to heal afterwards.

Tell your artist about your health

Be open about anything that could affect your skin or healing. This is confidential and helps keep you safe:

• Medications, especially blood thinners, isotretinoin (or recent use), steroids, or anything affecting immunity or healing.
• Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis or active vitiligo.
• A history of keloids or raised scars anywhere on your body.
• Diabetes, autoimmune conditions or circulation issues.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Camouflage tattooing is generally postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Allergies, including to latex or topical products.
• Recent treatments on the area: laser, peels, microneedling, injections or surgery.

If you are unsure whether something matters, mention it anyway.

In the week before a session

• Protect the area from sun. Avoid tanning or sunburn on the area for at least a couple of weeks. A tan changes your skin's tone and makes colour matching harder.
• Avoid irritating treatments such as peels, retinoids or exfoliation on the area unless advised otherwise.
• Keep skin moisturised and healthy, without heavy products on the day.
• Avoid shaving or waxing the area right before, if it would leave the skin irritated. Ask if you are unsure.

The day before and the day of

• Sleep well and eat a proper meal before you come. Being well fed helps you feel comfortable.
• Avoid alcohol the day before, and go easy on caffeine if it makes you jittery.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing that gives easy access to the area and will not rub afterwards. For abdominal or hip work, soft high-waisted or loose bottoms are ideal.
• Come with clean skin, without lotion, makeup or self-tan on the area.

Plan your schedule around healing

After a session, the area needs a few weeks of gentle care. Before booking, think about:

• Holidays, beach trips or pool time, since soaking and sun should be avoided while healing.
• Intense gym sessions, hot yoga or sports that cause friction or heavy sweating on the area.
• Events where you want to wear something that would rub the treated skin.

Autumn and winter are popular for camouflage because sun-free healing is easier.

What happens when you arrive

SKINEAV is at 36 Bessemer Ct Unit 1, Vaughan, ON L4K 3C9, with free parking on site. See contact and directions. You will be welcomed, have a chance to settle in, and go over your health questions. Evelyn will look at the area in good light, talk through what you want and what is realistic, and then test colour on your skin.

For a treatment session, the area is cleaned and the plan is confirmed with you before anything begins. You can ask questions throughout, ask for breaks, or stop at any time.

Comfort during the session

Sensation varies between people and body areas. Scar tissue can feel more or less sensitive than normal skin. Many people describe a scratching or vibrating feeling. Tell Evelyn how you feel at any point. Breaks are always fine.

After the session

You will receive aftercare instructions to take home. Expect the area to look slightly pink or raised for a short time, and the colour to look stronger than it will once healed. The aftercare guide explains the first weeks in detail.

A simple checklist

• Health details and medication list ready.
• No sun or tanning on the area for at least two weeks.
• No peels, retinoids or irritating products on the area.
• Comfortable, loose clothing.
• A proper meal before you come.
• No lotion, makeup or self-tan on the area.
• Calendar clear of swimming, sun holidays and heavy friction for a few weeks.

If you are coming from further away

Clients regularly travel from Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Newmarket and beyond. A few tips make the trip easier:

• Do the photo assessment first, so you only travel when camouflage is likely to suit you.
• Book outside rush hour where possible. Mid-morning appointments often avoid the worst of Highway 400, 401 and 407 traffic.
• Allow a little extra time to park and settle in. There is free parking on site.
• Plan follow-up dates at the first visit, so sessions are spaced correctly and fit your calendar.

What to bring

• A list of medications and supplements.
• Any relevant notes from your surgeon or dermatologist, if you have them.
• Photos of the area from earlier stages, if you want to show how it has changed.
• Loose clothing and, for some areas, a soft garment to wear home.
• Your questions, written down. It is easy to forget them on the day.

If you need to reschedule

Life happens. If you develop a cold sore, infection, rash, sunburn or any skin irritation near the area, or if you are unwell, let the clinic know. It is safer to move the appointment than to treat irritated skin. Contact us as early as you can on 647-492-4584.

After your consultation

You should leave knowing whether camouflage suits you, roughly how many sessions to expect, the price for your case, and what aftercare involves. If anything is still unclear afterwards, message or call. Good camouflage is a partnership, and questions are always welcome.

Common worries before a first session

"What if I change my mind?" You can. Nothing starts until you agree to the plan, and you can stop at any time.

"What if the colour is wrong?" That is what the colour test and staged sessions are for. Colour is judged healed and refined gradually, starting conservatively.

"Will people notice I have had something done?" In the first days the area may look pink. Once healed, the aim is simply that the mark draws less attention.

"Is it going to hurt a lot?" Most people find it manageable. Sensation varies by area, and breaks are always available.

Questions?

If anything is unclear, call or text 647-492-4584. Clients come from Toronto, Brampton, Richmond Hill, Markham and across the GTA, so we are used to planning visits that make the trip worth it.

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear to a camouflage appointment?

Loose, comfortable clothing that gives easy access to the area and won't rub afterwards.

Can I get a camouflage tattoo if I have a tan?

It is best to avoid sun and tanning on the area for at least a couple of weeks, because a tan makes accurate colour matching harder.

Can I have camouflage while pregnant or breastfeeding?

It is generally postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Should I stop any medications?

Never stop medication without your doctor's advice. Just tell your artist what you take so they can advise on timing.

Is there parking at the clinic?

Yes, there is free parking on site at 36 Bessemer Ct Unit 1, Vaughan, ON L4K 3C9.

“We don’t fix texture, we fix color.”

Evelyn Alvares Vega, founder of SKINEAV

Real results and real moments

How it works at SKINEAV

1. 1Photo or callSend a photo or book a free phone consult. Honest first answer.
2. 2Assessment & colour testIn clinic, Evelyn checks your skin and tests a custom formula.
3. 3TreatmentPigment placed precisely, only where it is needed, one-on-one.
4. 4Heal & reviewThe colour settles over weeks; follow-ups are planned if needed.