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Bamboo Chopsticks: How it All Began
- Sep 28, 2022
- Latest Journal
Questions and Answers with Dawn Cragg, MBE, S.P.C.P., B.A.S.C.Dip.
Dawn Cragg was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire ( MBE) in the New year 2010 Honours list, for outstanding achievment in the development of medical tattooing as a service to healthcare. As a Medical and Cosmetic Tattooist she has worked on many types of cases including Road Traffic Accidents and injuries.
1, How did your MBE award occur?
I have never managed to find out who nominated me, but the citation was ‘for medical tattooing as a service to healthcare’. For example, tattooing the areola after breast surgery, cases of vitiligo & leukoderma, and accident or surgical trauma.
2, How is permanent make-up used in facial injury cases?
It is really creating an optical illusion, by matching both sides of the face to achieve symmetry wherever possible. This is particularly effective where the client has had a stroke, facial palsy, or scarring caused by accident or surgical trauma.
3, Have you seen a rise in ‘high street cosmetics’ negligence cases?
Yes. In eyelash tinting, when the so-called technician does a patch test behind the ears, instead of in the area of two or three eyelashes, where the tint will be applied.
Also, as far as I am aware, a disclaimer is not a legal document and therefore will not stand up in a court of law should the treatment not meet with the client’s expectations.
What areas cause concern and you feel Solicitors need to be aware of.
a) Technicians who have been trained in other countries and have no knowledge of the code of ethics in this country, or even who have just done online training without supervised practical work on a model. Often they take cash-only from their clients and therefore don’t pay tax.
b)Technicians using topical anaesthetics that are not licenced by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency)
c) Technicians who work without a licence from their local authority, if applicable.
d) Doing home visits, where for example, the dog is having puppies under the kitchen table, the client keeps answering the ‘phone which prolongs the treatment, by which time the anaesthetic has worn off. The client then sues the technician for the pain she suffered.
e) Technicians have also been reported as answering their mobile ‘phones whilst working on their clients, and for not changing their gloves or washing their hands, then there is the same problem of the anaesthetic no longer being effective.
4. What is Micropigmentation? (What is the terminology a Solicitor needs to use to source your expertise?) Mention:
'Micropigmentation', also known as permanent makeup, semi-permanent makeup, microblading, cosmetic tattooing, medical tattooing, cosmetic camouflage, and skin needling(which also flattens raised scars but should not be attempted if the scars are red).
5. Can Micropigmentation be completely removed?
Yes, but usually not without scarring, no matter how slight. One issue is that the area of removal won’t tan like the rest of the skin.
6. How has technology assisted in the past 10 years?
I am sorry to say this, but it is all in the multiple skills of the technician. Years ago, when I first saw the technique performed under the most unsterile conditions, it was using a bamboo chopstick, with a slit cut in with a Stanley knife, in which a single, double or treble needle were inserted. I achieved wonderful results with this. Nowadays the whole industry has become so commercial and greedy. Machines are being sold at extortionate prices, rendering many people into bankruptcy, especially since the lockdown.
7. How is permanent make up used in personal injury cases?
In such cases, it is called medical tattooing. It can be because they are on chemotherapy and have lost their eyebrows and eyelashes, because they have vitiligo or leukoderma (white patches in the skin), or surgical or accident trauma, and to give symmetry.
8. What is Microblading?
Microblading is a misnomer. To use blades we would have to be in surgical practice. What is actually used is several single needles grouped together, usually in threes, fives, eights or sometimes more if needed.
9. Do you train other cosmetic tattoo experts?
I do train others, yes. I have trained medical personnel in hospitals and have also trained technicians in 54 countries.It has been such a privilege to travel to those countries and learn something of their varied cultures. My one-to-one courses are now held in my private clinic in Retford DN22 7UZ
I have been asked by insurance companies to assess the skills of Ukrainian technicians, in the same line of business as myself, so that they may be in practice in our country. What a tear-jerking and humbling experience this has been. However, in all cases so far their work has been exceptional, and with my assessment they have been able to obtain insurance through my own insurers.
10. How many times have you been in court or written reports for this? What are the nature of these cases? Negligence or Personal Injury? What are the most complex cases you work on?
I have written more reports than I can remember, but due to the excellent Expert Witness training that I received, with regular updates, and possibly my own literacy skills, I have not, unfortunately, been called to attend court yet.
11. Do you work alongside your clients in a person centred/therapeutic manner?
Most definitely.
12. If you could tell me something about your work that would surprise me, what would it be?
I have worked in a brothel in Edinburgh. The Madame thought that she could get £10 a punter more if her girls had darker nipples tattooed. In fact, they got more money than that. She actually offered me a job for £2,000 a week, but not as one of her “girls”!!!
Contact:
dawn_cragg@hotmail.co.uk
website: www.facebook.com/Dawncraggretford'