Group G: General Electives
What electives cover
General electives extend core skills into areas such as camouflage and scar work, paramedical tattooing, and advanced colour correction. The common thread is applying core principles (skin anatomy, colour theory, infection control, consent) to new contexts.
Camouflage and scar work
Understand that scar tissue, stretch marks and skin grafts behave differently from intact skin: pigment retention is unpredictable, and overworking causes damage. Know when to refer, especially for fresh scars, keloid tendency or active skin disease. A frequent trap is treating camouflage as ordinary cosmetic work without assessing tissue maturity.
Colour correction
Understand neutralising and correcting unwanted undertones, and the limits of correction. Examiners may test whether you know when correction is achievable versus when removal or referral is safer.
Business and professional practice
Electives often include professional practice: informed consent, record keeping, complaint handling, and continuing education. Know that scope of practice and insurance requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Worked rule of thumb
Before any elective procedure, ask two questions: is the tissue mature and healthy, and is the expected result realistic? If either answer is no, defer or refer.