'Microblading' eyebrow procedure leads to emergency room for Michigan woman

Eyebrow "microblading" is one of the hottest new beauty trends, and people all over social media are showing off perfect brows.

But at what price?

WDIV's Karen Drew spoke with a Detroit woman who says she was hospitalized several days after her microblading appointment.

When "Jennifer" walked out of the salon, she was happy with how her eyebrows looked.

Microblading is a semi-permanent makeup procedure that involves a hand tool with tiny needles. It makes shallow cuts on the skin and deposits pigment, creating hair-like strokes along the eyebrow.

"Basically it gives the appearance of hair on your eyebrows instead of regular tattooing. This makes your eyebrows look like you actually have hair," Jennifer explains.

But then the redness started setting in.

"A few days after, I noticed that there was starting to get little lumps in it," Jennifer says.

The pain and swelling began to increase.

"Went to urgent care. They diagnosed me with cellulitis on my face and gave me an antibiotic and sent me on my way," Jennifer says.

But the situation kept getting worse. Jennifer took daily photos to document.

She decided to head to the emergency room.

"When they admitted me, they put me on the I.V. bag antibiotic, and then the next morning they start me on steroids," Jennifer explains.

She spent three days in the hospital.

"I was terrified. I was terrified. My face is swelling up. My eyes are closing. I'm thinking I don't know what's going to happen," she recalls.

For the past week, Jennifer has been seeing dermatologist Dr. Stephen Grekin for treatment.

"This is potentially life-threatening if not treated. Because what's right behind here? Sinuses. What are the sinuses communicate? Boom, they go right to the brain," Grekin explains.

So why did this occur?

"There are a lot of variables in this case. Is the patient allergic to the ink that they actually tattoo you with? That's number one. Is she allergic to something that they use to prep the skin? Did she get an infection by being told not to wash her face for two days?"

Jennifer has mounting medical bills and missed days from work.

"Now I regret going in there and getting it done, but that is vanity. You want to look good and you don't ever think that's going to happen to you," she admits.

"I think it's buyer beware. I think you have to do your research," Grekin says. "I think you have to have multiple visits to make certain that you're comfortable, that the place is clean, it's efficiently run, that this is not taken as sort of a cavalier come in and get your eyebrows waxed."

Grekin said people should be careful about deciding on a microblading procedure solely based on price.

It typically costs $700 to $800.

Jennifer thought she found a deal for $250, but she said she will never try the procedure again. Instead, she'll stick with eyebrow makeup.

Watch the attached video to see more pictures.