Client Information for Post-mastectomy Tattoos

Thank you so much for choosing me for this.

I value being able to be a part of your story and this effort to take back control! Post mastectomy tattoos are close to my heart, and I’m excited to help. This place will give you information to help you along the process.

POST-MASTECTOMY TATTOO

After reading your email, you’ve been selected for this incredible process.
I can't wait to sit with you and create your mastectomy tattoo.

The Process

My goal is to create something beautiful with you. Every mastectomy and/or reconstruction is completely different. The scarring is random for each person, so we take time together and tailor something elegant and floral to fit your body, shape, and your healing. I only tattoo in black and gray (it’s safer and elegant), and am limited to floral work. Botanical imagery is perfect and organic and fits all shapes and sized. Because of possible corrections or surgeries, flowers can be fixed or edited to always look stunning.

The process is incredible. I give you two days… all of it takes place in those two days. From start to finish, we sit and talk. We assess what areas need work or coverage and personal preferences. It’s based on your needs. We’ll have had a video consultation beforehand and I’ll have 3-5 options for you to choose from when we’re in person.

After you’ve selected your imagery, we put a stencil on your body to see how the tattoo will fit. It’s liberating. And you can see a version of how it’ll look on you. The creation and fitting usually takes from an hour and half to three hours. It’s important!

Finally, once you’ve approved, we tattoo!

* Occasionally, I'll have questions and might ask for an OR (Operation Report), and, if need be, communicate with your plastic surgeon. It's rare, but certainly useful as a precaution if I have concerns!

PRICING

As we have a long queue of people waiting for appointments, a deposit is taken (within a week of your initial email) to secure the appointment day and time. The $500 deposit comes out of the total fee on the day of the appointment.
The price of the the day, the process, the design work and the tattooing:

A standard double mastectomy tattoo with reconstruction: $6000
A standard single mastectomy with reconstruction: $3800*

• *Prices go up once a year, but you will ALWAYS pay the amount you were told when you were accepted as a client, never more.

• ”Standard” covers the majority of reconstruction sizes. If your reconstruction happens to be larger than the average, there will be an up charge which will be communicated to you.

• Mastectomies without reconstructions take a different amount of time based on each person. If the work happens to be less, I’ll communicate and charge less, of course.

DEPOSIT

The $500 deposit is required within 1 week of e-mail correspondence. (Deposit Policy here) You can send via the link below:

• Reserve your appointment and Deposit Online
  

PAYMENT

*Remainder in Cash Discount

Some client pay in cash. If you’re comfortable with doing so, there’s a $150 discount if you pay the remainder of the tattoo balance in cash. (This skips the Credit Card processing fee, so I don’t pass that on to you)

*Payment through Zelle or CC

Cash is always preferred, but I understand it’s a lot to carry around. A money transfer via Zelle works perfectly, or I can also run a credit card.

Checks are not accepted

Tattoo Size and Expectations

These tattoos are difficult to price because bodies are so different and each person has unique needs. It’s important the size of what can be done is known and communicated so expectations will be realistic.

The standard size I’m open to, when printed out, fits on one sheet of paper. This usually includes partial coverage of both breasts and sometimes two inches above or below the breast.

I’m completely open to ideas that extend beyond. Stretching the image onto the ribs, shoulder, and arm can be incredible and shift a focal point. Just please understand it’ll take even more time, thereby resulting in more design work, more tattooing, and more money. If you’re considering a larger size, just let me know. If you decide later, that’s fine as well, we’ll just communicate.

If what you’re wanting for this postmastectomy tattoo is too large to complete in one day, please understand it may take a second session to complete your tattoo. This is rare, but happens sometimes. Anything beyond the size is based on my current hourly rate.

*Also, I get a lot of requests to cover abdominal scarring (or other scarring elsewhere) as well. There’s just no time to do that the same day or within the same time frame.

There’s more info below about a tattoo that takes multiple sessions.

Aftercare

Restore Balm

At your appointment, I’ll load you up with information about how to take care of your new tattoo. But before you come, there’s a healing balm I love: Doctor Roger’s RESTORE.

I don’t get anything from recommending this, I’ve just seen it work and I want the best for you. After using it and seeing the studies, this product is safe and sustainable. It also doesn’t contain petroleum like most products ( i.e. Aqua-Phor). You’ll apply a thin layer every day for the first few days.

They’ve even given us discount code for post mastectomy tattoo clients: Allen20
Enter Allen20 as a “Discount Code” to save 20% at checkout.

*This isn’t a necessity, but the healing is safer than the alternative (Aqua-Phor).

Tegaderm Bandages

I’ll cover the tattoo with a simple barrier that will need to be replaced. But if you’re traveling and want something that’ll up to five days and is waterproof and bacteria-proof, I recommend bringing Tegaderm with you. Save a ton of money by getting these at Amazon: (Amazon link) It’s a sterile, transparent film dressing that stay put for a few days while you travel. If you get Tegaderm, please bring it with you to the appointment! I can put the bandages on you directly after we finish the tattoo.

Swimming and Exercise

A new tattoo is an open wound, so it’s best to not expose it to a higher chance of infection. Open water can, of course, contain various types of bacteria. Swimming pools and hot tubs can as well, or the concern can be chlorine. To be safe, we say no swimming for 2 weeks. As far as exercise goes, we say the same, but I’m aware that’s a long time to not work out. A lot of my clients use the Tegaderm Bandages while working out as to avoid sweating bacteria into the tattoo. I hope this helps!

What to know: Appointment Day

For many, this is an entirely new experience! For some, this is an addition to other tattoos you’ve received. Whatever the case, this will be a beautiful and unique experience. I’ve tried to synthesize information and questions that come up about what to know for your tattoo appointment!

Studio information, as well as Chicago details and traveling questions are all posted at the bottom of this page. Just follow the link to the Studio.

• What do I wear?
  Please be comfortable! You’ll be spending hours laying down on your back getting tattooed. Some people bring blankets, slippers, things to squeeze during pain, books, and extra clothing.

• Can I bring family and/or friends?
  YES! I encourage it. The studio is 700 square feet and cozy. There’s space and amenities. It’s your process and you can plan it however you’d like, so know that your loved ones are welcome! There’s Wifi, a little living room area and a public restroom.

• What methods of payment do you accept?
  I accept cash and credit cards. If you prefer to pay another way (Paypal, wire transfer) just let me know and I’m sure we can figure something out.

• Why can’t I see the tattoo design before hand?
  Because the image is created with you! Without knowing how you feel about yourself and your body, it’s impossible to create a custom piece for you. The process is super inclusive and individualized.

• Can I get anything in addition to flowers? (birds, wording, etc.)
  I tend to only tattoo botanical imagery in this location. Because of possible revisions, shifting with time, and even reoccurrence - botanical imagery can be tweaked and altered very easily. Other, more legible images, have been very difficult to fix. I’m always open to listening, because every person has a unique story…

• Should I email you more information about the flowers and look of the tattoo?
  Because I tattoo so many people, loading me up with information can get overwhelming. You’re welcome to know the flowers you’d like to try and show me some floral imagery on the day of the appointment! But there’s no need beforehand. Just understand that often the scarring or discoloration will limit the type of flowers or coverage you may have envisioned in your head. I’ll do my best to show you why something would or wouldn’t work. I will say the best results often happen when we talk together about how you see yourself and I’m given some freedom.

• Can you help me with travel or Chicago information?
  Yes! There’s a studio page setup just for this… follow the link below all of this for the Studio Information.

• If the appointment is long, will there be time to eat food?
  Absolutely! At any point, we can break for snacks or a meal. There’s an incredible Taco restaurant next door, but we can also order delivery and accommodate all types of diets.

• Any other tips or advice?
  This is all random but… make sure you eat a good meal the morning before you get tattooed, please don’t drink much alcohol the night before, understand you’ll have to break from exercise and swimming for a couple of weeks, and ibuprofen is wonderful for inflammation. :)

Extra Details

Radiated Skin / Pain Management

Each tattoo is rendered with as much detail as the session permits. It’s important for me to communicate how difficult these tattoos can be sometimes. When met with radiated skin, it can be a slower process because the skin is much more dense and takes less ink. Also, occasionally nerve endings have healed more than expected. If the pain become difficult, we still finish the tattoo, but the final version might be less rendered in detail!

Touch-Ups

A second touch-up is free. In fact, if you can make it here again, a second pass usually only takes an hour (or so) and will always strengthen the tattoo and add extra detail. Sometimes I can accommodate if you want to extend or add more to your tattoo, but it really depends on scheduling. I charge hourly at that point.

More Tattoos

At this time, I’m not able to take on unrelated tattoos. Thank you for understanding.