Questions

How do I book?

Everything goes through my booking page on Venue. You send a request with a little about what you are after, I read it and reply, and the appointment is confirmed from there. It is a request rather than an instant booking, which is deliberate — I want to read what you have written before putting you on the calendar.

Why does booking happen on another website?

Venue is the booking platform I already use. It handles the request, the reminders and the messages between you. Rebuilding all of that here would mean replacing something that works, so this site hands you over instead. You will see the address change to venue.ink when you go.

What does it cost?

My current prices are on my booking page, which is the one place I keep them up to date. This site does not list them, so that a price here can never go stale and be wrong when you arrive.

Do you take walk-ins?

No. Every appointment is booked ahead through my booking page, and I work with one client at a time in a private room. For areola work in particular, that privacy is the whole point.

My tattoo healed lighter in some areas. Is that normal?

This is common if ink does not take as well in certain areas, and light areas can be corrected at a touch-up appointment six to ten weeks after the initial tattoo.

Word for word from my booking page.

I have never been tattooed and I am worried about a reaction.

I offer an ink spot test: we can do a couple of dots of ink in your skin first to see whether your body reacts to it. Put in a booking request or message me to come in for one, and let the test spots heal and watch them for a few weeks to see whether anything happens.

Word for word from my booking page.

What should I expect after my appointment?

I write my own aftercare, and the brow and areola sheets are different from each other, and both are published on my booking page, so you can read yours before you book. Follow mine rather than anything general you read online, and message me if something does not look right to you.

How long does permanent brow work last?

It is a tattoo, so it stays — but like every tattoo it softens and lightens over time, and how fast depends on your skin, the sun and what you put on your face. Plan on coming back for a refresh eventually rather than treating the first appointment as the last one.

Does it hurt?

Everyone's answer is different. After a mastectomy, sensation in the chest is often reduced or absent, so many people feel very little during areola work. For brows, ask me what I do to keep you comfortable, and you can ask me to stop at any point, for any reason.

How soon after my surgery can I have areola work done?

That is your surgeon's call, not mine. The usual guidance is to wait until the tissue has settled and any scars have matured, which is generally measured in months rather than weeks. Ask your surgeon whether you are healed enough and tell me what they said. If your surgery was recent, or if you are immunocompromised, I will ask for their clearance before we book.

Will the areola tattoo look real?

It is an illusion built out of color, light and shadow, and it is flat to the touch. The goal is that it reads naturally in a mirror and under clothes. It is not an exact replica and I will not tell you otherwise.

Does insurance pay for areola tattooing?

Sometimes, and it depends entirely on your plan. Federal law requires plans that cover a mastectomy to cover all stages of breast reconstruction, but the law does not name tattooing, and plans differ on whether they count it as one of those stages. Your insurer and your surgeon's office are the only people who can tell you what yours does. I can give you a paid receipt and a written description of the work.

Can you cover a scar?

Scar camouflage is not open for booking yet — I list it as coming soon. When it opens, what it does is add pigment so a settled scar blends better with the skin around it. It does not change the scar itself; it changes how much you notice it. Message me if you would like to hear when I open my books.

How old do I have to be?

Eighteen and over. That is my own studio policy rather than a rule I am quoting at you. Idaho's own rule is looser than that, and I am not.

Where is the studio?

Post Falls, Idaho. Coeur d'Alene is about ten minutes east and the Washington line is a few minutes west, so clients come from across North Idaho and from the Spokane side. I give you the exact address when your appointment is confirmed.

Are the needles new?

Yes. New sterile single-use needles, opened in front of you, and single-use pigment cups with nothing poured back into a bottle. Surfaces are single-use, barrier-filmed or disinfected between clients, and sharps go into a proper sharps container. Ask me to walk you through it — and ask the same of any artist you are considering.

Will you post photos of my work?

Only if you say I can. Nothing goes on this website without your permission — every photograph here is published with the client's OK. It is your call, not mine, and you can say no without explaining why.

How do I reach you with a question that isn't about booking?

Message me on Instagram, or email me at rr.paramedicaltattoos@gmail.com. Booking itself should go through the booking page.

Word for word from my booking page.