Fees and Policies for Professional Services

Important Advice
Cosmetic tattooing is an investment in your looks and your health. California does NOT require a license for permanent cosmetics, so be careful and do not decide on impulse or price. Although color is semi-permanent (it fades with time), a bad design is permanent until it is removed... if it CAN be. And how much is protecting your health worth to you? Shopping for a deal on a toaster is fine—if you don’t like it, you can return it or give it away. But a service like permanent makeup can change your life. Do you really want the lowest price for something permanent on your FACE? Professional cosmetic tattoo artists own established, legitimate businesses. They take time to create beautiful work, use anesthetics properly to prevent pain, and disinfect correctly to prevent disease transmission. You can enjoy permanent makeup without regrets if you choose a true professional instead of cheap prices. Aren’t you worth spending enough for quality and safety?

Why Choose Artistic Cosmetic Solutions?
Dr. Laura Reed, OD, CPCP provides the best of everything—beauty, comfort, safety, and experience. She is the only doctor in California who is an exam Certified Permanent Cosmetic Professional. As an artist, her results are natural looking and customized to your satisfaction. She uses the safest high-tech equipment, follows CDC/OSHA infection control standards, and is inspected by the health department. Her medical grade topical anesthetics ensure procedures are NOT painful. She has won several “Best Permanent Makeup Artist” awards and is considered an industry expert by the media. Do you want just anyone to tattoo makeup on your face? Or do you want a licensed eye doctor for 26 years who is also a nationally certified artist? The best part: Her fees are about the same as equivalent professionals in Orange County, even though she is the only doctor specializing in permanent cosmetics.

Complimentary Consultations with Dr. Reed
Free consultations are 25 minutes and informational only. They are required to schedule any medical tattooing procedure. (Exceptions are areola tattooing after mastectomy reconstruction.) Permanent makeup consultations are recommended before scheduling a procedure. (Exceptions are made for out-of-town and celebrity patients with special arrangements.) All makeup procedures include adequate time for designing before tattooing. However, due to limited time, a free consultation for permanent makeup does not include designing.* (*See Optional Makeup Design Appointment paragraph.) More than one person may attend any consultation at no charge. If you must reschedule a consultation, please provide at least 24 hours notice. Anyone who no-shows and does not call will NOT be rescheduled.

What Permanent Makeup Fees Cover
Permanent makeup procedures include the following: Complete medical history review; face shape and feature analysis; custom makeup designing; color selection and custom blending of pigments; medical grade topical anesthetics (before and during procedure); new disposable procedure supplies; new disposable sterile safety needles; digital computerized tattoo equipment; allergy patch test (if desired); before and after photos; and a complete aftercare kit with supplies and printed instructions.

Typical Pricing for Permanent Makeup
Permanent makeup is a two-step process for best results—that applies to new procedures and re-coloring of faded makeup. Many artists include a second visit (touchup) that is “complimentary.” But that touchup cost is factored into the original price. And those technicians usually allow a short timeframe (30-60 day deadline) for the touchup before charging extra.

Our Pricing System is Simple
You pay when your services are actually performed. Initial (new) procedure fees are higher because first visits are longer with the greatest amount of work. Follow-up (second visit) fees are less and paid when that procedure is performed. We believe this is fair and more affordable. Also, we allow a 90-day period for follow-ups before any additional charge is imposed.

Optional Makeup Design Appointment
A free consultation only allows Dr. Reed enough time to answer questions, show her portfolio, and schedule a procedure. All permanent makeup procedure appointments allow adequate time for custom designing, penciling, and approval before tattooing (already included in the fee). However, if you’re hesitant and want to “test drive” an eyebrow, eyeliner, or lip design before tattooing, the Optional Makeup Design Appointment is your “safety net.” A separate appointment is scheduled where you will have a facial analysis and trial application of conventional makeup to get an idea of how the shape, color, and placement of your permanent makeup might look. A fee of $85 will be charged. If your permanent makeup procedure is scheduled within 30 days of the design appointment, $35 will be applied toward your procedure fee.

Faded Permanent Makeup Done by Another Technician
Recoloring permanent makeup done previously by anyone else is not “just a touch-up” for Dr. Reed—she must start from scratch since it was not her original work. Redoing someone else’s work is often more difficult because it was not done well originally. Therefore, fees start at the new (initial visit) permanent makeup prices. Additional charges will apply if pigment removal is necessary for extensive shape and symmetry correction. Dr. Reed will advise you of your options at a consult or at your procedure.

Permanent Makeup Correction or Tattoo Lightening
Dr. Reed does not use lasers and refers anyone seeking body art removal to laser specialists. If she feels that permanent makeup might be corrected better with lasers, she will also refer out. Dr. Reed is certified to lighten (lift) pigment using several methods including Tattoo Vanish. If you are a candidate for that process, the cost depends upon the severity of the problem and number of sessions for satisfactory lightening. Multiple sessions are usually necessary to see results. Tattoo lightening fees are $120 per session and do not include re-tattooing to improve color or design.

Scar and Skin Camouflage
Spot Testing: A spot color test is the first step and is required for best color matching to the surrounding skin tones. It is a separate appointment and must heal for a period of 30 days minimum before any camouflage tattooing sessions can begin. The spot test fee is $160.00.

Camouflage Tattooing Sessions: Scar or skin camouflage tattooing can begin after the spot test has healed. Sessions are charged at an hourly rate of $300 per hour for actual tattooing time (prep time is not counted). There is a half hour ($150) minimum charge per visit. Multiple visits (tattooing sessions) are usually necessary to achieve best results. After care kits are included. Approximate total fees can be estimated at a free consultation.

Breast Areola Creation or Repigmentation
Nipple-Areola Tattooing (Post Mastectomy Reconstruction): The fee for nipple-areola creation is $395 per breast. The fee includes areola design (size, placement, and color), topical anesthetics, aftercare kit, and one follow-up visit within 120 days. (After 120 days an additional fee will be charged because more work will be needed due to fading.) For bilateral areolas, no spot test is required because color can be any choice. For unilateral areolas, a spot test is recommended if an exact match to the existing breast is desired. The spot fee will be additional. Note: Dr. Reed is not a preferred provider with any medical insurance company and does not accept insurance as payment. After paying Dr. Reed in full, she will give you itemized receipts including insurance codes so you can submit them to your insurance company for reimbursement. 

Areola Surgical Scars: Fees for breast scars from different surgeries (augmentation, reduction, lift, male reduction) are the same as for scar and skin camouflage explained above. The spot color test fee is $160 and the hourly camouflage rate is $300 per hour (actual tattooing time) with a $150 minimum per visit. Multiple visits (tattooing sessions) are usually necessary to achieve best results. After care kits are included. Approximate total fees can be estimated at a free consultation.

Skin Needling (Natural Wrinkle and Scar Reduction)
Needling sessions are charged at an hourly rate of $180 per hour for actual procedure time (prep time is not counted). There is a minimum charge of $120 per visit. Multiple visits are usually necessary to achieve desired results. After care kits are included.

Reserving Procedure Appointments by Credit Card
All appointments are scheduled on a first come basis. Your procedure appointment date and time is reserved exclusively for you to ensure personalized service and attention to detail. Unlike traditional doctors who see several patients at the same time, Dr. Reed sees one patient at a time for several hours. Because her time is committed to you—and others may want that same appointment time—we need your commitment. Therefore, a credit card is required to reserve your procedure date and time. It is for guarantee only. You may cancel or reschedule up to 48 hours in advance without any charges being assessed. At least 48 hours notice is required to cancel or reschedule your procedure appointment. If you cancel or reschedule your appointment less than 48 hours ahead of your scheduled time, a fee of $100.00* will be charged to your credit card. (*The late notice penalty is $100.00 per procedure. For two procedures in the same day, the penalty charge will be $200.00.)

Reserving Procedure Appointments by Deposit
If you do not want to reserve your appointment by credit card, you can reserve your procedure date and time with a $100.00 deposit paid by cash or check (two procedures scheduled on the same day requires a $200.00 deposit). All checks must clear at least 48 hours ahead of the scheduled day and time. Your deposit will be deducted from the total fee on your procedure day. The balance due at your appointment may be paid by cash, check, or credit card. At least 48 hours notice is required to cancel or reschedule your procedure appointment. If you cancel or reschedule your appointment less than 48 hours ahead of your scheduled time, your deposit will be forfeited (not refunded).

Penalty for Late Arrivals or No-Shows
If you are late for your procedure appointment 30 minutes or more, your procedure will need to be rescheduled because that much lost time cannot be made up. The late notice penalty of $100.00 per procedure will apply and be charged to your credit card (or your paid deposit paid will be forfeited). If you are a “no-show” (do not appear) for your procedure appointment, your credit card will be charged the late notice penalty of $100.00 per procedure (or your paid deposit will be forfeited).

Payment Methods and Refund Policy
Payment in full must be made when services are rendered. We accept cash, personal checks, and all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). There is a $35 handling fee for any returned check. Gift certificates are available for purchase but cannot be exchanged for cash. The results of any cosmetic procedure, including but not limited to permanent cosmetics, cannot be guaranteed. As such, whether or not a patient is satisfied with the results, there will be no refunds.

Visitors and Children
CDC-OSHA guidelines will not allow observers (spouses, family, or friends) in the procedure room during the tattooing process. However, they may participate during the makeup designing process. Drivers, family, or friends can wait in the reception area if desired or visit local businesses (an area map with shopping and restaurants can be provided). California law prohibits the tattooing of persons under age 18, and children are not allowed in the procedure room. The reception area is not equipped for children, so child care arrangements should be made prior to all appointments.

Fees and policies are subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to decline service to anyone.

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