Laser science erases old slogans, sweethearts
Tattoo MD Laser Clinic & MediSpa
Los Angeles, CA
Last year, Tiscareno began laser removal treatments at TattooMD, a West Los Angeles clinic started by Dr. Alex Kaplan. After five sessions, the tattoo is fading. Tiscareno said she plans to complete her laser treatments at Kaplan's new office in Norco, which opens Monday. For decades, body art was the domain of sailors and longshoremen. Once musicians and actors began going under the needle, tattooing seeped into the mainstream -- seemingly removing the societal stigma. Many who got tattoos surrendered to youthful indiscretion or impulsiveness. Others got tattoos while in prison or as members of
street gangs. For some, those tattoos have become an obsolete part of their identity, Kaplan said. With that change, some have found tattoos to be a barrier in finding work or seeking professional advancement, whether the prospective worker is an office temp or a military recruit.
"Employers don't want them seen in the workplace. They like tattoos to be covered by clothing," said Debbie Florer, area manager of AppleOne Career Center in downtown Riverside. The employment agency places workers in administrative jobs, where the office attire is generally conservative. "Some people think (tattoos) look dirty; some people think they're trashy," Florer said.
"They don't want that to be a reflection on their business," Florer said.Workers who bristle at employers' tattoo philosophies tend to be those new to the labor market. "They feel like you're expecting them to
compromise their ability to be an individual," Florer said. Kaplan said women favor putting tattoos in areas where they can be hidden by clothing, such as the shoulder blade, just above the "bikini line," ankle and lower back. Men usually opt for shoulders, forearms, upper back, and some on the head and face. While serving his medical school residency at UCLA Medical Center, Kaplan, 36, began removing tattoos from former gang members. "I remember a guy who had a dashed line on his neck, and tattooed
under, it said: 'Cut Here,'" he said.
Dr. Timothy Jochen, a cosmetic surgeon and board-certified dermatologist, said he treats 20 to 40 tattoo-removal patients each month. "We have ex-cons, ex-gang members, moms, young girls just entering the work force, guys getting into a new relationship," he said. He began his Rancho Mirage practice in 2002, he said. During a 15-minute treatment, a patient can have several tattoos lasered. "Young people who have tattoos on the hands come in (because) they're concerned that it will affect their employment opportunities,"
Jochen said. He remembered a patient who surprised her husband with a tattoo. "He said: 'If you don't get that removed, I'm leaving you,'" Jochen said.
Military Misgivings John George, 32, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, said the armed forces now frown on tattoos. The Corona resident asked Kaplan
to remove a spider web design from his left elbow, and he's undergone seven treatment sessions.
"Some people say it's considered a jailhouse tattoo," said George. "In reality, I'm a Marine and a nice guy, but (people) judge you by your
tattoos." The Marine Corps is "taking into consideration your tattoos for promotion and retention. To stay in this career, it's a good idea to get them taken off," George said. It makes no difference that the nation is at war and some military branches struggle to meet their staffing needs, he said.
George now supervises a recruiting substation. He must explain to prospective recruits that, in recent years, the Marine Corps philosophy
about tattoos has grown more conservative. "It could be (a tattoo of) Mickey Mouse, and they're going to want a picture of it, (with) size and location," he said. "We're turning away people with certain types of tattoos, certain numbers of tattoos and certain locations of tattoos," George said. The content must not be offensive -- racist, sexist and gang images are "definitely a no-go," he said. Reach Mary Bender at (951) 893-2103 or mbender@pe.com Reprinted with permission from TattooMD
Article By MARY BENDER / The Press-Enterprise
Tattoo MD Laser Clinic & MediSpa
At Tattoo MD Laser Clinic, our mission is to provide effective, convenient, and affordable laser treatments and cosmetic skin procedures. Dr. Alex Kaplan and his highly trained staff are dedicated to meeting your needs. We offer a LOW PRICE GUARANTEE and we accept all competitors’ coupons! Laser Tattoo Removal
Tattoo MD provides cutting-edge laser tattoo removal services. Patients from all walks of life seek us out for our expertise in laser tattoo removal. Unlike most other clinics, we use two different kinds of q-switched lasers –a YAG and a Ruby, in order to tailor treatment to your specific needs. Whether you want a tattoo completely removed or just faded for a cover-up tattoo, Tattoo MD is the place to go. Our price is $49 per square inch per treatment for small tattoos and $24.50 per inch per treatment with tattoos over 5 sq. inches. We also offer significant discounts if you purchase a package of treatments. See our website or contact us for details. Laser Hair Removal
Imagine never having to shave again! At TMD Medi-Spa, we use the Comet diode laser and the Starlux IPL for laser hair removal and can treat a wide range of skin types and hair colors. Reduce unwanted hair permanently with a series of 6 treatments. BOTOX, Juvederm and Radiesse
BOTOX is one of the most popular and safest treatments for wrinkles on the face. Results can last for up to 3 months for wrinkles around the eyes and forehead. At TMD Medi-Spa, BOTOX is only $10.50 per unit. Juvederm and Radiesse are known as injectable dermal fillers. Juvederm is used to make lips plumper and fill in deep facial wrinkles. Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid, similar to Restylane, but has a very smooth feel. Treatment lasts approximately 6-12 months. Radiesse is another material used to fill in deep facial wrinkles and folds. Radiesse lasts up to 2 years. Radiesse is especially useful to add definition to areas that have had some loss with age, such as the cheekbones. It can even be used for hand rejuvenation to restore the youthful fullness of the back of the hand. Treatment is customized to meet your specific needs and consultations are free. Spider Vein Sclerotherapy
Unsightly spider veins on your legs and other areas can easily be treated with the injection of safe saline solution. At TMD Medi-Spa, we use this safe and popular treatment to make spider veins vanish. For tiny broken capillaries of the face, we use the Starlux IPL treatment as part of a Photofacial. IPL Photofacials
Over time, as our skin is daily exposed to the damaging effects of the sun and toxins in our environment, signs of aging develop. The face may start to show wrinkles, fine lines, spots of discoloration, and abnormal redness. Unlike the skin of our youth, as we get older, the face and other exposed areas begin to show variation in color and texture. Various procedures are available to help restore the look and feel of youthful skin. IPL Photofacial is a very safe and popular procedure that does just that. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Photofacial is a minimally invasive procedure that uses high-intensity broadband light, similar to a laser, to preferentially treat abnormal colored elements in the skin. Rosacea and tiny spider veins that develop especially on the nose and cheekbones are an excellent target of Photofacials. Sunspots that build up in sun-exposed areas, especially the face, the shoulders and upper chest also respond very well to IPL treatment. At TMD Medi-Spa, we use the industry-leading Palomar Starlux for IPL photofacials.
For a limited time, a single chest & neck treatment is only $200. Consultations are free.
Chemical Peels
TMD Medi-Spa has the VI Peel, the rejuvenating facial peel that is being talked about all over the news media and talk shows. This revolutionary peel improves facial spots, superficial wrinkles, acne scars and hyper-pigmentation. Acne sufferers will notice a dramatic improvement! This peel has no downtime and is safe for use in all skin colors, even African-American skin!
Facials and Micro-dermabrasion
Get pampered at TMD Medi-Spa. Our licensed esthetician gives relaxing specialty facials, chemical and fruit peels, waxing, eyelash extensions. Renew your skin with our oxygen-infused crystal-free micro-dermabrasion. Vi PEEL
The VI PEEL is a breakthrough in facial rejuvenation and chemical peels. TMD Medi-Spa is proud to offer this revolutionary product. The peel was formulated by Dr. A.F. Khalil and is composed of a synergistic blend of gentle yet powerful ingredients suitable for all skin types. The Vi Peel has recently been featured on the TV show Extra! and ABC Channel 7. Prior to the development of the Vi Peel, if you wanted significant results, you would have to go through a much longer healing process. Prior chemical peels also had more potential risks. Likewise, if there were minimal side effects, the peel was less potent. The Vi Peel is so unique because it is highly effective, safe for all skin types and has no significant downtime.
Anti-Aging
The Vi Peel penetrates into the skin to reverse the effects of sun damage and time. The peel can be used to treat wrinkles and discoloration of not just the face, but other parts of the body as well, such as the hands, decolletage and neck. Acne
The Vi Peel is highly effective at clearing acne. Results are very quick! The peel can also be used to decrease the appearance of acne scarring. Please Visit Our Personal Website At:
www.TattooMDLA.comFinancing Available:
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11053 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
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