Verified Company
I came in for a tattoo removal consultation. This is not my first time having the procedure. I previously had a session in Oahu and understand that removal usually happens gradually with fading over time.
The physician here did spend time explaining the laser machine, which I appreciated. However, during the consultation my skin was described as “African American skin.” In a medical setting, skin should be discussed using clinical classifications such as melanin levels or Fitzpatrick skin type, not ethnicity or nationality. During my previous treatment in Hawaii the discussion focused on the characteristics of my skin rather than labeling it by race.
This is actually the third time I have encountered this type of terminology at clinics in Washington. I have heard comments about being “too dark,” questions about whether I have a tan, or assumptions about ethnicity rather than a discussion of skin using medical terms. It feels outdated and does not inspire much confidence when evaluating a treatment like laser tattoo removal.
I was also asked to find out who my previous provider was and what machine they used. While background information can be helpful, patients should not be expected to go back and conduct research in order to receive a consultation.
For comparison, clinics like Removery have evaluated my skin using proper medical terminology rather than ethnicity, which feels much more professional for this type of procedure. Because of that, I will likely continue treatment elsewhere.
Very unlikely I will return.
