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Read the press release here.

Cancer Treatment Tattoos Removed for Free at River North Clinic

 The laser room where tattoo removal treatments will take place.
The laser room where tattoo removal treatments will take place.
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Sempurna Restoration Clinic

RIVER NORTH — Most regretted tattoos were at one point a desired piece of body art — with the exception of tattoos applied for medical reasons, a common practice in breast cancer treatments to mark treatment areas.

In honor of breast cancer month in October, Sempurna Restoration Clinic in River North is now offering free removal of treatment-related tattoos for breast cancer survivors to remove the "visible and constant reminders of the painful treatments they've endured," Cleighton DePetro, Sempurna’s director and laser technician, said in a release.

Tattoos are commonly used to define treatment areas to avoid overlapping radiation treatments over the course of multiple sessions.

"While breast cancer survivors are thankful for the advanced technology and treatment options they receive, moving on can be difficult when living with the tattoos," DePetro said.

The deal launched Sept. 1 and will continue indefinitely, spokeswoman said.

During the removal process, highly-focused beams of light are shot directly at the ink to dissipate the deeply-embedded pigment, lightening the tattoo over time.

The number of laser sessions required to fully remove a tattoo can vary widely, and pricing is based per square inch, with an average of three to 12 treatments required to erase ink completely, according to the clinic.

Typically, Sempurna charges $49 per square inch per treatment, with a minimum charge of $98 a session. For cancer survivors, the clinic will waive the full fee.

The deal is the latest in a series of promotions run by the River North clinic at 220 W. Huron St., which has also offered free laser treatment sessions for clients with "scary" tattoos around Halloween and Hot Doug's tattoo removal after the restaurant announced it would close this year.

"Unlike our typical clients, cancer survivors don’t have much of a choice over whether to get the tattoos. It’s a matter of life and death," DePetro said. "This is our small way of celebrating their victory over cancer and helping them move on."

Consultations can be scheduled by calling 312-255-8051.

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