My Interview With Canvas Rebel Magazine

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carissa Fondaw a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Carissa , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My mission is simple: to help people feel whole again. That might sound like a small thing to some, but if you’ve ever looked in the mirror and not recognized yourself — after surgery, illness, or trauma — then you know just how big that really is.

When I first started, my heart was pulled toward breast cancer survivors. I saw the invisible emotional scars that remained long after the surgeries were done. I wanted to offer something that felt healing, something that gave them a sense of ownership and confidence in their bodies again. That’s when I started Lexington Medical Tattooing & Scar Correction.

It became more than a business — it became personal. And last year, it got even more personal when I was diagnosed with a precancerous condition and made the decision to undergo a double mastectomy and reconstruction myself. Suddenly, I was walking the same path many of my clients had already traveled. I knew the fear, the grief, and the hope they carried. And I also knew the power of restoration — what it means to reclaim something that felt lost.

Today, my mission is driven by both compassion and lived experience. Whether it’s a 3D areola tattoo after mastectomy, scar correction from past trauma, or even just helping someone feel more confident with microbladed brows, my work is all about showing people they are not broken — they are still whole, still beautiful, and still very much themselves.

That’s what keeps me going. That’s what makes this work sacred.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Carissa Fondaw, founder of Lexington Medical Tattooing & Scar Correction — a practice born out of deep compassion, personal experience, and a fierce commitment to helping people feel whole again. My work is rooted in restoring confidence and identity for those who’ve experienced medical trauma, surgery, or life-altering diagnoses — especially breast cancer survivors.

I got into this field somewhat unexpectedly. I initially took a microblading course because I wanted to help women who had lost their eyebrows during chemotherapy. During that class, my instructor and I connected, and she told me about a 3D areola and nipple tattooing course. Without hesitation, I emersed myself in learning everything I could about medical tattooing. I knew then that I had found my calling.

Since then, I’ve trained in advanced scar correction, developed my own procedure- complex dermal needling, medical tattooing, and more. I work with patients who have had mastectomies, burns, accidents, or other scarring that affects how they see themselves. Every scar holds a story — and I help people take back control of that narrative.

We offer 3D areola and nipple tattooing, scar correction, medical tattooing, brow microblading, and restorative treatments like oxygen therapy and red light therapy. Whether it’s softening and correcting scars, restoring the look of an areola after reconstruction, or creating natural-looking eyebrows, our goal is to restore not just the body — but the spirit.

What sets us apart isn’t just the service — it’s the experience. My office doesn’t feel clinical. It’s designed to be safe, cozy, and deeply respectful of the journeys my clients have walked. Many people cry tears of relief when they walk in because they feel seen, heard, and cared for. I walk closely with each person — from helping them fight insurance battles to simply listening when they need to be vulnerable. I’ve been in their shoes.

Earlier this year, I underwent a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction due to a precancer diagnosis. Suddenly, I wasn’t just the provider — I was the patient. That experience changed everything. It deepened my empathy and strengthened my mission. I now share a sacred bond with the people I serve.

What I’m most proud of is the trust my clients place in me. They come to me at some of the most vulnerable times in their lives. To be part of their healing process — to witness their transformation, confidence, and peace — that’s what keeps me going.

If you take anything away from my story or my brand, let it be this: You are not broken. You deserve to feel beautiful, whole, and confident in your body again. And we’re here to help make that happen.

You can learn more at www.lexmedicaltattooing.com or call us at 859.550.6224 for a free consultation.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Honestly, I think what helped build my reputation most is the trust I’ve earned from both clients and medical professionals. This work is incredibly personal. People aren’t just coming to me for a service — they’re often walking through my doors carrying trauma, vulnerability, and a desire to feel like themselves again. I never take that lightly.

I’ve built strong relationships with plastic surgeons, oncology nurse navigators, and social workers throughout Lexington and beyond — not through sales pitches, but by showing up, being consistent, and delivering results that speak for themselves. They know I’ll go the extra mile — whether it’s helping with insurance appeals, following up personally, or creating an experience that makes their patients feel safe and seen.

Word-of-mouth has been everything. When one survivor tells another about how our work helped them feel whole again — that’s powerful. And I think my own journey — having gone through a double mastectomy and reconstruction myself — made those connections even stronger. I’m not just offering a service. I get it. I’ve been in the chair. And I think people feel that when they meet me.

Add to that our cozy, welcoming space, attention to detail, and the emotional impact of the before-and-after results — and it all builds a reputation based on empathy, excellence, and real outcomes.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

When I first began, I was renting one chair in a plastic surgeon’s office just one day a week. I was still figuring things out, but I knew I wanted to serve breast cancer survivors in a way that made them feel whole again. I saw the emotional impact this work could have — and that was it for me. I was all in.

As word spread and referrals started coming in from doctors and nurse navigators, I knew I needed more space. I moved into a two-room office of my own. Then came a bigger office. And then an even bigger one. Every step of growth came from listening to my clients and asking, What else do they need to feel complete? That’s when I added red light therapy, oxygen therapy, and expanded my scar correction services.

Today, we’re in a full-floor office with multiple treatment rooms and a cozy, welcoming sitting area — all designed to give clients the space to breathe, to heal, and to feel comfortable in their skin again. It’s hard to believe how far this has come, but at the heart of it, the mission hasn’t changed: to restore confidence, dignity, and identity through every service we provide. Watching it grow from one rented chair to a full-blown healing space has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.