Signature credential · 02
3D Areola Masterclass.
The Academy's signature credential. Areola colour restoration and 3D areola tattooing for post-mastectomy patients, the cornerstone discipline of paramedical tattooing.
I. About the program
The work that defined the discipline.
Areola restoration is the discipline at the heart of paramedical tattooing. For patients who have completed breast cancer treatment, through mastectomy, reconstruction and recovery, the final restorative step is often the tattoo work that returns the appearance of the areola complex.
This is Dr. Rusnak's signature work, the practice she has spent decades developing, and the credential the Academy was founded to award. Candidates are trained in 3D areola tattooing, the technique of creating the illusion of dimension and projection through pigment placement alone, alongside areola colour restoration for patients with intact tissue.
The program is intensive and clinically rigorous. It is taught to practitioners who already hold the foundation Paramedical Tattoo Certification or equivalent clinical training. Graduates receive the Certificate of Advanced Professional Training in Areola Colour Restoration and 3D Areola Tattooing.
II. Curriculum
What the program covers.
Breast anatomy and surgical outcomes
Anatomy of the areola complex, types of reconstruction, expected tissue conditions and the clinical reality of post-mastectomy skin.
Consultation in an oncology context
Working with breast cancer survivors and oncology patients, photographic consultation, expectation-setting and the emotional context of restorative work.
Colour restoration technique
Colour matching for the areola complex, working with grafted tissue, pigment placement in scarred and reconstructed skin.
3D areola tattooing
Creating the illusion of projection through shading, highlight and shadow placement on flat skin. The signature discipline.
Bilateral and unilateral restoration
Single-side restoration, matching to the contralateral areola, colour reference protocols and bilateral consistency.
Healing and touch-up protocol
Healing in scarred and reconstructed tissue, expected pigment retention, and the schedule for follow-up sessions.
Hands-on practice on live models
Supervised practice on volunteer models, technique correction in the room, and progressive complexity exercises.
Assessment and credentialing
Supervised practice on live models, a pre-class quiz on the manual, and the awarding of the Academy credential.
III. Details
Format, schedule and investment.
$500 deposit at enrollment, non-refundable but transferable. Balance due one week before class. Areola kit and lifetime mentorship included.
Follows the Paramedical Tattoo Certification in each city.
The Academy's foundation credential or equivalent clinical training.
Certificate of Advanced Professional Training in Areola Colour Restoration and 3D Areola Tattooing.
IV. Who it is for
Who the signature credential is for.
- Practitioners who hold the Paramedical Tattoo Certification or equivalent training
- Nurses and clinical staff in plastic-surgery and oncology settings
- Paramedical practitioners adding post-mastectomy restoration to their practice
- Fit is confirmed in the candidacy conversation before any deposit
V. Cohort dates
Upcoming cohorts.
Dates as published October 2026.
Begin
3D Areola Masterclass.
Each track culminates in a credential awarded by Dr. Rusnak Academy and signed by Dr. Rusnak.