How To Find A Tattoo Artist Who Does Areola Tattoos:
Thanks to social medias sexist censoring, areola tattoos are largely deleted from the internet or blurred amongst feeds. As a result, many people arent aware that this type of realistic, confidence-restoring tattooing even exists.
As an artist, not being able to freely showcase our artistic/restorative work can lead to confusion and potentially bad experiences for clients who are already undergoing a traumatic experience, Otsuji admits. After all, with few areola tattoo artists permitted to freely post on social media, it can be difficult to find a reputable artist. However, some doctors can recommend artists theyve worked with, and there are online groups of people who have gotten areola tattoos where one can find recommendations. With that in mind, its important to always ask your artist for examples and reviews of their work to ensure youre entering into a safe and satisfying ink space when exploring areola tattoos.
How Is It Different Than Traditional Nipple Reconstruction
More and more breast cancer survivors are choosing the tattooing option over nipple reconstruction for a variety of reason. With the latter, patients can experience:
- Extensive healing
- Increased risk of infection
- Protruding nipples that can be seen through all types of clothing
For someone who has battled and won the fight against breast cancer, that is an accomplishment in itself that should make anyone feel proud and confident in their ability to push through even the hardest times. But by offering services such as 3D areola and nipple tattooing, it gives these survivors a boost in confidence that wasnt there before.
About the Author Lizeth Alvarado attended George Mason University to pursue Communication, but when she wasnt studying, she was booking jobs at fashion shows and working as a freelance style consultant. As the lead beauty expert, Lizeth has been helping breast cancer survivors feel greater confidence after mastectomy surgery thanks to her 3D Areola and Nipple Tattooing service. For individuals who have experienced this battle, or for people who want breast reduction tattoos, this service can provide a new lease on life. To learn more, visit our website or call 550-8981 to make an appointment.
What Aftercare Does A Tattoo Need
Your tattoo artist should give you information about how to look after your tattoo.
You should always wash and dry your hands before touching the area to reduce the risk of infection. Your tattoo may be covered with a non-stick dressing, and you will be told how long to keep this on for.
A tattoo covering a large area may have plastic film wrap applied and you should be told when to replace this. Youll be advised to keep the area clean and dry. Sometimes the tattoo artist will recommend applying cream to your tattoo. They can suggest which products to use and where you can get them from.
While the tattoo is healing you may not be able to wear a bra, and prefer to wear loose natural fabrics. This may be for around three weeks.
Recommended Reading: Best Moisturizer For Tattoo Healing
Why Is Areola Tattooing So Important
For people whose lives have been changed by cancer, scarring or transitioning, this procedure can mark the end of a long and difficult journey. Its hard to understate the emotional effect of regaining a part of your body but clients usually find that it helps them to restore body confidence. It may even become a symbol of new beginnings in a body that feels theirs again after years of surgery and treatments they didnt choose, an areola tattoo can be the first big choice they make after recovery.
This is probably why so many PMUs offer their time and talents in free areola tattoo clinics, or sign up with charities such as the Nipple Innovation Project and the Mastectomy Tattoo Alliance, who raise money and fund realistic 3D areola and nipple tattoos to breast cancer survivors, previvors and other suitable candidates for free.
About Us
Customer Service
What Are The Advantages Of Nipple Tattoos
Heres the thing, breast cancer survivors have the freedom to choose which procedure they prefer after mastectomy. As mentioned above, theres nipple reconstruction surgery, breast reconstruction surgery, and nipple tattoos for others, they combine it.
However, the idea of undergoing another surgery in the hands of plastic surgeons after having a mastectomy may sound overwhelming for some. Just after scar recovery, undergoing another medical treatment or visiting the doctor is stressful.
That is why more breast cancer survivors prefer a less invasive and less intimidating procedure like a nipple tattoo. Here are some advantages of nipple tattoos, why more people choose them over nipple reconstruction surgery:
Recommended Reading: How Long Should You Wait Between Tattoo Removal Sessions
Megan Thee Stallion Shared Why She Ditched Long Nails Indefinitely
“Its really unpredictable what come in with,” Aava says. “Sometimes they have a lot of scars in the area so we have to start with treating first and softening the scar tissue so the pigment will stay. And sometimes it takes multiple treatments.”
Every areola tattoo is different, depending on what the client may already have. Like regular tattoos, they take a bit of planning and preparation, including being sketched out before the tattoo starts. If the client has one nipple, the artist will typically work to match it in color, hue, and size. Aava says, “If it’s just one , we try to match it to the other side. We draw first and make sure that there’s symmetry. It’s all about shading and making it look realistic and three dimensional.”
A major difference between nipple-areola tattoos and tattoos on other parts of the body is the general absence of pain during the procedure. “The area is normally numb,” Aava says because most of the nerves in that area are usually cut during the mastectomy. However, if there is any remaining sensation, Aava will apply a numbing cream before doing the tattoo.
What to Expect During the Healing Process
The healing process for nipple-areola tattoos is very similar to all other types of tattoos and a lot shorter than the weeks-long healing period for surgical nipple reconstruction. Aava says that she typically puts a clear bandage on the tattoo and tells the patient to leave it on for a week.
The Risks of Nipple-Areola Tattooing
Brunswick Spa Offers Areola Tattoos To Breast Cancer Survivors
This cosmetic tattoo is to help women who have gone through mastectomies to regain their positive body image.
You are able to gift 5 more articles this month.
Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. See our FAQ got more information about subscriber sharing perks.
Gifting premium articles is a member-only feature. Press Herald subscribers are able to gift 5 articles every month to be viewed by non-subscribers.
Gifting premium articles is a member-only feature. Press Herald subscribers are able to gift 5 articles every month to be viewed by non-subscribers.
Learn more about article gifting. . Already as subscriber, .
A Brunswick spa is offering areola tattooing for breast cancer survivors.
Kerry Watterson, esthetician at At Last Salon and Day Spa in Brunswick. Contributed
Kerry Watterson is a licensed skincare specialist in charge of the areola restorative tattoo at At Last Salon and Day Spa, located at 185 Park Row. Her permanent make-up technique restores a sense of depth and detail to the reconstructed breast without the need for tissue to rebuild the nipple in women who have undergone mastectomies.
Jen Bortolo of Boston was Wattersons first client for areola restoration in January. She decided to get the tattoo after she underwent a bilateral mastectomy surgery that removes both breasts.
I waited until I was comfortable before I decided to get my areola tattoo. This tattoo makes my body look and feel whole again, Bartolo said.
Read Also: Tattoo Removal Cost Charlotte Nc
How Long Does The Nipple Tattoo Last
The average longevity of an areola and nipple tattoo is 3-5 years, but it depends on:
- Your skin type. Micropigmentation fades more quickly on oily skin.
- Your lifestyle. Frequent exposure to sunlight, salt and pool water accelerates pigment fading. So does smoking and frequent alcohol intake.
- Your skincare. Certain skincare ingredients accelerate pigment fading, Although these are primarily found in facial products, they can feature in body lotions, too.
- Your system. Some systems break down pigments very quickly, while others retain them for a very long time.
NOTE:
Its also possible to get a nipple tattoo done with permanent tattoo inks. In that case, your tattoo will last much longer. But bear in mind that tattoo inks look a lot less natural than pigments.
D Nipple And Areola Tattooing
We are the Vinnie Myers Team!
Since this endeavor began, our team has successfully tattooed thousands of women. Our 3D nipple and areola tattooing techniques provide clients with the most realistic representations of lifelike nipples and areolas available. Vinnies exposure to such a large number of breast reconstruction recipients, has provided him with an unmatched level of experience tattooing the vast differences in skin each clients particular case presents. Vinnie has trained his staff in his proven methodology to help Breast Cancer survivors complete this final step in reconstruction. Rest assured the entire team is ready to provide the highest level of service people have come to expect. Our hope is to help women to reach some sort of closure to the arduous journey they have undertaken.
Recommended Reading: Q Switched Nd Yag Laser Tattoo Removal
How Long Will An Areola Tattoo Last
While traditional tattoos are permanent, cosmetic tattoos are semi-permanent, and 3D nipples fall into the latter category. The reason why cosmetic tattoos do not last permanently is that the ink is different, and leans more towards safety than permanency.
The techniques used in cosmetic tattoos are also different as the goal is to use natural features and to alter them slightly, using tattoos. The result is an enhanced version of your natural beauty. For that purpose, the ink is lighter and less concentrated than your traditional tattoo ink. As a result, it metabolizes faster as the natural skin cells renew and lasts only temporarily. That said, the tattoo lasts for years and begins to gradually fade over time.
3D nipple tattoos last longer for people who dont swim in chlorinated water or saltwater too often. Chemicals like Retin-A and glycolic acid also cause skin peeling and can lead to rapid fading of the 3D tattoo.
If you are looking for a professional and highly experienced institution to take care of such a deep and personal matter you should pay a visit to Luxe Brow + Lash based out of Austin, TX.
Heres Why Areola Tattoos Are Tough To Pull Off
Let us back up for a second. Areola tattoos tend to be trickier to design than traditional ones since artists dont go as deep into the skin and pull lines more slowly. Because its scar tissue and therefore has varying thicknesses in just a few centimeters of area, extra caution is requiredwhich Juarez flawlessly executes.
The esthetician, who holds certifications in permanent makeup, microblading, and paramedical tattooing, felt it was her duty to provide areola tattoos au gratis to women who might otherwise have very limited options. So one day per month, her doors are open and virtual price tags are removed for the service, in which she uses several different colored inks to get a textured, 3D-like effect for the redrawn areolas.
Read Also: How To Edit Tattoos Onto A Picture
What Exactly Are Mastectomy Tattoos And How Are They Done
These tattoos are designed on or around the area where a mastectomy was performed. They can either resemble nipples and areolas or become a form of body art. Mastectomy tattoos “offer survivors an opportunity for a greater sense of closure around the loss of their breast and can play an important role in helping them feel whole again, both physically and emotionally,” tattoo artist Nicole M. Rizzuto tells Allure.
The application is no different from a traditional tattoo: Pigment is implanted into skin with a needle, Rizzuto says. They often facilitate the same inks, colors, and shading techniques. But there are some major differences: mastectomy tattoos are done on compromised skin that has sometimes undergone radiation or been through chemotherapy. Plus, typical tattoos aren’t usually done over scars, which can make the skin particularly delicate.
You’re never working with the same scar pattern or just perfectly smooth skin. It’s not anything like working on regular skin for the most part,” tattoo artist Vinnie Myers explains. “You have to walk lightly because you can really damage somebody if you don’t approach it the right way. If you’re a woman with breast cancer and you’ve been through all that you’ve been through, you wanna make sure that it’s done right. You don’t want to have any additional problems with all the things you’ve already been through.
Straight Talk: Ask An Expert Live Webcast Series
Project Pink’d continues to strive to address the REAL issues breast cancer survivors face after a diagnosis. Our Straight Talk: Ask An Expert series explores issues of particular interests to breast cancer survivors and provides LIVEaccess to professionals . With the ease of just a click on a participant’s phone, iPad, or computer, the live video webcast format enables survivors and their families living throughout the state of Nebraska and Western Iowa access to chat directly with the professional.
Thursday, November 18, 2021 | 7-8 PM | Nipple & Areola Tattooing Options
Some survivors find having their nipples tattooed after surgery is an important final step in the breast reconstruction process and the closing of a difficult chapter. Without having to undergo another surgery and create new scars, an experienced tattoo artist can create a realistic representation of a nipple with exquisite details. This increasingly popular, less invasive option can help increase a survivors self confidence and make them feel whole again.
Our next Straight Talk: Ask An Expert Series will focus on:
· Nipple and areola tattooing process
· Length of process
· How soon after surgery you can have tattooing done
· Aftercare
· Education on proper tattoo artist selection
Note: This LIVE Video Webcast will be broadcast exclusively on our private Pink’d Survivors Unite Facebook page. Are you a survivor and have not yet joined Pink’d Survivors Unite?
We look forward to sharing this journey with you.
You May Like: Buy Tattoo Removal Laser Machine
Does Getting A Nipple Tattoo Hurt
How much getting nipple tattoos after mastectomy hurts varies from person to person, but once reconstructed, its possible that your breasts are no longer as sensitive as they used to be. Thus, in most cases the pain level is quite low.
A numbing cream is applied to the area in order to numb the area further, so there shouldnt be any pain involved.
That said, you may feel pressure and scratching. Patients with implants might feel a vibration through the implant during the procedure.
How Are Areola Tattoos Done
Despite being performed on a more sensitive area of skin, Otsuji says the areola tattooing is much the same as traditional tattooing. That said, given that most areola tattoos are performed on those with scarred and/or compromised skin, proper attention and care must be taken. For starters, the colors of ink are much more tailored to the clients skin tone. The colors I use are a lot more natural-looking, such as pinks, browns, and skin tones, as opposed to some of the vibrant pigments and darker blacks and greys used in other types of tattooing, she explains.
Whats more, instead of focusing on intricate lines and graphics, areola tattooing comes down to choosing a single, often simple shape and making it look as natural as possible.
Each areola tattoo is completely customized for my clients, Otsuji says. I strive to create the most realistic results by adding strategic details, highlights, shadows, and dimension and choosing a collection of colors that suits their skin best. The end result is an undetectable, realistic areola that looks like one they would have had naturally.
That said, Otsuji admits that shes also created heart-shaped, naturally-colored nipples for those wanting something a little more unique.
Read Also: Best Antibacterial Ointment For Tattoo
What Happens At The Nipple Tattoo Appointment
Step 1 Numbing
The appointment usually starts with numbing. A topical anesthetic is applied to minimize the discomfort. In case your mastectomy has damaged the nerves in the area and your breast are numb as is, this step can be skipped.
NOTE: In some states, the micropigmentation tech isnt allowed to apply numbing before tattooing. Contact a local salon and check.
Step 2 Outlining
It takes some time for the numbing to kick in, and the tech will use this time to measure and outline the nipples. In case you are only getting 1 side tattooed, theyll do their best to match the existing nipple in terms of shape, size and color.
If theyre recreating them both from scratch, you can choose the shape, size and shade.
Step 3 Micropigmentation
The pigments are prepared , and the tattooing starts. The tech will use an electric device with multiple thin needles to implement pigments. Theyll go back and forth, building up the color in several passes.
They will probably use several pigment shades to create a 3D effect.
Step 4 Cleaning and Further Instructions
Once the tattooing is done, theyll clean the area and wrap it up in sterile gauze to protect it from rubbing against our clothes on your way home.
Theyll give you aftercare instructions you will need to follow, and give you a moisturizing balm to use during healing.
Step 5 Follow-Up
Most techs perform the procedure in 2 sessions, so you will come back in for a follow-up 6-8 weeks later.
What Are The Risks Of Getting A Tattoo
For anyone getting a tattoo the biggest risk is from dirty needles that can spread diseases such as HIV and hepatitis. Tattoo artists should always use sterile equipment and fresh needles.
Other risks include:
- Infection see below
- Allergy to pigment this is very rare but some studios do offer a patch test before a tattoo
- its possible to get tattoos removed but its expensive and can be very painful. Theres also no guarantee that a tattoo can be completely removed.
- The colour fading the pigment will naturally fade over time. To reduce initial fading avoid swimming, sunbathing, using a sunbed or doing exercise that makes you sweat for two weeks after having a tattoo. You can use a high factor sunscreen on your tattoo to help reduce fading
The tattooed area will be swollen, red and may itch but this should go away over time. You may also have some bruising to the area.
If any redness or swelling doesnt go away and you develop a high temperature or feel feverish you may have an infection. If you think you have an infection contact your GP, nearest urgent care centre or A& E as soon as possible as you may need antibiotics.
Also Check: Best Place To Get Eyebrows Tattooed