What Do You Consider A Tattoo?

When many people hear the word ‘tattooing’, they probably think of the artistic tattoos people have on their body and not necessarily that of the medical kind. Medical tattooing can often be referred to as cosmetic tattooing, micropigmentation, semi-permanent makeup, scar camouflage and paramedical micropigmentation. The procedure can be used to conceal various conditions including alopecia, vitiligo, surgical scars and burns, cleft palate, stretch marks to name a few.

Medical tattooing can transform the way people feel about themselves and boost their self-esteem and confidence. A person’s skin condition may have affected their work and relationships, often due to a lack of self-confidence. It’s important for aesthetic practitioners to be aware of medical tattooing as they may be able to refer patients. For example, practitioners or dermatologists who are not able to help with vitiligo should be advising their patients about the possibility of medical tattooing. Additionally, surgeons can reassure patients who may be concerned about the scars following surgery that there can be a solution.

What is Medical Tattooing?

The term ‘Medical Tattoo’ covers a wide range of applications for a variety of medical conditions, including scarring, burns and skin conditions. Body confidence can be dramatically increased with medical tattooing masking, coloring, reconstructing or improving the appearance of scarring and tissue. We get excellent results and can help improve your appearance in the following cases:

  • Alopecia

  • Breast Reduction/Augmentation

  • Areola/Nipple Reconstruction

  • Body Surgery Scars

  • Skin Repigmentation

  • Accident and Sports Injury Scars

Medical micropigmentation techniques can be applied in many ways:

  • Scar Camouflage helps reduce the appearance of scars from accidents, burns, surgery or the repair of congenital disorders such as cleft palate.

  • Reconstructive Camouflage helps post-mastectomy patients by creating a nipple and areola on the newly reconstructed breast. The appearance of areola incision scars from breast surgeries for augmentation, reduction or a breast lift can also be masked.

Medical micropigmentation and medical tattooing treatments have a huge impact on how you feel, mentally and physically. They provide a solution for skin traumas of imperfection, offering visual enhancement and a long lasting color repair. From areola and nipple reconstruction, to reduce the appearance of scars, vitiligo repigmentation for scalp micro-hair simulation, the results are tailored, natural looking and simple to achieve.

We will work closely with reconstructive surgeons, dermatologist, and hair transplant technicians; we’ve developed our medical micropigmentation treatments to compliment the needs of our clients.

All pigments and services provided meet health code standards and are used in our treatments.

Reconstructed vs. 3D Tattooed Nipples

There are a number of considerations when deciding which option to choose. But there is absolutely no rush in making a decision. Ideally, the breast needs to heal from the reconstruction surgery for six months before you can proceed with a reconstructed nipple or a tattoo.

The Pros and Cons of Reconstructed Nipples

Reconstructed nipples are usually shaped from breast skin in the surrounding area, but in some cases, the skin may be taken from another part of the body. The tissue is then formed into a projection that is shaped like the natural nipple. The reconstructed nipple can then be shaded, most effectively done using a 3D tattoo, which produces very realistic, dimensional results. An older technique, called dermabrasion, is still commonly used by many aestheticians and plastic surgeons. This technique also injects ink into the skin surface, but it doesn't have the range or depth of color that 3D tattoos offer, and usually fades faster.

One drawback of nipple reconstruction is that it is yet another surgery and a woman who's already gone through a mastectomy and mound reconstruction may not feel up to an additional operation or want to deal with the risks involved. For women who had a double mastectomy, another problem is uneven nipples since they often collapse a bit after surgery and may do so unequally. However, a reconstructed nipple may be a better choice for women who have had a single mastectomy and want to match their other nipple – especially if their natural nipple protrudes rather than lies flat. Another consideration may be how important nipples are to their sexual partner. While a reconstructed nipple may be more satisfying to some partners, it's unlikely to provide any erogenous benefits for the one who has had the reconstruction, since there's little to no sensation in that area after surgery.

What You Need To Know About Nipple Tattoos

What's great about 3D tattoos applied directly to the mound is that, once the mound heals, they can be done quickly and without surgery, minimizing the risks of infection and pain, as well as the need to take time off from work. And since no skin is moved around in the process, the contours of the mound are not affected, often retaining a nicer, smoother shape. If you've had a double mastectomy, 3D tattoos can also produce far more symmetrical results.

However, a big consideration is that results can vary significantly depending on who does the tattooing. Tattooing is an art, and it's important to make sure you use an experienced artist. In most causes a skilled tattoo artist can deliver better and more realistic result than doctors. Some of these tattoo artists are affiliated with medical facilities, while others practice out of tattoo parlors. Before deciding on an artist, find out how many nipple tattoos they've, and ask to see their portfolio.

If you're considering a 3D nipple tattoo, let your surgeon know about it before mound reconstruction surgery. Since scars can affect the placement of the tattoos, your surgeon can have your future plans in mind when considering where the incisions are made. After surgery, make sure to ask the surgeon about the best location for the nipple tattoo based on the health of the skin – skin that's very thin should not be tattooed. Each nipple tattoo takes about an hour and usually isn't painful. The further out from reconstruction, the more time the nerves have to grow back, and the more discomfort you might experience during tattooing. It's wise to start small and go lighter, since you can have tattoo touch-ups that make the nipple larger and darker in the future, but there's no reversing the work once it's done.

There are also women who are choosing to forgo nipples altogether but are instead getting ornamental tattoos done on their reconstructed breasts that can be quite beautiful and personally meaningful. And increasingly, women are choosing to go flat without reconstruction and may opt to also have decorative tattoos done on their chest.

What Makes A Breast Cancer Survivor Feel "Whole Again"

After a mastectomy, it is incredibly personal and individual. Some women are comfortable "going flat" and some feel that reconstructed breast mounds are enough, while other women seeking full reconstruction feel the process isn't complete without nipples. For them, nipples are a defining focal point of the breast.

Adding a nipple to a reconstructed breast can have an immediate and profound visual effect, helping the breast look more normal again. New nipples can also draw attention away from the scars, lopsidedness, indentations and other imperfections of surgery. In my own practice, I've seen what an important therapeutic step it has been for many of my patients.

In some cases, a woman's natural nipple can be preserved during mastectomy surgery. But when that's not possible, there are two different ways to permanently create a new nipple. One option is to use the woman's own tissue to create a round nipple and areola "bump out" or projection. That little cap can be tattooed for color later on. Another option is to tattoo a nipple directly on the breast mound. Nipple tattoos without reconstructed nipples are increasingly popular, especially 3D nipple tattoos that look amazingly real.

Areola Reconstruction/Repigmentation

Using advanced techniques in the medical tattooing field, it is now possible to create incredibly realistic areola and 3D nipples. Prescribed pigments are used to create the perfect color and look for you. 

This treatment is still relatively unknown, but in our experience really has made such a difference to our patient’s confidence. Areola and Nipple tattooing is suitable for the following patients; 

  • Post breast reconstruction surgery, following either a major lumpectomy or single/double mastectomy

  • Post breast augmentation, where the areola and/or nipple has been moved or removed

  • Those with uneven areola's that wish to gain more symmetry 

  • Post transgender surgery 

If you have scarring that you would like to improve the appearance or feel of as a result of your surgery, please let us know.  We can offer scar improvement treatments that will significantly improve your scars and this may need to be carried out prior to your areola tattooing.