Surgery and Tattooing on the Breast and Areola
A Cosmetic Permanent Makeup Procedure for Mastectomy Reconstruction
Oct 13, 2009
Post surgery, whether its augmentation, reduction, or reconstruction, the areola area may become distorted, scarred, lightened or simply disappear. Tattooing this area to match the coloring of the woman and the other breast is an option. Sometimes both areolas need to be created and matched to each other.
Tattooing On or Around the Areola
Sterile pigment dyes ranging from pale pink to dark brown, some similar to those used for lip pigment tattoo, often are created solely for pigmenting the breast areola. A darker shade may be used to create the illusion of a nipple if it is being recreated. If the area is scarred, techniques adjust to accept the pigment into the layers of tissue. Women with completely reconstructed breasts, as opposed to augmented ones, usually have little discomfort during the procedure since there are no nerve endings to stimulate. The otherwise intact breast must be anesthetized for comfort.
Coloring the Areola for Cosmetic Purposes
Originally popular with showgirls for obvious reasons, women and some men have added this to their repertoire of well being and anti-aging appearance procedures. Tattooing the area can give satisfying results. It can correct hypo-pigmentation in the area. Dissimilar areolas can be cosmetically adjusted for symmetry.
Tattooing is Done by Hand or Machine
There is no one method that is better than another; neither yields less painful or better results than the other. It is the skill of the technician regardless of the tool employed which makes the successful tattoo. Areola shape varies naturally from round or oblong, from small to covering half the breast. Coloring in the areola is done either by concentric filling in of spaces or repetition of back and forth within the lines. A nipple can be created by a dimensional illusion using shadings and darker colors. The size is dependent upon desire and esthetics as well as the intention to cover any scar tissue or to avoid scar tissue if it wont absorb pigment or color properly.
The nipple area post reconstruction is done on another visit under anesthesia. If that is the case, tattooing is postponed for healing. Discuss with the surgeon grafting of a nipple, which is another surgery, or simply tattooing the illusion of a nipple.
Aftercare of Breast Tattoo
As with any tattoo, the color will appear darker at first and become more natural with healing. The size too will shrink. Dressings and ointments are applied to the tattoo to keep it moist and prevent it from staining or sticking to garments. There will be bleeding or oozing initially. It is important to keep the site clean following routine tattoo aftercare instructions. There is some dryness and scaling and itching after tattoo placement the first week. Infection is infrequent in tattooing.
Signs Suggesting Further Evaluation
Be aware of tattoo healing signs versus signs of needing a health exam.
- Persistent itching and scaling beyond the first week of tattooing.
- Crusting of the nipple area with increasing redness beyond the design area and beyond the healed tattoo time.
- Any bleeding or oozing from the nipple beyond 72 hours post tattoo.
Costs of Areola Tattoo
- Insurance may cover post reconstruction tattooing.
- Some tattoo and permanent makeup artists offer this service gratis to breast cancer survivors.
- Some charge by the hour and some charge a flat fee per procedure.
- When the procedure is considered solely cosmetic, it will be a self-pay and can run a few hundred dollars.
- Permanent makeup and tattoo schools may offer a reduced fee when a student does the procedure under an instructor.
References can also be found at the Society for Permanent Makeup Professionals.
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