This procedure promotes so much healing for someone who has experienced a  drastically altered appearance. The ability to reconnect with your previous self when you glance in the mirror is a magical thing!

Posh understands that areola/ nipple restoration is a particularly meaningful procedure.

For breast cancer survivors, it can sometimes be triggering, dysmorphic, or otherwise upsetting to have to undergo breast reconstruction surgery, also known as a mastectomy. To repair a sense of normalcy for those who desire it, it's possible to have a custom areola tattoo created, which reconstructs the way your nipple appears with specialized medical pigment to make it appear more natural and realistic.

An areola tattoo essentially creates a new nipple, and there is one particularly empowering reason the procedure is offered: to assist breast cancer survivors the comfortability in their bodies post-surgery by restoring something so intimate. Many cancer survivors undergo breast reconstruction surgery (or a double mastectomy if both breasts are affected), but still don’t feel comfortable in their bodies after all they have had to endure. That’s where areola tattoos come in: they’re a great way to assist women in constructing their bodies and boosting their self-confidence by helping them feel natural in their own skin. It’s also a great alternative to nipple reconstruction surgery for those opting for a more affordable alternative with little to no downtime.

It’s important to note that this procedure isn’t just for survivors who have undergone breast reconstruction surgery and had their nipple(s) affected.

If you had surgery that left the nipple intact, you may have scars or misshapen areola. These issues can be easily visually improved with this procedure, to even out the shape, size, and color of the nipple/areola.

An areola tattoo is a cosmetic procedure that is performed on the area of the breast or chest where the areola would otherwise be located. The idea of this procedure is that it enhances the appearance of the areola/ nipple in some way, be it creating one or altering the shape. Areola tattoos are not performed in the same manner as other tattoos. Similar by depositing ink under the skin to create a permanent image but tend to be particularly detailed in regards to blending and feathering, to ensure an extremely natural appearance.
Areola restoration has traditionally been the “go-to” route for finalizing breast reconstruction. The process involves tattooing a nipple/ areola on the reconstructed breast. Unfortunately, the patient can be left with undesirable results that lack realism and fade quickly due to poor technique and incorrect color. Surgical reconstruction can also leave unwanted breast asymmetry or heavy scarring unaddressed, which leads some women to seek these services. Having a personalized tattoo created instead of or in addition to reconstruction allows the individual to take control of what is happening to her body. When a cancer diagnosis takes that feeling of control away, it can be a liberating feeling to the client to end their journey and battle by marking their milestone and expressing their individuality with a service such as this.
Christy is able to offer designs that compliment the new landscape of a woman’s post-surgical breasts. The possibilities are endless to fit new contours and camouflage scars. Each client will receive a unique design, one that will best fit the flow of their body, one that can be used to pull an observer’s eye away from surgical scarring, skin puckering, and asymmetry. With these options available, a woman can use this procedure to create and embolden her sexuality and self-confidence. Awareness of these alternatives is crucial so that women explore all options and regain decision making when it comes to this journey.
A consultation is required to discuss the client’s desired nipple size, placement, and pigment options to best compliment their skin also to assess the client’s skin type and any scar patterns or scar tissue that may require more technical skill to achieve the end result.
Once a design is agreed upon an oscillated tattoo needle covered in non-toxic color pigment will be utilized to insert the pigment below the outer layer of the skin. While the actual nipple isn’t being reconstructed, the image of it will appear that way. in most cases, skin can be quite thin, scarred, and delicate following surgery. Posh understands the gentle touch needed.
The length of this process will be based on a number of variables, including the demands of the new areola design, and the condition of the breast. Because a mastectomy often leaves scars and roughly-textured skin, the procedure would have to be crafted around keeping you safe and maintaining the integrity of your skin. The entire process could take anywhere from 1 hour to multiple hours per breast—the process generally takes about two to two and a half hours.
Your areola tattoo will take, on average, 10-14 days to heal. This isn’t a set timeline, though, as the condition of your skin will ultimately be the deciding factor.
You will encounter three stages in the weeks following: healing, peeling, and lightening.
Your new tattoo will finely scab over to protect the area while it heals. Then comes peeling, which will cause those scabs to fall off once it heels. Do not pick the scabs! If you do not allow them to naturally fall off, you could cause pigment loss and damage to your new tattoo. Finally, once all the scabs are fully gone from the tattoo area, you’ll notice the ink will appear lighter and more natural looking.
If you’re considering an areola tattoo as a breast cancer survivor, pain may not be something you have to be concerned with. It’s very common for mastectomies to lead to breast numbness, as the procedure intentionally causes nerve damage to reduce sensation. You may experience tingling or feel uncomfortable, and if you have an implant, you may feel it vibrate throughout the session. This actually works out well for tattooing an area that would otherwise be extremely tender.
A medical dressing will be applied to your areola tattoo after it’s complete, and it’s important to keep a close eye on what you do with it on. Be sure not to get the covering wet, as this could affect the pigment or even possibly cause infection. It’s also necessary to keep your fresh ink covered for at least a day, as it may continue to slightly bleed.
A more detailed aftercare outline will be provided to you the day of your appointment.
Although areola tattoos are permanent, it’s technically a form of cosmetic tattooing, which is slightly different from traditional ink. Instead of creating a visual on your skin that stands out, the overall goal of this treatment is to alter the body in some way to match your natural look and create an essentially unseen piece.
Cosmetic tattoos also tend to have less concentrated pigment than traditional ink, so your body will metabolize it quicker. This will ultimately lead to fading, though it will occur over time, not overnight. Expect to see noticeable fading years following; however, this will factor based on your metabolism and skin condition therefore, there’s no way to give a true estimate of how long the tattoo will look fresh.
Be sure to avoid irritants like chlorinated or salt water, harsh cleansers, aloe vera, Retin-A, or glycolic acid, as these could cause your areola tattoo to fade at a more rapid pace.
It’s completely normal to experience slight swelling and possible redness following the treatment, and you may feel like your skin is “tight” or pulled taut. Scabbing and flaking is also to be expected, so don’t be alarmed if your healing ink looks patchy or feels slightly hard to the touch.
As with any tattoo, there is always the risk of side effects. The worst case scenario is your areola tattoo becoming infected, which could cause more swelling, prolonged redness, and pain. Keep an eye out for less common symptoms like fever and muscle aches as well, as these are signs that something is going wrong in the healing process.
And if you’re considering an areola tattoo as a survivor of breast cancer, you can rest easy knowing that the pigment does not increase the risk of cancer reoccurrence (or occurrence, for that matter). If you’re undergoing radiation, however, it’s suggested that you refrain from this treatment until the process is complete.