mastectomy tattoo anyone ?

I’m nowhere near this point yet ( still having chemo)  but am following with interest - the idea of making something new and beautiful appeals to me too.

best of luck!

Thanks Helen - will let you know where I get to with it 

hope chemo isn’t being too awful to you, you will get through it and out the other side .. 

Xx

Hi

Don't have any direct experience to offer, I'm afraid. I had a full mastectomy without recon and also have lymphoedema so was advised against tattooing my scar.

Last year, though I got a new tattoo on my shoulder blade instead to mark what I went through - I'm very proud of it! So I guess I am sort of cheering you on.

There have been discussions in the past about tattoists specialising in mastectomy work - not just nipples - if I can find anything I'll get back to you. I've a feeling they were outside of London, though. (I'm in London and I don't remember them being local)

I'll have a little look around

R

Hi

this is the discussion I was thinking of.

community.macmillan.org.uk/.../mastectomy-tattoo

The tattoo studio is in Luton so not a million miles from north London. It seems the original website (and shop) is no longer but if you google it they are still going with a sllightly different name.

To be honest, it's about nipple tattoos so not exactly what you were after but maybe that's a way of approaching it? Find a nipple tattooist and see what other work they do?

Hope the link works - doesn't always from phone.

R

Hi ejm1 

i am getting a 3D nipple tattoo and I have already had two applications but as it’s a medical tattoo it fades but I’m told in the end it will be very effective and just need topped up annually. 

It realy is effective and I’m very pleased . No pain but the give you cream to apply an hour before - just incase . 

I would recommend getting the NHS medical tattoo then if you want to get it touched  up more permanently at a regular tattooist . 

I didn’t have radiotherapy but I did have chemo . My mastectomy was 6 th March 2018 , so just about a year . 

Wushing you well 

Ruby Rose.  

Hi Ruby Ruse

Thanks for posting this info. I have seen my CNS today for possible medical nipple tattoo . My mastectomy was October 2016 but had chemo and Rx.

I am still in limbo as I didn't like the idea if it fading and having to get it retouch annually....and thinking whether I should have a surgical

nipple recons-1st, then tattoo after. Can it be done using local or must it be general Anaesthesia.

I wonder if you or anyone else has more info on this 

Best wishes

AZ

Sorry just read this , 

not  too sure about nipple recon , One of the nurses had got tattoo first then recon and I just thought - yip I’ll try that . Im happy and remember it’s painless . I might get a commercial tattoo done one day in the future  . But the nurse who does the tattoos said lots of ladies don’t actuslly need to come back for a top up , but they do as a sort of comfort and contact with the hospital . 

I must say my tattoo is very effective . 

Love 

Ruby Rose  

Thanks for this ruby rose

ive umm’d and ahhh’d about nipple tattoo - but have decided not to have one, but get a different bigger tattoo instead.

i know it’s personal and different for everyone but for me I’m excited decided I don’t want to ‘pretend’ my reconstructed is like the other and so the mastectomy tattoo is a way of celebrating survival, marking the past 4 years and also celebrating my new boob - which is different but still cherished 

I’ve found a couple of female tattooists in london that look good and am off to meet them .... 

ellen x

Hi Ruby Rose

Thank you for replying and sharing . I am meeting with my consultant next week .may be able to make up my mind then....hopefully

Very much appreciated.

AZ

Hi there,

Just seen this post and delighted by it as I have just recently been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, next step is full mastectomy of right breast and removal of lymph nodes as it is already in them, and I am going to see the consultant tomorrow to agree to the surgery.

I want to go for immediate reconstruction if possible ( he did suggest it) with implant, and as I am losing my nipple, I am holding out the hope that once this is all over I can have something pretty tatooed on my reconstructed breast rather than a nipple.  I know my breast is going, and that anything in its place won't look the same so I sort of want to celebrate that in itself - odd I know - celebrate seems like a strange way of putting it.  I thought I was the only 'crazy' one who wanted to do this, so it is great to see I am not alone.

Any advice from any of you guys about the next steps would be great to hear, it is all a bit daunting at the moment.

Thank you

xxx