I already shared my experience with my friends on Awake, but wanted to share more widely about my newish tattoo.
Having had a one sided diep reconstruction, I had a clinically excellent result, and in a bra, my breasts were good but I remained unhappy with my reflection. The scaring, my lopsided nipples some necrosis on the side. Every time I caught sight of myself I struggled for just a few seconds with what I’d lost. A straight forward areola tattoo wasn’t going to solve the issues, it needed more.
After a few false starts, I found the amazing Rosie Todman, based in Montpelier in Cheltenham (look on Instagram at Rosie Todman Tattoos). I live in Buckinghamshire so it was a trek but one worth making. She was kind, patient and compassionate, working with me to create a floral design that covered up the scars and masked the lack of symmetry between the breasts, by tattooing both breasts. She has fine art training and that’s what they are, art. If you look at her page you’ll see several mastectomy tattoos she has done including my own, not that you’ll know it’s me!!
My tattoos are still personal, you can’t see them in clothing, but they have radically changed how I feel about myself, I love them and it’s been a massive step forward in my post cancer healing. If anyone would like to see them, I will send them to you as a private message.
I’m happy to answer any questions anyone has about it publicly though.
