Cancer is a devastating disease. It’s also something that affects a lot of people—and not everyone survives it.
One of the hardest things about surviving cancer is how it changes your body. For women who have had breast reconstruction surgery, their bodies never look the same again. That’s why 3D tattoos are such an amazing option for survivors of this disease.
What are 3D tattoos?
3D tattoos are special temporary tattoos that can be applied to your skin in a way that looks like real ink. They’re made with tiny little fibers that stick together, so they create the appearance of depth and dimension when applied to your skin. If you’ve ever seen an image of someone wearing one of these tattoos, it looks like they’re actually wearing a tattoo!
Why use 3D tattoos for breast reconstruction?
These tattoos are perfect for breast reconstruction because they allow you to get back some of the feeling that was lost when you had your breasts removed and replaced with implants or other prosthetics. These tattoos will make you feel more confident in yourself and help you feel better about what happened in your life during treatment for cancer.”
3d tattoos breast reconstruction
The nipple(s) will remain attached to the underlying skin. It’s important to know that your plastic surgeon may not be able to move a reconstructed nipple that has already been tattooed. If you had one nipple reconstructed and kept one natural nipple, and they’re not symmetrical, it may be easier for your plastic surgeon to move the natural nipple than the reconstructed one. Paying for nipple reconstruction surgery In the United States, your health insurance plan should cover nipple reconstruction if it also covers breast reconstruction.
The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 requires all group health plans and health insurance companies (including HMOs) that pay for mastectomy to also cover reconstructive procedures. Medicare generally covers breast reconstruction procedures including nipple reconstruction, while Medicaid coverage can vary from state to state. ADVERTISEMENT Still, it’s not unusual to have some challenges with getting your health insurance to cover nipple reconstruction. Nipple reconstruction is usually performed and billed separately from your other reconstructive procedures and requires a separate insurance authorization.
Before the nipple reconstruction surgery, work with your health insurance provider and your plastic surgeon’s office to find out what you need to do to get your claim approved. You and your plastic surgeon may need to make the case to the insurance company that nipple reconstruction is a medically necessary part of breast reconstruction and not just cosmetic. You’ll also want to find out in advance exactly what will be covered and what you’ll need to pay out of pocket.
Learn more about Paying for Reconstruction Procedures . Nipple tattoos A 3D nipple tattoo is a “picture” of a nipple and areola on the breast that is flat to the touch but looks three-dimensional and quite real. 3D nipple and areola tattoos are real, permanent tattoos, applied by a skilled tattoo artist with needles that insert pigment into the skin. Many women choose to get permanent 3D nipple tattoos instead of nipple reconstruction surgery. A nipple tattoo is less invasive than nipple reconstruction, and some people feel that the cosmetic results are better. A tattoo can have fine details, shading, and coloring that make it look more realistic than what can be done with surgery. For example, a tattoo can create the illusion of Montgomery glands (little bumps that naturally appear on the areola).
Tattooing is also used after nipple reconstruction surgery to add color to the new nipple(s), making them look more realistic and creating the appearance of areola(s). Ideally, nipple tattooing should be the last stage of the breast reconstruction process. It should occur at least 4 months after your last breast reconstruction procedure or at least 4 months after nipple reconstruction surgery. Nipple tattoos are usually applied in one session at a plastic surgeon’s office, a hospital, or a nipple tattoo artist’s studio. If you’re thinking of getting a nipple tattoo at the studio of a nipple tattoo artist (and not at your plastic surgeon’s office), be sure that your plastic surgeon has given you approval first to move forward with nipple tattooing.
The color of the tattoo may fade slightly over time, and you might want to get a touchup session at some point. As with nipple reconstruction surgery, you may not be a candidate for nipple tattoos if: you had radiation treatments that damaged your breast skin your breast skin became overly thinned when tissue was removed during the mastectomy you have lymphedema that involves the chest you have a history of infections in the breast area If you’re wondering if you can get nipple tattoos, talk with your plastic surgeon and an experienced nipple tattoo artist about your individual situation. Sometimes you may just need to wait longer — for example, for your breast skin to heal more — until you can get nipple tattoos.
Finding a qualified nipple tattoo artist Nipple tattoos can be done by staff members at a plastic surgeon’s office (such as a nurse, physician assistant, or plastic surgeon) or by a specialized nipple tattoo artist. In general, you’ll get the best results with a nipple tattoo artist because they have the most training and experience. Ask your medical team if they can recommend a nipple tattoo artist who has worked with a lot of women who had breast reconstruction. The tattoo artist must be knowledgeable, for example, about the factors involved in tattooing skin that has scars. Always ask to see photos of the work of a nipple tattoo artist you are considering. Nipple tattoo artists may work out of their own studio and also travel to provide tattoos at plastic surgeons’ offices and hospitals in their region and in other locations.
Here are some tattoo artists in the United States who specialize in nipple and areola tattooing:
The Vinnie Meyers Team: This team of tattoo artists provides nipple tattoos in a shop in Finksburg, MD and travels throughout the year to offer nipple tattoos in other locations such as Boston, MA; Hoboken, NJ; New Orleans, LA; Plano, TX; Austin, TX; Birmingham, AL; and San Diego, CA.
Sauler Institute of Tattooing/Mandy Sauler: Mandy and her team of tattoo artists provide nipple tattoos at their offices and in plastic surgeons’ offices in several locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City. NMR Tattoo/Nicole Rizzuto:
Nicole provides nipple tattoos at New York Breast Reconstruction and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Great Neck, NY. Pink Ink Tattoo/Tara Williamson: Tara works out of plastic surgeons’ offices in Raleigh and other locations in North Carolina, as well as in Mississippi and Texas. Restoration Ink/Renee Maschinot: Renee provides nipple tattoos in her shop in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and travels to plastic surgeons’ offices and hospitals in Jacksonville, FL; Charleston, SC; Hoboken, NJ; Baton Rouge and Lafayette, LA; and Houston, TX. Cariangel/Carrie Pataky:
Carrie offers nipple tattoos in her facility in Scarsdale, NY, and in plastic surgeons’ offices in Westchester County, NY, in New York City, in Connecticut, and in New Jersey.
What to expect during and after nipple tattooing An appointment for nipple tattooing can take 1 to 2 hours. During the appointment, the tattoo artist will talk with you about your preferences for nipple and areola size, shape, placement, and color. If you still have one of your natural nipples, the tattoo artist will match the new nipple’s color and size to it. If both your nipples were removed during the mastectomy, you may want to provide the tattoo artist with a pre-surgery photo of your breasts as a reference point.
If you don’t have a photo, you can ask your breast or plastic surgeon for one. To help determine the best positioning for the nipple tattoos, the tattoo artist may place silicone prosthetic nipples on your breasts.
The tattoo artist will also review a palette of pigments with you (tones of pink, tan, beige, brown, and purple) to select colors for the nipple and areola that look natural and that complement your skin tone. After mixing the pigment, he or she will temporarily apply a swatch of the color to your breast skin so you can see what it looks like in different lighting and when you move around. The tattoo artist will also draw markings on your breast to show the location, size, and shape of the new nipple and areola. The tattooing usually takes about a half hour or so per nipple. Because the reconstructed breast doesn’t have the same sensation as before mastectomy, tattooing the area usually isn’t painful. Still, some women report experiencing some mild discomfort or pain during nipple tattooing. The nipple tattoos will be covered with a protective dressing.
Ask for instructions about how to care for the area. It usually takes about 7 to 10 days for the area to heal. Avoid chlorinated pools, hot tubs, and bathtubs, as well as sun exposure, for several weeks after the tattoo application. Paying for nipple tattoos The price for nipple tattoos provided by an experienced tattoo artist is typically about $350 for one nipple and $600 to $800 for two nipples if you’re paying out of pocket. The price may be higher if the tattoo artist is traveling to your area to do tattoos. Some insurance plans cover nipple tattooing. Medicare often covers nipple tattooing (although it is not required to do so under federal law), and Medicaid coverage can vary from state to state. If you receive your nipple tattoo at a plastic surgeon’s office or hospital (whether from a member of the medical staff or from a visiting tattoo artist), then that facility can usually handle the insurance claim for you.
This information is provided by Breastcancer.org.
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3d nipple tattooing for breast reconstruction surgery
3D tattooing after breast reconstruction
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the U.S. women with about 1 in 8 women diagnosed over the course of their lifetime. In about 35% of cases, a mastectomy is part of a woman’s treatment plan and involves removing all tissue in one or both breasts, sometimes including the nipples and areolas. While it is considered a lifesaving procedure for women with breast cancer, it can take an emotional toll that can lead to a distorted self-image.
Breast reconstruction is a series of optional procedures that uses a woman’s own tissue or implants to restore the appearance of natural breasts and improve her confidence and self-image after cancer.
A few months after reconstruction surgery is complete, women can decide to restore the appearance of their missing nipples and areolas with a nipple reconstruction procedure or 3D tattoos. During a nipple reconstruction procedure, a surgeon uses skin from the breast to rebuild the nipple; whereas, a 3D tattoo adds color to the nipple and areola areas. A woman can select one, both or neither of these optional procedures.
What is a 3D tattoo?
A 3D tattoo uses pigments to replicate the areola on a woman’s reconstructed breast. It uses light and dark pigments to create a 3D illusion and make it appear that the woman has an areola and nipple after they have been removed during surgery. The pigments are color-matched to each patient, and the goal is to restore the natural appearance of the breast.
Are 3D tattoos painful?
No, unlike a traditional tattoo, 3D tattooing is a comfortable, nearly pain-free procedure for women because the breasts are numb after a mastectomy. Aftercare and recovery is similar to a traditional tattoo with light coverage for a few days, cleansing with antibacterial soap and applying fragrance-free, gentle lotion until healed. Mayo Clinic Health System provides aftercare instructions and products to care for the tattoo, as well.
How many sessions are required?
For most women, the procedure is completed in the clinic over the course of two visits. The initial visit takes two hours. That’s when the woman works with the health care provider to select pigments and determine the position of the areolas. Then the tattooing is performed. The second visit is six to eight weeks later for pigment touch-up and evaluation.
What are the benefits of 3D tattoos?
Some women have said that their breasts appear incomplete without nipples or areolas, similar to a face without a nose. Tattooed areolas and nipples help women focus less on what is missing and eliminate the constant visual reminder of their cancer journeys.
Many women also have reported that it improves intimacy with their partners because it helps partners feel more comfortable with their new breasts. Also, it distracts away from any scarring and leads the eye to a new focal point rather than just the scars across the breasts.
How soon after reconstruction can I get a 3D tattoo?
It’s important that a woman has completed all of her reconstruction surgeries and cancer treatments before getting a 3D tattoo. We usually wait about three months after completion of reconstruction to make sure that all incisions have healed properly, and allow time for the new breast tissue or implants to settle into their natural positions.
3D tattoos are not only for women with a recent cancer journey. The procedure also is available for women who have had mastectomy surgeries years ― or even decades ― ago when 3D tattooing wasn’t available.
Are 3D tattoos covered by insurance?
Typically, 3D tattoos are covered by private insurance, but women are encouraged to check with their health care insurance providers regarding coverage. A private pay option also is available.
Some people get a traditional tattoo to mark a milestone or celebrate a moment in their lives. A 3D nipple and areola tattoo is no different. For many women, a 3D tattoo is the final step in their cancer journeys. It’s like the cherry on top of the sundae and a celebration that she has reached the end of her cancer journey.