Finishing touches for Breast Reconstruction
Areola Coloration
Tattooing gives women the choice of shape, size and color of the areola. Patient decided to enhance the areola. It is not advised to tattoo on raised, lumpy scar tissue.
Are you looking for perfection? As a professional Sarah cannot remove all signs of scarring or return a breast to its appearance “before the surgery”. Most women are thrilled to have their areola pigment restored, and can exercise options that were not open to them in the past. Choices in color, size and shape allow women to redefine their breast and they way they feel about their body.
Tattooing areola after breast reconstruction can give women confidence knowing that the breast has a more natural appearance.
Post-Surgical Areola Tattooing Techniques
3-D Areola-Nipple Tattoo:
This procedure is for patients who have had breast reconstruction after a 
mastectomy or lumpectomy. Cosmetic tattooing techniques and color pigments are used to create the appearance of an areola using a 3-D technique. For a unilateral mastectomy patient, this process helps the reconstructed breast to match the natural breast. For patients with bilateral breast reconstruction, both areolas are recreated. Areola complex simulation can be achieved with or without a nipple button created by the surgeon.
Areola Scar Camouflage:
Many breast operations require one or more incisions at or around the edge of the areola that produce scars. The most common peri-areolar scars are from breast augmentation or reduction surgeries. A scar’s appearance can be softened and blended by tattooing the areola scar using corrective pigment camouflage techniques.
Areola Size or Color Adjustment:
The color of an areola can be darkened, balanced, or enhanced with tattooing. The process helps women who have discolored or lightened areolas after breastfeeding or patients who have had areola graft surgery. Patients with skin discoloration disorders (e.g. Vitiligo) can also benefit from areola tattooing. Also, individuals who have not had breast surgery but are self-conscious about their areola color or size (too light or too small) may choose this procedure to adjust their appearance.
Preparing For Nipple Reconstruction
Areola simulation or scar camouflage can be performed when your physician approves it, usually 6 months after your reconstruction is complete. Sarah openly communicates with her client’s surgeons and she follows all recommendations made by them.
Consultation
Once you have been cleared for areola tattooing, you can schedule your consultation with Sarah. During your consultation, she will discuss your concerns and recommend a treatment plan that she feels will provide optimum results. She will educate you on the procedure, as well as the Pre & Post Care Instructions.
Color, Design, and Placement
Sarah custom blends a personalized pallet of colors using areola and flesh pigment
colors for each client. She will work with you to select color(s) that look the most natural for you; draw the areola/nipple so that you can approve the placement and design that reflects a natural, anatomically proportionate nipple-areola that will personalize your procedure. A follow-up session will be scheduled approximately 6 weeks later to achieve the best looking result.
After Your Procedure
The healing process is approximately 7-10 days. Normal daily activities are resumed and there is little to no “down-time”. Post-tattoo wound care includes the use of petroleum jelly to the nipple-areolar complex tattoo site 2-3 times daily followed by a telfa™ pad.
Click here to view photos. (please note some images are graphic in nature)
Are you a candidate? Call for a consultation and find out more about specialty techniques to enhance your breasts after Augmentation, Breast Reduction, Mastectomy, Breast Lift or Nipple Replacement.