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Breast Screening

Medical tattoos after breast surgery

Medical tattoos after breast surgery

Breast Care Unit
Patient Information Leaflet

Introduction

This leaflet is for women who have had breast surgery. It gives information on nipple areola tattooing to help you make a decision about whether to have it. The leaflet includes:

What is nipple areola tattooing?

After breast and nipple reconstruction surgery, colour can be added to create a natural looking areola to your new breast(s). The areola is the coloured area on the breast around the nipple.

Tattooing is the application of semi-permanent colour into the top layer of your skin with the use of a small hand held machine. It is a minor procedure performed using disinfected and sterilised equipment.

What are the benefits?

It helps to create a more realistic-looking nipple/areola after breast reconstruction.

The aim is to improve the cosmetic appearance of the breast by creating as closely as possible a nipple/areola colour that matches the existing nipple, if present. This may have a positive effect on improving body image and boosting self-esteem.

What are the risks?

All procedures carry some risks and it is important that we make you aware of these. For this procedure the risks include:

Patch Test?

The pigments (colours) used are medical grade and are very safe to use. However a patch test is recommended and ideally should be performed at least 2 days before the procedure.

Who will perform this procedure?

It will be carried out by a fully trained, medically approved and assessed member of the breast care nursing team:

Mrs Lynn Park-Davies

Mrs Helen Hulme

Will it hurt?

It should not hurt as we will numb the area first using a local anaesthetic cream.

How long will the procedure take?

Two tattooing sessions are usually required to achieve the best cosmetic result and to maintain colour longevity.

You will need to be in the department for 2-3 hours although the actual procedure takes 30 to 45 minutes.  This is because of preparation time needed for the anaesthetic cream to take effect and the colour matching and designing of your tattoo.

 

What happens after the tattooing?

We will send you an appointment about seven weeks after the procedure to check and discuss your tattoo. Further procedures can be arranged to further enhance or adjust your tattoo.

Will tattooing puncture my breast implant?

No. When tattooing is done, it is only the top later of your skin that is involved. Your breast implant is protected under the deeper layers of your skin.

Will the tattoo be a perfect match?

Whilst every effort is made to match the tattoo to your original skin colour, certain circumstances may cause the original skin tone to change, for example, temperature and emotion.  Therefore, it is difficult to achieve a perfect match. If necessary, we can arrange more tattooing to adjust the tone at a later date.

How long will the colour last?

Initially, the tattoo will be very bright but this will soon fade and after four to six weeks, the colour will be stable. The colour will never ‘rub off’ but it does fade over time because of the skin’s natural regeneration (when old skin cells are replaced by new ones).

 

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand about this leaflet, please contact:

Lynn Park-Davies on 01384 244065 (8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday)

Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number: 01384 456111

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet, please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

Originator: Breast care nurses. Date originated: January 2018. Date reviewed: July 2024 Next review date: April 2027. Version: 4. DGH ref: DGH/PIL/01442.