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Anyone gotten Nipple tattoos? Were you happy with the results?
Hi, all --
I had a bilateral mastectomy in November, 2020 and implant exchange surgery in November, 2021. I've decided I want the 3D nipple tattoos but need to decide where to have them done. I know they can do this at Mayo, or I could also have it done by a tattoo artist. I know that the tattoo artists can do something quite realistic looking. The advantage of having it done at Mayo would be that it would be covered under insurance and it would be done in a medical setting. Has anyone had this done at Mayo, and, if so, were you happy with the results? And does anyone have experience working with a tattoo artist? If so, where did you go and were you happy with your results? Thanks so much!!
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Tattoos fade and they fade in a bizarre patchy way.
After way too many surgeries my surgeon decided on the 3D tattoos for me. I honestly think she was way more excited about them than I was. The artist was amazing and her work was absolute perfection.
I was also ghosted after the main reconstructions when my surgeon upgraded from doing breast cancer reconstructions to a shiny private office full of laser therapies and private cosmetic surgeries.
I was fairly certain I remember being told I needed more fat grafting as well as the nipple tat touch ups. But after the second tat shading appointment she told me I was all finished and to talk to my primary if I had any questions or complications. My primary had questions about my reconstruction, she referred them to ask an oncologist because she’s “ just the surgeon”. The oncologist was like but this isn’t my work so how would I know, ask the reconstruction surgeon… so I get zero follow up from anyone.
But they’ve faded so much after, I guess it’s been three years now, that it looks more odd than anything. Like you can tell that it’s a nipple, maybe, but the layers of how it’s fading make my breast look more like they’re bruised than nipples.
I was interested in nipple reconstitution but think my surgeon was just tired of dealing with me personally. I had a lot of surgeries and the income was exciting for her to do but I wasn’t happy with being gaslighted into getting them. I really really liked her too but it pretty much ended what was a really good friendship and her staff left her because of the way she was rolling through cancer patients as cash cows too,
But anyways.
The prosthetic type of stickers I was given with the nips on them to know what I would look like with new nips seemed more realistic. I wish I had just gotten them because it’s actually nice not needing to cover my nips or have them protrude through clothing.
It’s been a few years and the biggest discomfort I’ll get is from trying to wear a bra, they simply don’t fit comfortably no matter the size, I wear camisoles and shape wear.
If you want the tats go for it, they do look nice and you can go and pay a tat artist for the touch ups over time as needed.
I can’t offer advice on the surgery I haven’t experienced it.
But I personally did like the stick on prosthetics the most.