Many women also have reported that it improves intimacy with their partners because it helps partners feel more comfortable with their new breasts. Tattooed areolas and nipples help women focus less on what is missing and eliminate the constant visual reminder of their cancer journeys. Some women have said that their breasts appear incomplete without nipples or areolas, similar to a face without a nose. The second visit is six to eight weeks later for pigment touch-up and evaluation. That's when the woman works with the health care provider to select pigments and determine the position of the areolas. How many sessions are required?įor most women, the procedure is completed in the clinic over the course of two visits. Mayo Clinic Health System provides aftercare instructions and products to care for the tattoo, as well. 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. No, unlike a traditional tattoo, 3D tattooing is a comfortable, nearly pain-free procedure for women because the breasts are numb after a mastectomy. The pigments are color-matched to each patient, and the goal is to restore the natural appearance of the 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. What is a 3D tattoo?Ī 3D tattoo uses pigments to replicate the areola on a woman's reconstructed breast. A woman can select one, both or neither of these optional procedures. 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. 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.īreast 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.Ī 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. 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. women with about 1 in 8 women diagnosed over the course of their lifetime. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the U.S.
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