If one or both of your nipples were removed when you had a mastectomy, you can in most cases choose to have surgery, tattooing, or both to recreate the nipple and the areola (the dark area around the nipple). Some people find that having their nipples reconstructed or tattooed is an important final step in the breast reconstruction process. Others don’t. The choice is completely up to you, and you can take your time to decide. It is recommended to wait at least 4 months after breast reconstruction surgery to have nipple reconstruction or nipple tattoos. This will give your breasts time to heal and settle into a final position.
Comparing options:
Nipple reconstruction surgery is usually an outpatient procedure that uses skin from the area of the breast where the nipple will be located to form a new nipple. Later, the reconstructed nipple may be tattooed to add colour and to create the areola.
The main advantage of getting your nipple reconstructed with surgery is that it will project out from the breast. Some women feel this creates a more natural look.
3D nipple tattoos are real tattoos, applied with needles that insert pigment into the skin. An experienced nipple tattoo artist can create an amazingly realistic
Nipple reconstruction surgery is usually an outpatient surgery and is often done under local anesthetia. Only a small amount of skin is needed to recreate the nipple. After the surgery, a nipple shield (a protective covering shaped like a tiny hat with a wide flat brim) or other protective dressing is taped over the reconstructed nipple. It may be filled with antibacterial ointment.
The tattoo artist will talk with you about your preferences for nipple and areola size, shape, placement, and colour. If you still have one of your natural nipples, the tattoo artist will match the new nipple’s colour 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. To help determine the best positioning for the nipple tattoos, the tattoo artist may place silicone prosthetic nipples on your breasts. 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.
