Nipple Tattooing

It is important to contact your insurance company to clarify whether you have coverage for the nipple tattooing procedure

After a mastectomy and breast reconstruction, most people lose sensitivity in their new breast. However, pain tolerance varies for each person and the type of surgery performed.

To ensure you have a comfortable experience, we use a medical-grade numbing cream on the tattoo area. The area may feel like a minor sunburn for a few days after the procedure.

We follow strict sterilization and sanitation standards for tattooing in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. The system is 100 percent disposable and single-use.

Keep in mind that while tattoos don’t generally have any adverse health effects, they do cause small trauma to the top layer of skin. Tattoos make take longer to heal for people with post-radiation treated skin, diabetes or autoimmune disorders. People taking immunosuppressants may also have a longer healing time.

It is important to let your reconstructed breast completely heal before getting a nipple tattoo. The amount of time you have to wait will depend on your specific surgery and healing process. Your plastic surgery team will clear you for tattooing when it is safe to do so.

For the first 10-14 days after the tattoo, it is important to keep the site clean and apply a healing ointment twice per day. Avoid direct sunlight, swimming or soaking in water during this time.

You should be able to return to work and daily activities right away, and moderate exercise is safe.

Over time, your tattoo will soften, and the color will lighten as new layers of skin grow over the tattoo. Avoid scratching or picking at the tattoo while it is healing.

Most people only need one tattoo session. However, eight to ten weeks after your initial tattooing session, you will meet with the artist again to see how your tattoo looks after healing. During this follow-up appointment, you can ask for any color or size adjustments, if needed.

Tattoos are permanent and will last a lifetime. However, as you age, you will notice the tattoo softening. Many people feel this lightening matches the natural aging process.

Keep in mind that exposure to direct sunlight and individual body chemistry can cause tattoos to fade faster. If this happens, you can undergo a color touch-up if you would like a darker tattoo.