Areola Repigmentation is one of the easiest procedures to perform. Many technicians say that it is much simpler than performing a full lip color application. Lip procedures can pose challenges such as blue undertones, uneven pigmentation, herpetic outbreaks, and excessive bleeding are some of the complications of a full lip color application.

We feel that areola repigmentation, whether it is just inserting pigment around the white rings around the areola to conceal a light scar to rebuilding a complete areola and nipple coloration, is less problematic than performing a full lip color application.

Breast cancer patients need to be in the right frame of mind when going through the areola repigmentation process. They will look better and feel better about themselves when they can look in a mirror with confidence and see a breast that looks somewhat normal.

Here are some statistics:

• 12% of women alive today will develop breast cancer.
• Every 2-½ minutes a woman will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Over 200,000 new cases of Breast Cancer will be diagnosed this year.
• About 75% of women elect to begin reconstruction when their mastectomy is performed.
• 63.3% of cancer survivors lived 5 or more years following diagnoses and roughly 10% lived 25 years or more.
• 61,000 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ will be diagnosed in 2016, which is the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer in women.
• Approximately 20%-30% of breast cancers that are detected by mammograms are carcinoma in situ
• Less than 15% of cancer survivors received psychological support.

You may qualify for Areola repigmentation if you have been through one, or more of the following types of breast surgery:

Lumpectomy: a simple procedure to remove a lump or tumor mass.

Partial mastectomy: 2.5 to 7.5cm of tumor mass and surrounding tissue removed.

Subcutaneous mastectomy: removal of all breast tissue except for the skin, areola and nipple that are left alone.

Simple mastectomy: the removal of the breast but leaving the lymph nodes.

Modified radical mastectomy: the total removal of the breast and partial lymph nodes.

Radical mastectomy: total removal of the breast, lymph nodes, pectoral muscles, adjoining fat and fascia.

Extended radical mastectomy: this is the same procedure as the radical mastectomy along with the removal of parasternal lymph nodes.

Breast Implants

You can however, (as long as the skin is healed around the areola) create a semi-permanent Areola while the breast tissue is healing and the relaxation process is taking place. Just make sure to ask if the implant is under or over the muscle.

If the implant is ‘OVER’ the muscle you can puncture the implant if you place the needle too deep into the dermis. Sometimes the skin is so thin it seems that if you just touch the skin with your fingers it will burst!

Alicia starts by drawing the areola to closely match the shape and size you are comfortable with.

Need for These Services

With all of the breast cancer patients now having the option for Areola Repigmentation, this advancing field is growing faster than any of the other tattooing fields. You can work in concert with physicians or in your own studio or clinic. One of the most rewarding feelings you can have is when you help a patient feel whole again. Remember that men as well as women have the need for these services.

If you would like more information on our Areola Repigmentation class, or Areola Repigmentation procedure, please call or text Alicia Shapira at 954-774-5087. Private messages on Facebook are accepted as well.