By Renee' May
Areola repigmentation is a specialty area of tattooing that requires advanced experience as well as technique. This procedure helps improve the appearance and self-esteem of both women and men who have undergone breast surgery. Areola repigmentation techniques can "create" an areola after breast reconstruction, minimize the appearance of scars, or restore an areola to a more natural-looking color and shape. Areola repigmentation may also be called areola tattooing, areola micropigmentation, areola pigmentation, areola recoloring or areola simulation.
How areola repigmentation helps people after breast surgery
The areola is part of the human breast in both women and men. It is a circular area of skin around the nipple that is often darker and thicker than the surrounding skin. The areola plays a key role in the aesthetic look of a breast. Since a woman’s self-image can depend on the appearance of her breasts, a missing areola can be psychologically devastating. A woman can survive breast cancer after undergoing a mastectomy, and she can regain her figure with a breast reconstruction. However, she may not feel "complete" without an areola. A woman can become emotionally distressed from a scarred areola as well. A man’s self-esteem can also be lowered by the appearance of his chest and breasts. Areola tattooing provides the "finishing touch" after breast surgery. Patients feel the tattooing process helps them during the last part of their recovery to look complete and feel "whole" and "normal" again. This is the goal, to do everything possible for those that have gone through so much already, to help them feel "normal" again.
Post-surgical areola tattooing techniques
Areola-nipple complex simulation
This procedure is for patients who have had breast reconstruction after a mastectomy or lumpectomy. Cosmetic tattooing techniques and color pigments are used to create the appearance of an areola. For a unilateral mastectomy patient, this process helps the reconstructed breast to match the natural breast. For patients with bilateral breast reconstruction, both areolas are recreated. Areola complex simulation can be achieved with or without a nipple button created by the surgeon.
Areola size or color adjustment
The color of an areola can be darkened, balanced or enhanced with tattooing. The process helps women who have discolored or lightened areolas after breastfeeding or patients who have had areola graft surgery. Patients with skin discoloration disorders can also benefit from areola tattooing. Also, individuals who have not had breast surgery but are self-conscious about their areola color or size (too light or too small) may choose this procedure to adjust their appearance.
Areola scar camouflage
Many breast operations require one or more incisions at or around the edge of the areola, which may produce scarring. The most common peri-areolar scars are from breast augmentation or reduction surgeries. A scar’s appearance can be softened, blended or reduced by tattooing the areola scar using corrective pigment camouflage techniques.
Renee' May is the owner of Art & Soul Tattoo and Gallery, 412 2nd Street, New Glarus, WI 53574. Contact her at 608.527.2727 or artandsoultattooandgallery@gmail.com.
