Areola and Nipple Tattoo: The Ultimate Guide

Find out all you need to know about 3D nipple tattoos after mastectomy. How is a nipple tattoo done, how much does it cost, healing, aftercare, risks, and more.

Image source: Instagram @the.areola.tattooist

Last updated in September 2021.

In the USA alone, one in eight women develops invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. That’s about 13% of the female population.

Breast cancer treatment is a hard, long, and invasive process, and breast cancer survivors are true heroes. As part of the treatment, many have to go through unilateral or bilateral mastectomy, losing their natural breasts.

But the struggle doesn’t end there; in order to regain their confidence, most of them seek breast reconstruction, and the final step is getting one or both nipple tattoos after mastectomy.

PMUHub brings you a thorough guide through the 3D nipple tattoo.

ABOUT THE AREOLA AND NIPPLE TATTOO TREATMENT

What Is an Areola and Nipple Tattoo?

Also called areola and nipple micropigmentation, it’s the final step of breast reconstruction. 3D nipple tattoos after mastectomy give the reconstructed nipple back the color or a natural nipple, and can give the areola – the circular stretch of pink skin around the nipple – the illusion of natural texture.

This treatment is a form of paramedical micropigmentation, and it can be combined with scar micropigmentation camouflage in order to give the most natural look possible to the breast.

Areola paramedical micropigmentation is usually referred to as a nipple and areola tattoo, but it’s actually quite different from traditional tattooing. Primarily, it is not permanent, but rather semi-permanent. The results last 3-5 years, over which period they gradually fade.

Image source: Instagram @derznikele

Who Is Areola and Nipple Tattoo For?

For people who had to go through unilateral or bilateral mastectomy, losing their natural breasts, and are having breast reconstruction, after which they get one or both nipple and areola tattoos.
People who are going through gender affirmation surgery.
People who suffer from a condition called athelia, which means they were born without one or both nipples.
People who are looking to enlarge the outer Areola area, due to personal preferences.

ABOUT NIPPLE AND AREOLA TREATMENT

How Is the Treatment Performed?

The 3D nipple tattoo is created by depositing semi-permanent pigments into the skin with an electric device, but unlike regular tattoos, these pigments are only inserted into the surface layers of the skin.

As the skin’s natural regeneration cycle replaces pigmented cells with new ones, and as the body breaks down the pigments, the areola tattoo fades into invisibility.

Unless you get a color-boosting touch up, of course!

If you’ve had a nipple reconstruction surgery, or a dermal nipple implant and already have the 3D nipple, the tech will just add color to it and it’ll look just like a natural nipple.

If you haven’t had the nipple reconstructed, the tech will do a 3D nipple tattoo which will give hyperrealistic results. Of course, the tattoo alone can’t recreate the texture, but it can look very realistic if the tech is skilled enough.

PMUHub Note

In case you’ve had nipple reconstruction surgery, you have to wait 3-6 months before you can get a nipple and areola tattoo. Otherwise, there’s a chance the tattooing will flatten the nipple.

What Happens at the Nipple Tattoo Appointment?

Step 1 – Numbing

The appointment usually starts with numbing. A topical anesthetic is applied to minimize the discomfort. In case your mastectomy has damaged the nerves in the area and your breast(s) are numb as is, this step can be skipped.

NOTE: In some states, the micropigmentation tech isn’t allowed to apply numbing before tattooing. Contact a local salon and check.

Step 2 – Outlining

It takes some time for the numbing to kick in, and the tech will use this time to measure and outline the nipples. In case you are only getting 1 side tattooed, they’ll do their best to match the existing nipple in terms of shape, size and color.

If they’re recreating them both from scratch, you can choose the shape, size and shade.

Step 3 – Micropigmentation

The pigments are prepared (they can be custom mixed), and the tattooing starts. The tech will use an electric device with multiple thin needles to implement pigments. They’ll go back and forth, building up the color in several passes.

They will probably use several pigment shades to create a 3D effect.

Step 4 – Cleaning and Further Instructions

Once the tattooing is done, they’ll clean the area and wrap it up in sterile gauze to protect it from rubbing against our clothes on your way home.

They’ll give you aftercare instructions you will need to follow, and give you a moisturizing balm to use during healing.

Step 5 – Follow-Up

Most techs perform the procedure in 2 sessions, so you will come back in for a follow-up 6-8 weeks later.

Image source: Instagram @permmakeupbycl

How Long Does the Nipple Tattoo Treatment Take?

The 3D nipple tattoo appointment lasts about an hour and a half if you’re getting only one side tattooed, or around 2 – 2 and a half hours if you’re doing both sides.

Does Getting a Nipple Tattoo Hurt?

How much getting nipple tattoos after mastectomy hurts varies from person to person, but once reconstructed, it’s possible that your breasts are no longer as sensitive as they used to be. Thus, in most cases the pain level is quite low.

A numbing cream is applied to the area in order to numb the area further, so there shouldn’t be any pain involved.

That said, you may feel pressure and scratching. Patients with implants might feel a vibration through the implant during the procedure.

PREPARATION FOR THE NIPPLE TATTOO TREATMENT

Nipple Tattoo Consults

3D nipple tattoos after mastectomy are never done without consults.

The technician needs to assess the state of your breasts in order to tell you what you can expect. It’s a very customized treatment, so you need to discuss the desired outcome with them.

The price of the treatment is also most often determined at the consults.

This is also an opportunity to do a patch test to make sure you’re not allergic to the pigments or other products used during the procedure.

How Do I Prepare for the Nipple Tattoo Treatment?

There are certain activities and medication you should avoid in the weeks and days before your areola tattoo appointment if you want the treatment to go smoothly and get the best results possible.

Don’t go sunbathing or tanning at least 2 weeks before the procedure. This can make your skin more sensitive and the color matching problematic.
If you take blood-thinning medications, check with your GP if it’s okay to stop taking them for a few days before your appointment. They can increase bleeding and make the pigmentation difficult.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, ibuprofen, aspirin, and fish oil supplements for at least 24 hours prior to the treatment
Don’t do any peels in the area at least 2 weeks before the treatment.

It’s also advisable to show up to your appointment in loose-fitting clothing. The area can be sensitive after the procedure and tight clothes may feel uncomfortable.

Extra Tip:

As part of breast reconstruction, getting 3D nipple tattoos after mastectomy should be covered by insurance. This is a huge relief, but it probably entails dealing with a bunch of paperwork. Check with your insurance provider and the salon you’ve chosen what paperwork you need and what to do with it.

In case your insurance doesn’t cover an areola tattoo, you can ask around after techs who do free or heavily discounted nipple tattoos after mastectomy for cancer survivors. Many of them do.

NIPPLE TATTOO HEALING PROCESS

The Nipple Tattoo Healing Process Day by Day

Micropigmentation involves breaking the surface of the skin over and over again with a multi-needle device. So after each micropigmentation session, the skin needs some time to close up the wounds, and for the pigments to settle into it.

The recovery goes something like this:

Days 1-2

Right after the treatment, the area is red and swollen. This is normal for a few days, but if it doesn’t subside by day 5, contact your tech – you may be dealing with an infection.

You may also experience some pain and tenderness. Check with your tech if it’s okay to take a painkiller.

You may also notice the skin is oozing lymph, and maybe even some blood. Clean the area by gently blotting it.

Days 3-7

A scab will form over the treated skin. The area will be covered with a thin crust film, and it’ll probably feel itchy and tight.

Don’t pick at the scabs! You can relieve the discomfort with a moisturizer prescribed by your tech.

Days 7-14

The scab will peel off.

The peeling should start by day 7, and it can last as long as a week. Some clients even experience a second peel, less dramatic than the first one, but equally annoying.

The no. 1 rule you have to remember is not to pick the flakes and the scabs. You have to let them fall off on their own. Ripping them off will take patches of pigment and you’ll end up with patchy results. You also risk catching an infection.

Days 15-42

Surface healing is considered over once the peeling stops, but internal healing takes 6-8 weeks.

That’s how long it takes for the pigments to settle and for the tissue underneath the surface to recover.

Once the 6 weeks have passed, you can book a follow-up with your tech where any imperfections that may have emerged during healing can be fixed.

Image source: Instagram @jbcosmetictattoo

NIPPLE TATTOO AFTERCARE

What Does the Nipple Tattoo Aftercare Involve?

During the healing period, you need to follow an aftercare routine to make sure your areola tattoo heals properly and you avoid infections:

In the first few days, clean the area from built-up lymph as instructed by your technician.
Try to keep the area dry until day 3. If you get the area wet, blot it dry with sterile gauze. No rubbing – you can ruin the results. If you have to take a shower, make it short and try to avoid getting your breasts wet as much as possible, and dry them as soon as possible. Don’t point the shower head towards them!
Your technician will most likely prescribe a moisturizing balm you should apply to your nipple tattoo a few times a day throughout the healing period. Use it as instructed. It will keep the area safe from contamination and ease the healing process.
Don’t get any product except for the prescribed moisturizer on the treated area for 7-10 days. No soap, no shower gel, no shampoo, no nothing.
Repeat after us – you will not pick at the scabs!
Avoid the following for at least 2 weeks: sunlight exposure, tanning beds, swimming in the ocean or swimming pools, jaccuzzis, saunas, steam baths, excessive sweating.

NIPPLE TATTOO FADING

How Long Does the Nipple Tattoo Last?

The average longevity of an areola and nipple tattoo is 3-5 years, but it depends on:

Your skin type. Micropigmentation fades more quickly on oily skin.
Your age.
Your lifestyle. Frequent exposure to sunlight, salt and pool water accelerates pigment fading. So does smoking and frequent alcohol intake.
Your skincare. Certain skincare ingredients accelerate pigment fading, Although these are primarily found in facial products, they can feature in body lotions, too.
Your system. Some systems break down pigments very quickly, while others retain them for a very long time.

NOTE:

It’s also possible to get a nipple tattoo done with permanent tattoo inks. In that case, your tattoo will last much longer. But bear in mind that tattoo inks look a lot less natural than pigments.

NIPPLE TATTOO TOUCH UP

When Should I Get My Areola Tattoo Touched Up?

Most technicians insist on the first touch up being done 6-8 weeks after the initial micropigmentation. This extra session ensures your 3D nipple tattoo lasts as long as possible, and it can perfect the shape and color.

During healing, it’s not uncommon for some minor patchiness to emerge – this is also fixed at the first touch up.

After that, most clients like to get their nipple tattoo touched up once a year. This keeps the color looking fresh and even.

How often you’ll get touch ups depends entirely on you. If you don’t get any, your areola tattoo will fade out completely after 3-5 years.

Image source: Instagram @roulakaramfacecouture

NIPPLE TATTOO RISKS

Are There Any Risks to Getting an Areola Tattoo?

The areola micropigmentation treatment is generally considered non-invasive, and if it’s done by a trained and certified technician, it should be completely safe.

That said, there are certain risks, however minor.

Scarring. Since the skin is penetrated over and over again, there’s a risk of permanent scarring. However, this shouldn’t happen if the tech is trained and knows how hard to press. If you’re generally prone to keloid formation, the risk is greater.
Infection. If the environment where the treatment is performed isn’t sterile, or if you let the area get contaminated during healing, you risk developing an infection. Excessive redness and swelling after day 3 as well as pus can point to an infection.
Allergies. The pigments and the numbing cream used during the procedure can cause allergic reactions. Do a patch test beforehand to be safe.
Pigment migration. A reconstructed breast probably features scars on its surface. Tattooing on skin with uneven texture has to be done very meticulously, otherwise, the pigments may migrate into scar tissue, or bleed out of the desired outline.
Nipple flattening. If you had your nipple reconstructed from transplanted skin, the tattooing process may flatten it. You need to wait 3-6 months after reconstruction to get a tattoo, and the tech should go slow and gentle.

To avoid these complications, never go to an uncertified, self-taught technician!

NIPPLE TATTOO FINANCING

Is a Nipple Tattoo Covered by Insurance?

The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA) is a federal law that requires group health plans and health insurance companies that offer mastectomy coverage to also pay for reconstructive surgery after mastectomy. The coverage should include all stages of reconstruction with the aim of achieving symmetry between the breasts.

Therefore, 3D nipple tattoos after mastectomy should be, and often are, covered by most insurance providers. If they’re not, you can try to find an artist who does free treatments for cancer survivors – many do.

You can find more information about WHCRA at the U.S. Department of Labor and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

PMUHub Tip: Insurance coverage and criteria vary by state, so it is best to check with your insurance provider first. Your tattoo artist will give you a receipt that you could submit to your insurance company.

NIPPLE TATTOO COST

How Much Does a Nipple Tattoo Cost?

The cost of nipple and areola micropigmentation differs from artist to artist, and from state to state.

If the treatment is done on both breasts, it’s more expensive than just one.

It also depends on the extent of existing scarring, and that’s why most salons only give a quote upon consults.

The average price is around $500 for one nipple, and $815 for both.

The price of the first touch up is usually included in the initial price.
But again, most technicians only determine the price upon assessing the area. Performing the treatment on heavily scarred tissue can be difficult, and that’s why the price may be significantly higher than the average.

AREOLA AND NIPPLE TATTOO – MAIN TAKEAWAYS

Getting 3D nipple tattoos after mastectomy is the final step in the breast reconstruction process. It’s done by injecting semi-permanent pigments into the skin with an electric device. It can give hyperrealistic results regardless of whether you had nipple reconstruction or not (if you did, wait 3-6 months before getting a nipple tattoo).