*HELP* 3-D nipple tatooist wanted *HELP*
Hello everyone! I am hoping for some great feedback and references for 3-D nipple tattooing. I am a BC survivor and also an RN for a plastic surgeon in Twin Falls, ID. 14 months ago I had a BMX with TE/implant reconstruction. Over the last several years, I have become frustrated with the limited options my patients (and now myself) have for NAC tatooing. I have seen many, many, many BC reconstruction pt's get to the point of considering tatooing...but do not have a tattoo artist they trust any where close to Twin Falls Idaho. I have done alot of research on 3-D artists...and I am so impressed. Sadly, I have no one I can recommend for 3-D nipple tattooing that is closer than 2000 miles away. So, I have been formulating this crazy idea in my head.
I would estimate that 90% of my BC reconstruction patients, do not pursue NAC tatooing. They spend months and multiple surgeries to get to a place where they have beautiful breasts (and maybe nipples), and then we have to say to them..."We are sorry. There is this great 3-D tattooing technique being done...but I don't know anyone I could recommend to you anywhere in the Western U.S. There are tattooist in the area that can do marginal results (at best) but I wouldn't recommend them." It is just so sad for me. I feel like I go through the reconstruction process and then abandon them at the very end.
Sooo, I am going to try to find a very talented 3-D tatoo artist who would like to make a trip to Twin Falls, Idaho. I could easily arrange 30 patients ( or more) who would like 3-D NAC tattooing. I have a very beautiful procedure room with OR lights and an autoclave available for use. It would be perfect. My office is affiliated with St. Lukes Mountain Tumor Institution as well as Renaissance Plastic Surgery. My goal would that billing for the NAC tattoo could be done with the patient's insurance. It would be amazing for so many people to have this as an option for them.
I am needing some help with referrals. I am hoping that I will get an long list of amazing tattoo artists who would enjoy a few days in beautiful southern Idaho. I would contact them and see if this would be something they could help happen. I've already spoken with Vinnie - who I hear is the best- but I don't think he is able to do it.
So BC sisters, help me find a way that I can make this happen and help so many deserving BC survivors get their beautiful NAC's back.
Any ideas or suggestions would be so much appreciated!!!
Comments
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I had T.J. Dill in Rochester, New York do a nipple aerola tattoo - it was not 3D but the job she did was wonderful: great shading, multiple colors, matching to the other side (at the time I had a unilateral reconstruction). She does do 3D tattoos and works with plastic surgeons in the Rochester area. I traveled to Rochester from out of state to have her work on me.
http://www.whitetigertattoo.com/page2.html
http://www.whitetigertattoo.com/medical.html
It looks like she is not accepting new customers for her regular tattooing jobs but I don't know if it applies to her breast reconstruction clients. She is very devoted to that part of her work. She may also be able to refer you to other artists in the country who are willing to travel and who are talented. I think this is a small community
It is great that you are arranging this for your patients. All too often women are not even told about the option of having a talented tattoo artist do this work. All they are often offered is someone in their plastic surgeon's office who has little artistic talent and who works with only two colors and a stencil.
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There is a Vinnie that is located outside Baltimore and now is associated with Johns Hopkins for 3 D nipple tattooing. He does phenomenal work and has indicated in posts that he will travel to do a large tattoo group. I will see if I can search him out and give you a link.
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I can't find the thread that is on 3D nipple tattoos. In any case, his name is Vinnie Myers and if you google him, his web page should come up.
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I have been researching this issue since my BMX w/TEs last December. I want only the best 3D tatts!
Unfortunately, I'm in California, and the best - in my opinion - still seems to be Vinnie Myers in Baltimore. Here is his website:
http://vinniemyers.com/home.html
He does work for several hospitals, and he does travel occasionally.
I've looked at hundreds of pics of other artists' work, and no one comes close to Vinnie's work. In fact, he is a member here at BCO. This is his profile. You can PM him for more info.
http://community.breastcancer.org/member/97339/profile
DH says as soon as I give him the word, we're buying an RV and hitting the road to see Vinnie!
Hope this helps...
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Vinnie is the light at the end of the tunnel for me. I decided a few years back that if I ever finish this @&$!? reconstruction, I am hopping on a plane to Vinnie!! Such artistry and skill at making people feel whole again. I have never heard anything but good about him.
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There are two blog posts by Vinnie Myers (one with before and after pictures) on the main Breastcancer.org site that you may find informative. In the blogs and his answers to dozens of member comments, he talks about how to find someone skilled in this work.
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Cosmetictransformations.com here in Peterborough and also in Toronto ON. Google her. She works with a plastic surgeon here, and she is supposed to be phenomenonal!
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Thanks everyone !! This has been so helpful. I've e-mailed a few of your recommendations and I'm really hoping I can work something out. There are some very talented people out there. Please keep your suggestions coming! I have already contacted Vinnie Myers. He is under contract with NOLA and is unable to travel. His work is amazing! If you are able to travel to New Orleans to have your 3-D tattoos done by him you are one lucky girl! Thanks for everyone's help !
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Wow, I just looked at Vinnie's work, thats amazing...anyone know how much it costs and how easy it is to get an appt ???
Or anyone know a good tatoo person in northern Cal ??
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cailindearg- Just had tattoos with Vinnie a week and a half ago. I saw him in NOLA. Just call their office and they can give you the info. Vinnie is there one week a month. He does amazing work!
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Jacee...can you tell me the logistics of getting tats with Vinnie? Can you fly in and out same day or do you need to stay in LA at least a night? I am in Texas so that should make it easier. Also did he pick the color? One thing that worried me was my PS telling me I got to choose the color. I want an expert telling me what will look the most natural and best. Also how long did the actual procedure take? I so want to see him in November.
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Grt42btexan...I sent you a PM.
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Thanks Jacee
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Christean - I would love to use Vinnie to redo my tattoos (he was not in Nola yet when I had them done) and will probably fly back to NOLA in the future. He is fabulous.
In the meantime - there are a couple of tattoo artists that someone recommended on here before. One is Mary Jane Haake - she is in Portland and the other is Laury Giffin - who trained under Mary Jane. I have not seen either of their work - BUT I bet if you put a shout out people would let you know if they are happy with their results. From what I understand, Mary Jane is very respected in the medical tattooing/repigmenting community.
Here are some links:
http://www.denovopermanentcosmetics.com/about-de-novo/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jane_Haake
http://tattooroadtrip.com/blog/all-about-mary-jane/
On a totally separate note - it is good to see you on here! I hope all is well!
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Hi. I live in Twin Falls and am in the middle of my bi-lateral mastectomy. Had skin sparing but could not save the nipple because of the high risk I have of the cancer. Did you ever find anyone on this side of the country that does an excellent 3d tattoo?
I've tried multiple prosthetic nipples but have just been disappointed with each for different reasons. My sister was diagnosed April 2019 stage 4 breast cancer so she's had a single mastectomy so far. We'd both be looking to have the nipple/areola tattoos down the road. Any info you could pass on would be much appreciated.
I have never had a tattoo so I wouldn't know where to start it what to look for in finding an artist.
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