Tattoo

Options
MarieL1243
MarieL1243 Member Posts: 39
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

I had a mastectomy in 2002 with a silicone implant.  I had another cancer in the same side in 2006.  This time I had to have chemo and radiation.  The radiation damaged the skin under my implant.  A few months ago, I had to have my implant removed (the doctor said the skin was actually paper thin).  So I've been thinking I'd like to have a tattoo where the breast used to be.  Something beautiul and colorful...just for me.  Has anyone done anything like this?  And how did it turn out?  Thanks so much.

Marie

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited September 2013

    I had decided that I wanted to have a beautiful Tattoo to cover my Mx scar, but was put off because of the fear of LE. I am not sure if everyone in the photos I have seen have had a SNB or Axillary Clearance.

    I have seen many women with beautiful post surgery Tattoos, on the internet.

    I have spoken to a couple of Tattoo artists who said 2 to 10 years after surgery is the usual wait time for the skin to be ready. I have just filed it away as a great idea, that I will revisit another time.

    Good luck, and I hope you find it is possible for you!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MarieL1243
    MarieL1243 Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2013

    Thank you so much for the information.  I do have LE, but it's in my left arm, not in the area where I would have the tattoo.  I guess I should probably just wait for my next doctor's appointment and ask her.  It's hard to wait though...I'm one of those people who, when I decide to do something I want to do it NOW Undecided

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BikerLee
    BikerLee Member Posts: 355
    edited September 2013

    So sorry you had to have your implant removed! But YAY for tattoos - I love them...

    So, I love tattoos and have some myself. I'm in the process of tattooing my chest, which is flat flat flat.

    A few words of advice. 

    Don't rush this - tattoos are permanent - you want to feel good about your artwork and your plan etc...

    I received the advice to wait SIX MONTHS after the last surgical procedure...  I waited a total of seven...  The tattoo artist confirmed that waiting was good. I've been planning the tattoo since receiving my diagnosis - which was now over two years ago.

    Find a tattoo artist that has experience working with scars.  My tattoo artist has extensive experience working with breast cancer survivors and even gives a discount to cancer survivors.  

    Despite my comment about the above discount....  DON'T shop based on price. You want a good ARTIST - someone who can help you develop your vision into a piece of art for your body.  As it turns out, even with the discount, my tattoo artist is heavily sought after and somewhat more expensive than the typical rates in my area. References are very valuable - when you see tattoos you think are beautiful, ask the person about the artist.  Typically, people with visible tattoos like talking about them...

    My piece is a work in progress - it'll probably be about a year before it's finished...

    Go ahead and google this one - mastectomy and tattoo yields quite a lot of examples for us to look at.  You might get some good ideas this way. Remember, though, that your tattoo will be YOURS...  

    And my last - and very important - piece of advice - SPELL CHECK if you're getting words / names tattooed onto you...  There are all kinds of examples of mispelled tattoos on the internet - just do a google image search, and you will see....

    Good luck - I love tattoos - I think they are wonderful... for me, it is a way to reclaim my chest...  and feel stronger and better about my body.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MarieL1243
    MarieL1243 Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2013

    Thank you BikerLee for you advice!  It's so nice to know there's someone out there who understands how I feel.  I will take your advice and start doing research for artists who have experience with scars.  Unfortunately, I live in a very small town and need to go online to find anything.  Can't wait to start googling this!  Laughing

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BayouBabe
    BayouBabe Member Posts: 2,221
    edited September 2013

    MarieL - hello fellow Michigander. It would be a bit of a drive, but there is a tattoo shop in Ann Arbor, MI that is supposed to have experience with breast cancer survivors. It is Lucky Monkey Tattoo. I have no other info on it, just ran across the info when I was trying to find something similar to Vinnie Myers, but closer. Good luck with your search!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MarieL1243
    MarieL1243 Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2013

    Thank you SO much BayouBabe!  Ann Arbor is a bit of a drive, but we do go right by it when we visit our son and family in Canton, MI.  I will definately be checking out Lucky Monkey Tattoo!  Laughing

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited September 2013

    I'm getting my tattoo next month. There is actually a pinterest page called personal ink that is tattoo ideas and artists for post mastectomy. They have great ideas and artists whom they have found. The list is growing.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MarieL1243
    MarieL1243 Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2013

    Thank you gritgirl.  Did you have to get prior approval from your doctor first?  That's my husband's worry.  I will definately check out the personal ink page on Pinterest.  I have e-mailed the Lucky Monkey place in Ann Arbor, but haven't heard anything back yet.  Good luck with your tattoo Laughing  Do you know what you're getting yet?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited September 2013

    Mariel. I talked to my breast surgeon and informed my oncologist, mainly to warn I'll be off the blood thinners for two days.



    I'm having a tattoo of the flower called fireweed, which is the first flower to come up after a forest fire.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MarieL1243
    MarieL1243 Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2013

    I looked it up and the fireweed is a pretty flower and I do love the meaning of it.  I want an Amaryllis flower.  It is symbolic for "success won after a struggle"  Good Luck again and let me know when you get it, how it went.  Can I ask where you are in Michigan?  Just curious...still haven't heard back from the Lucky Monkey in Ann Arbor, but we're going downstate next week, so we might just stop in and talk to someone.  There's lots of places in the Ann Arbor area, so we might stop at a few.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited September 2013

    I'm actually in Washington DC. Make sure you look at artists' portfolios (many are online). The amaryllis is gorgeous. :-)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited September 2013

    MarieL:  Here is the link to the page of artists who have posted so far on Personal Ink.  Not seeing Michigan but David Allen in Chicago is an incredible, incredible artist.

    http://www.pinterest.com/personalink/tattoo-artists/

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MarieL1243
    MarieL1243 Member Posts: 39
    edited September 2013

    Thanks again gritgirl.  I will definately check it out!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • PSIM
    PSIM Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2013

    Hi MarieL,

    Mastectomy procedures are a very tough period in many women’s lives. As I read through these posts, I am in complete awe and fascination of the strength you all have to go through this very trying procedure. 

    A recent trend that has emerged among women who have had this difficult operation has been to cover up any scars with a beautiful, colorful tattoo. I work for a popular television show looking to do a segment on tattooing women who have gone through a mastectomy procedure. The segment would focus on finding and creating beauty in something that has been most difficult for a lot of women.

    Please contact me with your name, phone number, and email address if you are interested in our segment. My email address is: producerpav@gmail.com.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited September 2013

    Here is an incredible mastectomy tattoo by David Allen in Chicago, IL

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/allentattoo/5058385828/in/set-72157632579146637

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited November 2013


    Wow, that tattoo by David Allen is beautiful!


    I've been thinking of getting a tattoo also. I saw a mention about risk of lymphedema. How bad a risk is it?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited November 2013


    glennie. Not sure about the lymphedema question. I do know that the folks from personal ink just did tattoos on 10 women who'd had mastectomies. Several of them likely had lymph nodes removed.


    I was supposed to have my tattoo 2 weeks ago. Had to cancel due to bronchitis. Was so disappointed. Re scheduled for January.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited November 2013


    Keep me posted. I'd love to hear about and see a pic if you care to share.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited November 2013


    no problem

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited February 2014

    gritgirl, was just wondering if you got your tattoo.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited February 2014

    image

    i did. This was done by Liaa Walter of Washington, DC. So glad I did it

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited February 2014

    It's fantastic!!!  OMG!!  I can see why you love it.


    I've been playing around with temporary tattoos and I really want to get one to cover up my scar.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited February 2014

    Yeah, it's made a huge difference about how I feel when I look in the mirror. Now I see the flowers, not the big old scar.  The flowers, btw, are called fire weed and they are the first flowers to come up after a forest fire.  The group Personal Ink is putting more and more tattoos on their Pinterest page and they also highlight artists who have done work.

    http://www.pinterest.com/personalink/

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited February 2014

    How long did you have to wait before getting the tattoo? I hear up to 2 years???

    Getting the excess skin removed on April 30th!  So that's the beginning of the process.


    Thanks for the pininterest link. I will definitely check it out.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited February 2014

    glennie. I waited a year and 3 months. Just depends on how the skin heals. Good luck with the procedure. :-)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited February 2014

    Thanks!  Will keep ya posted.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GeorgiaRai
    GeorgiaRai Member Posts: 175
    edited February 2014

    I know this is completely different from what y'all are talking about, but I thought I'd share my tattoo pic, too!  I got it this past Thanksgiving, 2 years after my diagnosis.  I had a BMX with cancer (hence, rads) only on the right side.  The tattoo is on my left, just below my port scar. 

    It's taken from the Winnie the Pooh quote in my signature line.  My daughters already had versions of it, 1 with the whole quote & 1 with just the words "Braver, Stronger, Smarter".  We all match in font & coloring.  It's nice to have something to see besides scars!  (You can see I took this right after I got it - still wearing plastic wrap!)

    image

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited February 2014

    That's awesome!  That's my signature line in my e-mail. I love it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gonegirl
    gonegirl Member Posts: 1,871
    edited February 2014

    georgia. That is so sweet

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • GeorgiaRai
    GeorgiaRai Member Posts: 175
    edited February 2014

    Yours is gorgeous, gritgirl!  And I love the significance of the fire weed flower. 

    Good luck to you, glennie, as you start the process.  So exciting!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories