Mastectomy tattoos

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BlueHeron
BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
edited January 2016 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

Has anyone here done this? It's not yet entirely clear whether I will be able to have just lumpectomy (my preference), or if I will need mastectomy. I'm having a very hard time thinking about implants, I don't like the idea. I was hoping I'd be a DIEP candidate, but apparently I don't have enough belly fat (ha!). So now I'm wondering if I could be happy with a single Mx, made beautiful with a tattoo.

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  • Monis
    Monis Member Posts: 472
    edited December 2015

    Many women have done this - You can find lots of mastectomy tattoos on the internet. I did a lot of searching when I was contemplating a tattoo. I had a single Mx, but have an implant, so a little different from your situation. I wanted a little something to cover up some of the scarring. Now when I look in the mirror I see something pretty and it makes me smile. Here's what mine turned out like:

    image

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  • BlueHeron
    BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
    edited December 2015

    Monis, just beautiful.

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited December 2015

    Hi Blue Heron, there are lots of tattoo photos on the internet if you search for them. It's a nice way to cover up a scar. I was planning to do it, but I developed lymphedema before I could get it done. So a tattoo is off the table for me now. There is a female tattoo artist in Seattle who specializes in covering mastectomy scars. Her work is just amazing.

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  • BlueHeron
    BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
    edited December 2015

    Some of them are really stunningly beautiful. I think this is something I could embrace, something I could feel control over, a choice I can make instead of having it made for me.

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  • gardengypsy
    gardengypsy Member Posts: 769
    edited January 2016

    Monie- Besutiful

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  • Melgirl
    Melgirl Member Posts: 165
    edited January 2016

    I love tattoos. And when I thought about tattooing my scar or newly made breasts it actually made me happy that I could take back control of my body. Then I went for my pre-op physical therapy to ward off lymphedema. The PT scared me so bad! I have a large tattoo on my left arm (the side with CA). She say "Oh you never want to tattoo this arm again to avoid lymphedema." Then she tells me I shouldn't tattoo my chest area either. Even if I don't initially develop lymphedema.

    Now I don't know what I will want to do. Of course I'm at the beginning of this, but I'm always planning ahead.

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  • BlueHeron
    BlueHeron Member Posts: 154
    edited January 2016

    I know, Melgirl! I had the exact same realization and concern! I'm kind of assuming there is no research about chest tattoos and LE.

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  • SummerAngel
    SummerAngel Member Posts: 1,006
    edited January 2016

    As far as I know, there is no research about tattoos and lymphedema at all. I couldn't find any, anyway. Most practitioners go by the commonly-repeated precautions without actual evidence. If I want a tattoo, I'll be getting one.

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  • chef127
    chef127 Member Posts: 891
    edited January 2016

    I had a tattoo directly above my lx scar on the top of my breast just above my nipple about 3 years post surgery. A vine of hot chili peppers 6"long. I love it so much that went back and had the tattoo extended all the up to my shoulder. No LE (yet). It has hidden the scar (less obvious) and I'm sooo happy I did it. Lots of compliments. If I had a mx I would cover my chest w/ a beautiful branch of cherry blossoms and a bird or butterfly or peacock feathers. Tats can be addictive but I find mx scars that are tattooed so attractive.

    xoxMaureen

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  • cupcaker
    cupcaker Member Posts: 35
    edited January 2016

    Have you looked on pinterest? I have been told for most of the past 17 years that I should consider having a bmx and next month I'm finally going to get it done, with no reconstruction. DIEP was the only real alternative that I wanted to consider and I definitely have enough belly fat for it. haha But I realized that, for me, I wanted to just be free of the worry. I've always thought that I'd eventually get a tattoo covering my entire chest - I'd like to a tiger print in blue and black. But I plan to wait a couple years for everything to heal first.

    I've searched quite a bit on pinterest and found several examples and also links to articles online.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited January 2016

    OK I had the tattoo done twice at doctors office both times it faded almost totally gone. I heard of this vinnie person on other threads. I am not a tattoo person kind of worried about the ink.

    Any advice for me on what to do?

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  • Melgirl
    Melgirl Member Posts: 165
    edited January 2016

    I would go to an actual tattoo artist. Vinnie Myers is in Maryland. But there are lots of local tattoo artists.

    Here is a link for a tattoo day in NYC for survivors. It is a Pinterest page. Tons of helpful links including local tattoo artists.

    https://www.pinterest.com/personalink/

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  • chef127
    chef127 Member Posts: 891
    edited January 2016

    Meow13,

    I inquired about the ink used today for tattoos and the artist assured me that the ink is safe(?). Most colors do not contain metals. Perhaps a brighter color. So far mine on my radiated scar area has not faded.

    Maureen

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