tattoos over my scar

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IowaCindy
IowaCindy Member Posts: 341
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
tattoos over my scar
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  • IowaCindy
    IowaCindy Member Posts: 341
    edited March 2008

    I've been seriously considering having a tattoo over my right mastectomy scar. It's been 16 months since the surgery. I won't do the left side - it's only been 4 months.

    I don't want anything big and gawdy. That's not me. In fact if you were passing me on the street I'd probably be the last person you'd think would have a tattoo.

    But I'm thinking....if I don't have a breast, why not some art? I want something that shows I survived the battle.

    Has anyone else done this? Did you regret it?

    I welcome your stories to help me get a clear picture in my head of what I may be doing to myself and what it's like to live with it.

    Thanks!

    Cindy 

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited March 2008

    IowaCindy,

    Yes, it' been done.  Google "Deena Metzger."  Her mastectomy tatoo is probably the best-known example of what you're thinking about.  Here's a link to a photograph of her:

    http://www.deenametzger.com/poster/poster.html

    That photo is known as "Tree" or "Warrior".  I'm not promoting or advertising the poster--it's just the best on-line image I could find of the photograph.

    otter 

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  • Believer0711
    Believer0711 Member Posts: 351
    edited March 2008

    IowaCindy, I haven't done it yet, but I'm thinking of getting a pink rose tattoo on a vine, with a little butterly on it. I already have 2 butterfly tattoos, and I thought another one will be great, to commemorate my bc journey :-> I've seen some pics online, but can't remember the website...

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  • xxxx
    xxxx Member Posts: 30
    edited March 2008

    I've had a bilateral and I'm 90% sure I'm not doing reconstruction.

    I've thought of tattooing on some pink nipples.  ;-)

    No plans to do anything though. 

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  • bonny1963
    bonny1963 Member Posts: 450
    edited March 2008

    It is really funny because I felt the same way.  Only I didn't eant a tattoo on my scar.  I had it put on my ankle.  It is the breast cancer ribbon with some swirls on either sise and then going around my ankle are the words "Faith, Love, Hope Strength".  I love it.  Like you Cindy, I am one of the last people you would ever imagine.  43 years old, overweight, very straight laced, Sunday School teacher.  When someone asks me about it, I tell them about it and how God has carried me through this entire ordeal.  My faith has grown tremendously and I am very proud to tell people about any aspect of this trip.  I figure the more people that are informed the better off they are.  So, you get your tattoo and be proud of it.  Btw, my husband went with me and got one also (not the same) and now he has four.  Good luck!  Bonny

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited March 2008

    Hi, Cindy and all, 

    I like Bonny's idea about using her ankle instead of her scar line. The Metzger photo that otter mentions is stunning, and I've always found it very moving, but tattooing the affected chest is also a HUGE lymphedema risk. Definitely not worth it in my book.

    Be well!

    Binney 

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  • smithlme
    smithlme Member Posts: 1,322
    edited March 2008

    Cindy,

    As the proud owner of over 20 tattoos, I love them. When I had long hair, all of them could be covered. The one on my neck is now very noticable! I work in a corporate office so I have to dress professionally. But, when I want to show my "wild side" I can show several. I have them for my kids, grandkids, a dear friend who passed away from brain Cancer and one for my sisters and I...picture attached! I have several of butterflies and flowers and some that are just for fun. As I tell people, they're the only thing I get to take with me when I die. My next one will be pink boxing gloves that says, "Fighting for My Life." Tattoos are as individual as we are. For some great ideas, under Images in Google, type in what you're looking for with the word tattoo after it. Whatever and where ever you choose, make it yours...

    Linda

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    That's one of my options if I don't reconstruct. I like the idea rather than leaving it blank. It would be a first for me!

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  • purplemb
    purplemb Member Posts: 1,542
    edited March 2008

    I had a tattoo put over my scar, one purple rose for each of my boys....,,,,sure beats looking at the scar everyday....

    good luck

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited March 2008

    In her book/lifetime movie 'Why I Wore Lipstick to my Mastectomy', Geralyn Lucas wrote about her getting a tattoo over her scar. She describes it as a heart with angel wings.

    Sheila

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  • Raye99
    Raye99 Member Posts: 1,350
    edited March 2008

    I have thought about getting a tattoo as well on my proph side (Binney, I too was worry about the risk of lymphedema having the bc side where nodes had been removed tattooed).

    But, I am also not 100% sure about never having reconstruction and from what I've been told (from a very reliable and knowledgeable source), this could interfere with the recon -grr- oh, but I'd love to have something there!

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  • purplemb
    purplemb Member Posts: 1,542
    edited March 2008

    here was my take on it..I did wait almost 2 yrs.... the DR tatto nipples.... so if I'm gonna have something done, it might as well be something I like...! you must make sure you have a good tatto artist, clean etc etc....do your homework first....

    good luck MB

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  • purplemb
    purplemb Member Posts: 1,542
    edited March 2008

    here was my take on it..I did wait almost 2 yrs.... the DR tatto nipples.... so if I'm gonna have something done, it might as well be something I like...! you must make sure you have a good tatto artist, clean etc etc....do your homework first....

    good luck MB

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  • purplemb
    purplemb Member Posts: 1,542
    edited March 2008

    here was my take on it..I did wait almost 2 yrs.... the DR tatto nipples.... so if I'm gonna have something done, it might as well be something I like...! you must make sure you have a good tatto artist, clean etc etc....do your homework first....

    good luck MB

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  • SusaninSF
    SusaninSF Member Posts: 1,213
    edited March 2008

    I ran into the mother of one of my high school classmates. The mother had, had a mastectomy and so had her daughter. She told me that my classmate had a bilateral, no recon and tattooed a flower on each breast where the nipple would be. I thought that was a nice idea!

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  • mediamaid
    mediamaid Member Posts: 17
    edited March 2008

    I am three years out and I had a cross tattooed over my infusa-port scar. Because my bc was on the right side the scar from the port was on the left so it is right over my heart. It is just a reminder of my faith that has seen me through this.



    Jeannette

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  • IowaCindy
    IowaCindy Member Posts: 341
    edited March 2008

    Thanks everyone!

    I so appreciate your words. It's just confirming what's in my head which is - I want to do this. My daughter has a lot of connections in the metro area, she's already picked out which shop we're going to. I'm going to do some checking myself and see if it has had inspections and such.

    I'm thinking hard about what I want. Maybe a flowering vine with a pink ribbon running through it. The vine has to be sturdy/substantial. I don't want it to be flimsy. And possibly some words: "love lifted me" - that's the truth. Love carried me through last year! Or "Joy comes in the morning" because morning did arrive, the night faded.

    But I'm still searching for the right words. That's my chore for myself the next few nights. See if I can find the right words, I should have this done in the next few weeks.

    Plus I'm going to call the surgeon about the lymphadema risk. I want to clarify that. 

    I'll let you know.

    Thanks again.

    I love this place. The sisters here offer such friendly, compassionate, understanding information.

    Cindy 

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited March 2008

    Cindy, one thing that can help is to ask for a prescription for prophylactic antibiotics and start them a day or two before your tattoo. Preventing an infection can help prevent lymphedema.Smile

    All best!

    Binney 

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  • mauigirl1227
    mauigirl1227 Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2008
    Pink nipples would be very cute. I too want a special design that I can enjoy that will remind me of the journey, but also make me smile knowing that this is something I decided to permantently put on my body, not the doctors.  llc
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  • mauigirl1227
    mauigirl1227 Member Posts: 3
    edited March 2008

    Pink nipples would be very cute. I too want a special design that I can enjoy that will remind me of the journey, but also make me smile knowing that this is something I decided to permantently put on my body, not the doctors. 

    Good luck, lld

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  • IowaCindy
    IowaCindy Member Posts: 341
    edited March 2008

    After much thought, research and discussion with trusted medical personnel I decided to avoid the chest area. I would like a tattoo across the mastectomy site but that's okay.

    I now have a pink ribbon and the words "love lifted me" on my left shoulder. My younger daughter took me Tuesday night. She who's been pushing me to get some art. She got a pink ribbon by her ankle.

    I feel like the tattoo is a punctuation mark. I've done all this, damn it! And love did hold me, lift me, move me and save me.  

    It's like a private snicker though. It can't be seen unless I'm naked or in a swimsuit. I never ever thought I would have a tattoo. But then I never thought I'd be breastless, either.

    Isn't life interesting?

    Thanks for your thoughts, everyone.

    Cindy 

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited March 2008

    What! No picture for us! Surprised We'd love to see it.

    "Love lifted me" is a really lovely sentiment. Enjoy it in good health. Laughing

    Binney 

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  • wallycat
    wallycat Member Posts: 3,227
    edited March 2008

    I wanted little cat footprints walking along each scar line, but hadn't thought about lymphedema Frown .

    Maybe two prints on each side..... 

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  • GrandmaWolf
    GrandmaWolf Member Posts: 88
    edited March 2008

    So PurpleMb, 

    Tell me, how painful was it to have a tattoo over the mastectomy scar?  I am scheduled in 2 weeks for a bilateral, and said no thankyou to the ordeal of reconstruction. 

    On the other hand looking at the void on my chest will cause emotional stress unless i can re-write the script on how this could go.  I think a meaningful tatto, (in my case 2 howling wolves) will go far in allowing me to get on with my life and definition.

    It was so timely for me to find this posting... I am searching for all the info I can find on the subject.

    Thanks to all for your input and surviving spirits.

    Dakota Wolf

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  • starzhere
    starzhere Member Posts: 162
    edited March 2008

    Cindy - what did the medical staff say regarding tattooing on the chest area?

    Here's a picture I found that was O.K.  Most of the designs were too elaborate for my taste.

    http://www.triangletattoo.com/shawn2.jpg

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited March 2008

    Starz,

    That's a beautiful tat ... and it looks like it the pattern is carried over to her opposite shoulder. The pics not in color, I wonder if was done in color or gray shades. 

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  • starzhere
    starzhere Member Posts: 162
    edited March 2008

    I couldn't find many tattoos on the net.  That's more like what I would have in mind.  I love how it makes her chest look balanced.  I have no clue as to whether or not it's done in color.  The few other tattoos that I saw were too solid and heavy looking.

    ~elaine~ 

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  • IowaCindy
    IowaCindy Member Posts: 341
    edited March 2008

    I'm just having a terrible time trying to figure out how to post a picture of my shoulder tattoo. I'm not too smart about those things.Surprised

    The surgeon finally called me Monday night this week. She apologized for taking such a long time to respond but she wanted to do some research and consider the processes and effects, etc.

    She thinks it can be done. She strongly sugggsted doing a tattoo in increments, not all at once across the area. Since I had radiation, the lymphatic action is impaired. So if there is any trouble, I would have a small area of problem and not the whole chest. Not overwhelm the lymphs with a big reaction.

    She was actually pretty positive about the entire thing. Discussed how women respond so individually to matectomy surgery. From wanting reconstruction NOW to waiting to never to tattoos. Dr. G mentioned seeing a picture of woman in a book - I think it was probably the Metzger photo.

    She says she'll be waiting to see it when I have my next appt. with her May.

    So I am considering doing something across my chest. I think it's got to show some toughness and some beauty. Tough enough to make it through BC and beautiful because I still am.

    Who knew that at age 50, this middle-class white woman from the heartland would start hanging out in tattoo parlors?Laughing

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  • JustOne
    JustOne Member Posts: 226
    edited March 2008

    Cindy,

    I can so relate to the middle class white woman in a tattoo parlor. Laughing

    Since Angel's meant so much to me, I decided on a small Angel that I designed on my right shoulder. I also had a tear drop put on her left cheek to symbolize the lose of my L breast.

    Well, my son had a couple of tattoos and was getting another so we went to his fav place. ha

    It was so surreal for me just being there, I couldn't believe I was actually going to go through with it at age 46! So, I'm trying to act cool, like I belong there, and then this... as I'm at the desk showing my design, a young guy comes up and asks an artist at the desk...'How much for a penis piercing?'

    I thought my son would have to pick me up off the floor.

    As for a tattoo on the mast. scar, that sounds beautiful. I've had 17 nodes removed so I'd be afraid for myself, but it would be such a show of beauty and strength, which we all have in us.

    Hope you can post a pic when you've decided on a design.

    Much luck and hugs~Pam

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