Areola & Nipple Tattooing

Providing the finishing touches that help you feel more confident and beautiful.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is working with breast cancer survivors. Jeanette Wirz, CAAM is a Board Certified Permanent Makeup Artist, Trainer, and state-licensed tattoo artist with 22 years of experience in her field.

3D Areola Restoration is a procedure for women and men who have lost one or both nipples through surgery or trauma. By using traditional tattooing techniques, the appearance of the nipple can be restored to a more natural appearance after mastectomy, breast reduction scars, or trauma. Areola Restoration can create an Areola after breast reconstruction minimizing the appearance of scars to restore the Areola to a more natural-looking color and shape.

Office Visit Preparation

Day Of Appointment

Take your daily medications, as usual, including blood thinners.
You can shower on the morning of your procedure. Do not put any lotion, cream, oil, or powder on your skin from or waist up.
Wear a loose-fitting, comfortable top. You may also want to wear a loose-fitting bra or cami to avoid putting pressure on the tattoo.
There's a high demand for this procedure. if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible.

Initial Consultation

Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to fill out the paperwork.

After you change into a gown,

We will take pictures.
Discuss any concerns you have about the procedure.
What you want your nipple and areola to look like in size, placement, and color tone.
Color match- We will look at several color options together and decide what colors will look most natural for your skin tone.
We will mix the tattoo ink until we create a color that we both like. If you only have one breast reconstructed, we will try to match your natural nipple as closely as possible.

FAQs

How soon can I get my Areola Tattoo?

It is safe to receive this treatment once you get the Ok from your doctor and with at least 6 months of healing time to pass after the date of your final surgery.

Scar Camouflage 12-18 months.

How long will the procedure take?

We will discuss all of the options and get answers to any questions or concerns you may have. The procedure itself takes up to three hours (depending on if you do 1 or 2 nipples).

Will there be any downtime following the procedure?

You should be able to resume normal activities immediately following the procedure.

However, avoid swimming and using a sauna or jacuzzi for two weeks after the procedure. If using the gym within the first two weeks following your tattoo, limit friction by wearing a tight sports bra.

What should I do if I have a problem?

Infection is very rare. If you experience any of the following symptoms, please contact your permanent makeup artist and referring Doctor. If some of these systems will occur:

- Swelling and/or heat that doesn’t resolve in the first two days.

- Redness spreading from the tattoo that gets worse over a few days. - A fever (temperature higher than 37.5C / 99.5 F).

Will I have a follow-up appointment?

You will have a follow-up appointment eight weeks after the initial treatment. Following an assessment, the permanent make-up artist will discuss if further pigment is necessary. It is common to need two treatments as the color will fade over time and a further procedure may be required to achieve and maintain the desired color.

Does areola tattooing hurt?

We do our best to make the areola tattooing process as painless as possible, We do use a numbing cream if needed. Depending on your particular surgery, there may be some small amount of sensation, but it usually is minimal or mildly uncomfortable. In most cases, our clients do not feel any pain.

Is areola tattooing a good choice for me?

Breast tattoos aren’t just for Breast Cancer survivors. Breast, areola, and nipple tattoos are for anyone seeking to improve their overall breast appearance after surgery or trauma. Men and women!

This service might be right for you if you are, have, or have had any of the following:

Payment? Covered by Insurance?

Nipple restorative tattoos due to breast cancer surgery are part of your entire reconstruction process thanks to the“Women’ Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) of 1998”. That being said, the reimburrsement amount varies.

Payment

You will be receiving your tattoos from a tattoo artist and an “out of network” provider.

You will be given an itemized receipt with all the needed information to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Your tattoos will have to be paid in full, out of pocket the day of your appointment.

All Insurence Compains are Different, Please call your insurance company in advance and find out the amount you will be reimbursed for areola tattooing by an out-of-network provider. We DO NOT guarantee that any payment will be given by insurance. We will give you a receipt containing the correct documentation to be submitted for reimbursement.

National Provider Identifier -Will be provided to help in the process of reimbursement.

An NPI is a unique identification number for covered healthcare providers, created to help send health information electronically more quickly and effectively. Covered healthcare providers, all health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses must use NPIs in their administrative and financial transactions.

Areola After care

Areola After Care

When using Tegaderm or Saniderm Waterproof Transparent Wound Dressing. Can stay on for up to 7 days. Follow these instructions:

You can shower normally, no need for pads.
Some fluid may build up and puddle under the film, and this is normal. However, if an excessive amount of fluid is present, you may gently remove the film in the shower and thoroughly clean it with Dial Antimicrobial Soap.
Blot areolas with a white paper towel, then allow to completely air dry.
Use a new piece of Tegaderm or Saniderm film large enough to allow at least an inch or more around the areola.
Then apply the film directly over your areola, pressing out any air bubbles and making sure edges are sealed, not allowing water to build up against your tattoos.
After 7 days, remove the film while in the shower. Clean areolas as instructed above. Areolas may weep a little at first, temporarily use a small amount of ointment and cover with a nonstick pad until they dry and continue to dry heal.

Non Adhesive Aftercare

For the first 7 days:

Before showering, always make sure your hands are very clean when touching your breasts.
Use a cotton swab, and gently cover areolas with a very thin coat of ointment, using White Petroleum ointment or Aquaphor.
When showering, keep your back to the shower spray, do not let hot water spray directly onto your tattooed breasts. Thoroughly wash your breasts (using your hands, no cloth) with mild soap such as Cetaphil, baby shampoo, or Dial antimicrobial soap. DO NOT use anything astringent. Continue to rinse until all surface blood, ointment, and soap have been removed.
Dry around the tattoo by blotting very gently with a white paper towel. Continue to air dry for 15 to 30 minutes (or use a hair dryer on a low or cool setting) until the tattoo is dry (the tattoo will feel taut or tight when it is thoroughly dry).
Apply After Inked ointment or Aquaphor in a thin, (grain of rice to a small pea amount) light coat by gently spreading it onto the areola with a cotton swab twice a day. Cover with Foam Dressing or Equate Ultra Absorbent Wound Dressing pads.
Apply After Inked ointment or Aquaphor in a thin, (grain of rice to a small pea amount) light coat by gently spreading it onto the areola with a cotton swab twice a day. Cover with Foam Dressing or Equate Ultra Absorbent Wound Dressing pads.
At night, wear a large, loose-fitting white cotton T-shirt with no pads or ointments, allowing air to get to your areolas.
After day 7, let your chest dry out to continue healing on its own. No more ointments. Still, gently blot them with a paper towel periodically if you notice they still appear to be weeping. Let them completely dry and heal now.

Important Notes

The tattoo should feel moistened but not heavily coated. Use the ointment provided. If the ointment burns or hurts in any way, stop using it immediately and call a technician. All tattoos weep body fluids and it is important to blot these fluids off periodically.
The foam dressings and wound dressings will help wick the moisture from the tattoo, twice a day, use gauze pads or a white paper towel dampened with an antiseptic wash (Band-Aid brand Hurt-Free Antiseptic Wash) to blot the areolas.
Be careful not to use a lot of pressure. Rebandage with nonstick pads whenever you have to wear clothing over your tattoo (such as a bra). Avoid tight clothing if possible.
If, at any time, the nonstick bandage or clothing appears to stick to the areola, DO NOT continue to remove it! WAIT until you can get in the shower, soaking the pads until they fall off on their own. Otherwise, the pigment can be pulled right out.
While your tattoo(s) is covered, it is healing at a much slower rate, so whenever possible, expose the tattoo to the air or cover it with loose-fitting clothing like a large white cotton T-shirt with no ointment.

Client Reviews

Jeanette is the best! She performed some permanent makeup procedures that I love such as eyeliner and eyebrows and they turned out wonderfully. However, the procedure that made the biggest impact on my life was the 3D Areola Tattooing after breast reconstruction surgery following a double mastectomy. During the reconstruction process, I opted to not have new nipples created. This decision was reached primarily because I had seen a video online that showed an alternative to this procedure. The alternative was 3D Areola Tattoos. The results shown in the video were amazing. I found out that Jeanette performed this alternative and based on her prior work it was a go-to to have this done. I didn't hesitate for a minute because I knew Jeanette would do a fabulous job. And I was right - the 3D Areola Tattoos were awesome. Jeanette is a true professional with an artist's eye. She welcomed my input throughout the process to make sure I was happy with the end result. She was very patient and caring as she did her magic. There was very little pain during the procedure and she was checking in with me throughout to make sure that I was ok. I still marvel when I look in the mirror and see how natural this looks. She is amazing and I would recommend her to anyone looking for alternatives in breast construction. This was the best decision for me and I am extremely happy with the results.

Janie Sturgill

Three years ago I had "that surgery" preceded by a lot of thought, a lot of research, a lot of prayers, and a lot of hope. My decision was based on being preemptive and preventative but so many twists and turns in the road made me a true survivor. Inner Circle, LeAnne Weaver Tillman, Laurie Riley, and Bettye Lynn Bellar Richert, once again, I cannot thank you enough for your love, care, commitment, and diligence! It is surreal to remember now the long, unexpected, and tenuous road on which you accompanied me. Kristina Kotseos O'Shaughnessy, Laura Futrell, and Jeanette Wirz thank you for using your gifts, talents, and expertise to treat and put me back together! What a great team of strong, competent women! Thank you again, Jeanette! You were awesome!

I Wish I Would have Done This Sooner!

I had Areola re-pigmentation after the Areola reduction procedure left me with peri-areolar scars and lightened Areolas which made me extremely self-conscious. Jeanette was wonderful! Very professional but also down-to-earth and made me feel very comfortable. She did a fantastic job of making my Areolas look normal again, and I can't say enough how much that improved my confidence and comfort in my own skin. I would highly recommend her!

Thank you so much, Jeanette! Marcie

Marcie

Her talents are a true gift and I am grateful for her.

Following my experience with a bilateral mastectomy, I began my journey to find something to "complete" me. I met with Jeanette to discuss Areola tattoos. I was amazed at how this procedure would make me feel like a normal woman again. Jeanette was creative, helpful, and compassionate, all while remaining professional. She went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable. This visit turned out to be the best ending to my cancer treatment. Since then, I have used Jeanette for my permanent eyeliner and Microblading. Her work is impeccable and second to none.

Sherian D.

I couldn’t be more pleased with my 3D areola and 3D nipple tattoos. Jeanette is an amazing artist and person. Such great bedside manner and amazing with such great attention to detail! They are so realistic and look so real. Less than a week after I got the first part of the tattoos I had two doctor's appointments, they were both amazed and said that they were the best 3D nipple tattoos that they have ever seen. It has given me closure in my breast cancer journey after 5 years of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Jeanette Wirz is the best in the business in the Nashville area!! I recommend her and her staff for any and all services that they provide.
Thanks so much, Jeanette

Jeanette was wonderful in helping me to complete a long, challenging health journey. She was patient, knowledgeable and explained everything step by step, made me comfortable, and was sure to involve me in all steps and decisions. She was thoughtful and attentive and I can tell she truly cares about her customers and making them happy. I am really happy with my results.

The space is beautiful and relaxing as well! Would highly recommend!

Thank you, Jeanette!