Areola tattooing, also referred to as Medical Tattooing, is a highly specialised tattoo service. Small sterile needles and high-quality tattoo machines are used to gently implant ink into the top layers of the skin to create a beautiful, 3D realistic areola-nipple complex.

When tattooing over scar tissue, it is important to wait until the scar has fully ‘matured’. At the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance, we recommend a minimum wait time of 12 months post mastectomy surgery and/or breast cancer treatment.

Appointment length can vary depending on the artist and what type of tattoo you are having done. Your artist will give you a better idea of how long your appointment will be when you have a consultation.

The answer is YES and NO.

Surgical incisions and skin/nipple grafts usually cause some damage to the nerve endings in that area, meaning sensation and pain is minimal (if at all) during a tattoo.

However, areola/nipples are a highly sensitive body part, so if you are having your natural areola tattooed then you should expect it to be uncomfortable. Pain is variable from person to person but overall it is completely bearable, most client’s actually find the whole process quite relaxing.

If you would like to book an MTA funded appointment with one of our MTA approved artists, you can contact an artist directly via our website. Just click on the Artist Directory or fill in our booking enquiry form. Our artists’ locations, portfolios and specialities are listed within their profiles so that you can select the most convenient place to be tattooed. Once you have selected your chosen artist, please send them an email directly via the contact information listed in their profile. You can include a summary of what tattoo you are looking for, i.e. a 3D areola tattoo, or a decorative mastectomy tattoo design. Our artists will then happily respond and take the next steps in booking your appointment.