Areola Pigmentation

Nipple tattooing is a way to recreate the appearance of your nipple and areola. The process is similar to getting a tattoo anywhere else on your body. In this case, the difference is that it involves the application of medical-grade pigments to the center of your reconstructed breast.

One of the biggest advantages of nipple tattooing is that it is very customizable. You can work with our team to choose details such as the color, size, and placement of your nipple tattoos. So, when you choose The Breast Center for your areola pigmentation in Lone Tree, CO, you can rest assured that it blends beautifully and naturally with your skin and body.

There are a few different reasons to get a nipple tattoo. To begin with, it is a relatively simple treatment that has a high degree of satisfaction among patients. And unlike some secondary surgeries after breast reconstruction, it does not add any new scars to the breast. It can also be repeated as necessary to achieve the desired outcome and maintain the best possible results. This means you can reap the benefits of areola pigmentation throughout your whole life.

Nipple tattooing is almost always done after breast reconstruction. It is uncommon to perform it at the time of implant-based or autologous procedures. Instead, most surgeons recommend waiting at least four months after reconstruction is finished to see the results of that surgery.

For patients who have undergone nipple reconstruction, there is also a waiting period. It is generally recommended to complete areola pigmentation no sooner than three months after nipple reconstruction. That will allow the latest incisions to heal well before doing a tattoo.

You may be a candidate for nipple tattooing if you had breast reconstruction with a tissue flap or implant. It can also be done if you had subsequent breast shaping surgeries such as fat grafting.

However, areola pigmentation may not be right for everyone, including women who have damaged breast skin after radiation. It also may not work for those with overly thin breast skin due to mastectomy surgery. Our board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeons will gladly evaluate your candidacy and determine if nipple tattooing is an appropriate treatment for you.

After mastectomy and reconstruction, most women lose sensation in their breast area. That means that it is common to feel little to no pain when getting a nipple tattoo. After the treatment, pain should be minimal and can typically be controlled with over-the-counter pain medications.

It can take up to three weeks for a nipple tattoo to heal completely. At first, your tattoo will look red and irritated. The color may also look much darker than what you anticipated. These things are a normal part of the healing process. Please be patient as the color will gradually get lighter.

Nipple tattoo aftercare is relatively simple and straightforward. You will need to keep the area moist with a triple antibiotic ointment for at least five days. Expect some peeling to occur.

You may resume most regular activities, including eating, drinking, and exercising immediately following your procedure. However, please refrain from soaking in water for three weeks.

Nipple tattoos should last for many years without noticeable fading. But keep in mind that there are many different factors at play. These include the color of the tattoo and how well you care for it over time.

Because every situation is slightly different, It is difficult to predict exactly how long your areola pigmentation will last before the color degrades or gets blurry. Fortunately, you will have the opportunity to touch up your tattoo if you ever decide that you want to enhance its appearance.

Nipple tattoo aftercare is relatively simple and straightforward. You will need to keep the area moist with a triple antibiotic ointment for at least five days. Expect some peeling to occur.

Likewise, you’ll want to ensure that you’re getting sufficient rest. You may resume most regular activities, including eating, drinking, and exercising, immediately following your procedure. However, please refrain from soaking in water for three weeks.

Any cosmetic treatment you might consider will come with a baseline level of risk. For areola pigmentation, the most common risks include:

• Temporary swelling and discomfort around the areola
• Allergic reactions to the pigmentation
• Redness
• Infection
• Bruising and scabbing

Other risks of areola pigmentation treatment can include uneven pigmentation and scarring. It is worth mentioning that individuals who are prone to keloids may have an increased risk of scarring. All of these risks will be discussed and made clear during your initial consultation to ensure you have peace of mind going into the procedure. If these risks do not seem worth taking, Dr. Williams can offer you alternative treatments to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. 

Yes! As we briefly touched on earlier, nipple tattoos can be personally tailored to perfectly match your natural skin tone and desired look. When conducted by an expert like those at The Breast Center Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery, the tattoo will never be too light or too dark—it will match just right.

Once your areola pigmentation treatment is complete, it is common to experience some mild swelling and redness. These typically fade away after a week. It is important to follow the post-operative instructions provided by your doctor. Remember to limit sun exposure and rigorous exercise until your skin is fully healed. You will also need to keep the affected skin clean during your recovery to reduce the risk of an infection. If you experience any complications during your recovery, contact Dr. Williams immediately. 

Whether areola pigmentation is covered by insurance depends on whether the procedure is medically necessary. In most cases, areola pigmentation is performed as a cosmetic procedure. Most insurance companies do not cover cosmetic procedures, but there may be some exceptions. You will have to contact your insurance provider to be certain. 

Yes, it is possible for patients to combine areola pigmentation with other procedures. These procedures can include breast lifts, breast augmentations, and breast reconstruction. During your consultation with Dr. Williams, it is important to discuss your aesthetic goals as well as any concerns you may have. 

Patients can enjoy a wide variety of benefits by receiving areola pigmentation treatment.

These benefits include the following:

• Restored natural appearance - Receiving areola pigmentation can help patients restore the natural appearance of their breasts, especially for individuals who have had a mastectomy. This can help improve their self-esteem and boost their self-confidence. 

• Improved symmetry - This procedure can help improve the symmetry of a patient’s areola and make it appear more even. This is done by matching the color of the tissue to the areola.

• Reduced appearance of scarring - One of the biggest concerns patients have after undergoing a mastectomy or another type of breast surgery is the potential scarring. Areola pigmentation treatment can help reduce the appearance of these scars and make them less noticeable.

• It is minimally invasive - Areola pigmentation treatment is a minimally invasive procedure that can enhance the appearance of one’s breasts without the need for a surgical operation. Unlike most breast surgeries, you will not have to worry about excessive downtime, discomfort, and the cost of anesthesia. 

• Long-lasting results - Another key benefit of areola pigmentation is that the results are long-lasting. It should be noted that these results are meant to contribute to a permanent solution. However, it is possible for the pigmentation to fade over time, which may require routine touch-up appointments.

• It is highly customizable - Areola pigmentation is a highly customizable procedure. Patients can tailor it in just about any way they need to match their aesthetic goals.