Areola Repigmentation – Nipple Tattooing

Scarring of the areolae is common in breast lift surgery and can sometimes cause pronounced hypopigmentation, or loss of skin color. Repigmentation, also known as micropigmentation or dermagraphics, replaces or enhances skin color through small implantations of ink via a tattoo gun. Areola repigmentation, or nipple tattoo, can be used to cover up hypopigmentation of the areola, cosmetically enhance the areola, or even replace an areola after surgical removal.

Checking a Technician's Training and Background

As with a plastic surgeon, check out the technician's background. How long have they been performing repigmentation? How many procedures have they performed? Ask to see their certificates of training and their tattoo license, if required by your state. Also ask to see any continuing education certificates from seminars, conferences or specialty courses.

Ask to see the technician's portfolio, which should contain photos of their recent work – and be sure to ask them if it is indeed their own work and not generic samples of repigmentation. Ask if you can speak to any of his or her clients personally for a referral. Determine if this technician's work reflects your own cosmetic style. Is it natural? Is he or she open to your wishes? Is anesthetic offered? Is it topical or injectable? An injection should be performed by a nurse, although some technicians advise clients to go to their dentist for a shot of lidocaine.

Preparing for Your Nipple Tattoo Procedure

There really is no preparation as the procedure is not very invasive, certainly no more invasive than a regular tattoo. Be sure this is what you want. Tattoos can be removed, but it isn't an easy, quick or inexpensive process.

Refrain from alcohol at least 2 days before your procedure, and don't take any aspirin, ibuprofen or vitamin E for at least 1 week prior. Any of these substances can cause you to bleed during the procedure.

How This Procedure Is Performed

The technician puts on a pair of protective gloves and inspects your skin to make sure you have no cuts, scrapes or other types of broken skin. The area is either swabbed with alcohol, sprayed with an antiseptic solution, or both. The technician shaves the area with a disposable razor.

Once the technician transfers a stencil of the tattoo or draws it freehand onto your skin, and you verify the placement of the design, a thin layer of petroleum jelly or other ointment is spread over the area to be tattooed.

Tattoos are applied by using a small electric device or by hand with a needle bar that holds from 1 to 14 needles, each in its own little tube. The technician guides the machine along the skin, controlling speed and power by a foot pedal. The tattooing device basically works like a miniature sewing machine: the needle bar moves up and down quickly, forcing the needles into the superficial (epidermis) and middle layer (dermis) of the skin and implanting whatever colored pigment the technician applies to the needle. The tubes restrict the needles from penetrating any deeper than a couple of millimeters.

Excess pigment, blood and other bodily fluids ooze out from the puncture wounds and the technician repeatedly wipes them off with an absorbent disposable towel.

The level of pain depends on the individual's threshold and the tattoo site. You will feel tender, possibly a little sore. This can be relieved with Tylenol.

When the technician has completed the repigmentation, the tattoo is sprayed with water and antiseptic and wiped off. A layer of Bacitracin is applied over the tattoo and you are instructed to wash it no more than twice a day with mild soap and water.

The Road to Recovery

Gently wash the site with mild soap and apply hand cream or Bacitracin as needed. Do not apply more gauze to the area, leaving it exposed to the air so that it can begin to heal, but keep the area moist until the healing is complete, usually 7 to 10 days. Until then, do not apply cosmetics over the area and no peroxide, which will "bubble" the healing skin and ink away. Do not expose your new nipple tattoo to direct or artificial sunlight for at least two weeks to avoid sunburn or color fade. Do not go swimming in fresh, salt or chlorinated water, all of which could cause the pigment to fade.

Risks and Complications of Micropigmentation

Allergic reactions to permanent cosmetics are quite rare but can occur at any time. Request a skin patch test in an inconspicuous area prior to having a procedure performed. If you are prone to keloids or hypertrophic scarring, you may develop scar tissue at the treatment site. General dissatisfaction may be an issue, either because of a difference of opinion or a change of heart. Think this over before committing.