21 Mastectomy Tattoo Ideas You Have to See

There are different reasons why women choose to get a mastectomy tattoo.

Many decide to get tattoos because of complications with reconstruction or to avoid more surgeries. Reconstruction surgery can be a very intense, long, and painful process. For this reason, some women choose to opt out of or stop reconstructive surgery and go flat. Still other women have issues with infected implants and end up removing them altogether.

Some women simply choose to go the tattoo route because it’s a beautiful, creative, and expressive option.

The timeline varies from person to person, and so does the advice. Some sources suggest waiting three to five months after breast surgery,^{1, 2} a plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction recommends six months to a year so the scar can mature and flatten,³ and others suggest waiting as long as three years after treatment.⁴

Whatever the number, the same things come first: your incisions are fully healed, you have finished chemotherapy and radiation, and any redness or skin breakdown from radiation has cleared.^{1, 3} Always talk to your doctor before starting the process.

Before settling on a tattoo artist, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Do your research. Visit shops, look up reviews, and check out portfolios. A great rule of thumb is to not choose the first shop you visit; research several before making a choice.

Be aware. A tattoo artist should let you know the downside of tattooing scar tissue. Scar tissue can be tattooed, but the color may have a slightly different hue or have trouble holding ink. Again, this varies from person to person. A knowledgeable tattoo artist will not only give you this information, but also try to work any scarring into the tattoo design for the most natural appearance.

A good place to start is P.ink (Personal Ink), a nonprofit that connects breast cancer survivors with tattoo artists who have mastectomy experience. Its website has an artist directory and design ideas, and every October it holds P.ink Day events, where survivors chosen through an application get tattoos from artists who donate their time.⁵

If there is no listed artist near you, look for a skilled artist whose portfolio you love, and ask whether they have experience tattooing over scars.

Tattoo artists don’t usually use numbing medicine,⁶ but many women have some numbness across the chest after a mastectomy. One plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction says most people find a mastectomy tattoo easier to sit through than a regular tattoo for that reason.³ Feeling varies from woman to woman, so talk with your artist about what to expect and about taking breaks.

Readers have asked whether going flat makes it hurt less. Often, yes: the chest usually has less feeling after a mastectomy, with or without reconstruction, so many women feel pressure or vibration more than pain. The one thing to know is that tattooing over scar tissue and the breastbone, which is close to the surface on a flat chest, can feel sharper than tattooing over padded areas, so those spots may need breaks.

Know the risks before you book.

• Pigment allergies. Tattoo ink can cause an allergic skin reaction, such as an itchy rash, and red ink is more likely to than other colors.⁶ Have a patch test completed first.
• Infections and diseases such as HIV or hepatitis. Equipment with infected blood on it can pass on diseases spread through blood.⁶ Skin that has had radiation can be more fragile, so the risk of infection is a little higher after radiation.² All credible tattoo artists provide a clean environment and sterile equipment.
• Color or pigment fade. This is common with any tattoo. Most tattoos take about two weeks to heal,⁶ so for best results, avoid swimming or sunbathing for at least two weeks after being tattooed to reduce the chance of fading. If you plan on being in the sun, apply plenty of sunscreen to help keep the color from fading.

Yes. Women who are flat are still able to wear breast forms and mastectomy bras over their mastectomy tattoos once the tattoo has healed. While it heals, follow your artist’s aftercare advice about what to wear against it.

If you don’t know where to start, the Mara by Amoena is the bra most women start with, and the Joy 9061 is a soft, inexpensive everyday choice. For a light form, the ABC 909 Seamless Triangle Puff is our best seller, followed by the ABC 910 Triangle Puff.