Nip This

I'm sure the topic of this entry will accidentally bring some readers via a Google Search. If you write about nipples, you KNOW you are going to get some unintended "hits." If this is you, welcome. Sorry this isn't what you're looking for. Much love to you.

I had the honor to be present when a friend got nipples tattooed.

Now, you might be wondering--"Wait? You mean she got her nipples tattooed with little flowers and someone's name?" (OMG, that would hurt. I can't go there.) No, I'm talking about someone who didn't have nipples got tattoos of nipples where nipples should be.

My Warrior friend (you may recall her from blogs a few years ago) had a double mastectomy, leaving her with no raviolis, as I call them. After surgery, she found herself with two beautifully-reconstructed, cancer-free breasts but they were sans nipples. In the big picture, you might not think that matters--after all, she's cancer-free... who cares about nipples? But, seeing your breasts, day in and day out, without what we normally associate with breasts gets old and leaves you feeling like an android (her description).

Here you have survived breast cancer, you've moved on to the next phase of your life, you've got these new perky breasts and every day when you get out of the shower, you see...

....those weird blank things that you know are supposed to be breasts and are breasts but they look like Android Barbie's breasts, not YOUR real breasts. 

That's what got Warrior Woman motivated about Hyper-realistic 3D nipples.

Information from her surgeon led her to a specialist in the tattoo field: an artist who does medical tattoos, including hyper-realistic 3D nipples. Go ahead. Google it. Talk about an amazing thing. What a wonderful gift that people like this exist in this world. 

BTW, that's three dimensional, not Triple D bra size.

Finding a talented tattoo artist who is amazing at this particular endeavor is paramount. After all, you want someone who specializes in this. This is no time for someone who is not well-versed in nipple tattooing. 

No one wants a misplaced areola.

Side note: I've learned there are a lot of places that advertise they do this kind of tattoo. Hmmm. That begs a lot of questions. Like, who the hell did they practice on? Are there a bunch of people with practice tattoos on their arms? How did they study? Nipples are complicated. Go ahead. Look at your nipples. Complicated. Nipples are all kinds of shapes and colors and sizes and lumps. Did they study each others' nipples in a tattoo nipple class? Did they study friends' raviolis? Did they google nipples and hope not to get a virus on their computer? I had to know, so a side trip to Google was taken. Wow. There are a lot of places that profess to be training venues in this specialty. Go figure.

Warrior friend decided to check out a place about an hour and a half a way. She found some who not only specializes in medical tattoos but is also affiliated with a hospital. Big points for that. Bonus points for this artist being covered by my friend's medical insurance. 

Talk about honored when she asked me to go to the consultation. I was in the car before she finished the sentence.

During the trip to the consultation appointment, we had plenty of time to talk about tattoos in general but also tattoos of this nature. Obviously, the tattoo artist in this area of expertise is going to be someone who is kind and gentle, patient, understanding--empathetic. The artist is going to have a great sense of color and aesthetics. Nipples are complicated. Color, placing, size matter. 

Let's not forget scars. They play into the picture, too. Complicated. 

More complicated? Being asked for input about color and size. I was momentarily mortified. I'd never seen Warrior Friend's raviolis when she had them. How the hell do I know what color or size she was or wants? I muttered a few words and smiled in a supportive manner. 

The consultation went swimmingly and thus an appointment for the procedure was scheduled. 

(I was tickled pink to be invited to the actual event. Giddy is probably more like it. This endeavor was meaningful, bordering on sacred. Humbled and giddy.)

The day for the new nips arrived quickly. The artist--and, Warrior friend, of course--invited me to sit in the room while the tattooing took place. (Don't worry--I sat quietly and behaved.) 

It's not a quick process.
There are a lot of thought and decisions required.
One size does not fit all.
Placement takes a few tries.
Colors need to be considered and mixed.
Tattooing can't be rushed. 

Talk. About. Amazing.

It was, from my outside-looking-in perspective, kind and gentle and healing. Perhaps a final spit in the fact to cancer, too.

The final product left me blushing. THAT is how realistic her new raviolis are. I was blown away. They totally look real. Unless you are looking from the side, you cannot tell these nipples aren't really there. (They indeed look 3D but they are not actually 3D, so side views don't give the 3D experience.)

It's been a few weeks now and I'm pleased to report that my friend is VERY impressed with her new tattoos. I think the new nips have put Android-Barbie in her place. 

Personally, I think she should flash those new tattoos whenever she's with friends or in public. Warrior friend lifts up shirt: "HEY! LOOK! I GOT SOME NIPPLE TATTOOS! Look at them. LOOK. AT. THEM! Are they not spectacular?" 

Oh, the fun she could have. Restaurant? Check. Major League baseball game? Check. Board meeting at work? check. Show them nipples!

Here's to breast-tacular fun.

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As for me, I want to thank the tattoo artists in the world who are doing this. What a gift to breast cancer survivors you are.