The Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance is committed to making huge changes in the lives of breast cancer survivors - one areola at a time!

Spearheaded by Killer Beauty sponsored artist Tanya Buxton, the charity was founded in 2021 in order to give everyone the ability to end their cancer journey and regain control over their bodies and their lives. Each October, the charity focuses on fundraising for realistic areola and scar-concealing tattoos, as well as raising awareness of these treatments and promoting the highly skilled artists who dedicate their time to this work.

For many survivors of breast cancer, the loss of a nipple and areola can be emotionally devastating, and grafting on a nipple can have mixed results. In some hospitals, survivors after a mastectomy are given a free areola tattoo - however these are usually done by nurses and doctors with minimal tattoo experience, and performed with semi-permanent pigments.

Given that this skin is usually scarred, radiated and extremely delicate, it’s important that the procedure is carried out by experts with in-depth knowledge and experience. Tattooing with semi-permanent pigments may be appropriate for some procedures, but in areola restoration will only mean that the tattoo needs redoing every few years - using permanent pigments allows survivors to draw a line under their breast cancer journey, and prevent damage from repeatedly working the same areas of skin.

Before the artist gets to work on a realistic areola tattoo, they’ll get the correct placement, shape, size and colour palette, either by matching a remaining areola or using colour theory to compliment the skin tone. Treatments are usually carried out over two appointments to avoid overworking delicate skin, with 8-10 weeks between them to allow plenty of time for the tattoo to settle and heal fully.

The MTA’s fundraising events coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness month, and all funds go towards paying artists so that they can offer areola restoration and tattoo services free of charge to those who need them. Throughout October, tattoo artists can agree to hold flash days within their studios and donate the funds towards the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance’s free monthly clinics.

The Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance runs alongside Tanya’s campaign Celebrated Not Censored, which aims to resist social media in its censorship of areola tattoos. Women’s nipples are already subject to censorship when men’s aren’t, and in continuing to remove and ban images of areola tattoos as sexual images, social media sites are preventing survivors learning about this life-changing treatment.

If you can donate some time in October to raise money and awareness for the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance, sign up here today! You can also help by sharing the charity’s posts on Instagram and Facebook, or going to get your own tattoo from a flash day fundraiser!