Close-up image of a breast featuring a tattoo that resembles a nipple, with surrounding skin showing healing scars.

💕 Insurance & Areola Reconstruction Tattooing 💕

The Plastic Flamingo accepts insurance for areola reconstruction tattooing! 🦩❤️

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment covered by insurance, please call the studio to receive the necessary forms and paperwork that must be completed before your first consultation. We want to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible while helping you take this meaningful step in your reconstruction journey.

We accept all insurance plans except Blue Cross Blue Shield. However, if you have Blue Cross Blue Shield, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We can still absolutely help you explore your options. 💕

We’re honored to be part of your healing and reconstruction journey. Our goal is to make this service as accessible as possible while helping you feel confident, comfortable, and at home in your body again.

You deserve to feel whole, supported, and celebrated every step of the way. 🦩💕

Eligibility for Areola Reconstruction

The Plastic Flamingo offers post-mastectomy areola reconstruction tattooing to eligible clients. Our priority is to provide safe, thoughtful treatment while achieving the best possible healed results.

To help ensure the treatment area is ready for tattooing, clients must meet the following criteria:

Healing period: At least six months must have passed since your last surgery. Some clients may need to wait longer, depending on their healing progress and medical history. We will come up with a game plan at your first consultation.
Healed skin: The treatment area must be fully healed, healthy, and free of open wounds or active infection. One sign we assess is whether redness in the scars fades or disappears when the skin is gently stretched. This can help us evaluate scar maturity, but it is only one part of determining whether the skin is ready for tattooing.
Individual assessment: Every client is evaluated individually to determine whether they are an appropriate candidate. Even when the surface appears healed, the underlying tissue may still be recovering. Allowing adequate time for healing can support better pigment retention and help reduce the risk of creating additional scar tissue from tattooing skin that is not ready.

Additional healing considerations

Clients who have undergone radiation therapy, experienced surgical complications, or had complex reconstruction may require additional healing time and medical clearance before treatment. The six-month minimum does not automatically mean the skin is ready.

Our priority is your safety, comfort, and well-being. If you are unsure whether you qualify, please contact The Plastic Flamingo. We are happy to discuss your individual circumstances and help you understand the next steps in your reconstruction journey. ❤️

How to Support Healing After Breast Cancer Surgery ❤️

After breast cancer surgery, your body needs time, nourishment, and gentle care to recover. Whether you’ve had a mastectomy, lumpectomy, breast reconstruction, or another procedure, taking care of yourself during recovery can help support wound healing and prepare your skin for future treatments, including areola reconstruction tattooing.

The goal isn’t to force your body to heal faster—it’s to give it the best conditions to heal safely. Always follow your surgeon’s specific instructions, especially if you’ve had reconstruction, radiation, or complications.

How to Support Healing After Breast Cancer Surgery ❤️

1. Silicone Scar Sheets

One option we recommend discussing with your medical team is silicone scar sheets. Silicone products are commonly used to help improve the appearance of fully healed surgical scars, including their texture, thickness, and redness. ❤️

Only begin using silicone sheets once your incision is completely closed and your surgeon confirms they are appropriate.
Use them consistently according to the product instructions and your healthcare provider’s recommendations.
Monitor your skin for irritation, rashes, or breakdown, and stop using them if these occur.

2. Vitamin E for Scar Care

Vitamin E is a popular ingredient in scar-care routines, and some people choose to apply it to fully healed skin.

If you’re considering vitamin E oil, speak with your healthcare provider before applying it to surgical scars, particularly if your skin is sensitive or you have undergone radiation.

Vitamin E products come in different forms, including oils and gel capsules. Capsules can be messy to open, and products vary in their ingredients and concentration. Avoid applying anything to an incision that is still healing, and discontinue use if irritation develops.

3. Microneedling and Professional Skin Treatments

Microneedling is a treatment that uses fine needles to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin. It is used in certain settings to address scar texture and other skin concerns, but it is not appropriate for every scar or every stage of recovery.

If you are considering microneedling after breast cancer surgery, consult your surgeon or oncology team first. Treatment should only be considered when the skin is adequately healed and a qualified professional has determined that it is appropriate for your circumstances.

The Plastic Flamingo offers additional skin services. If you would like to learn more about our available treatments and whether any may be appropriate for your scar-care goals, please call the studio.

4. Give Your Body the Support It Needs

Remember that scar healing takes time. Eating balanced meals with adequate protein, staying hydrated, avoiding nicotine, getting enough rest, and following your medical team’s instructions can all support your recovery.

Don’t rush the process. Skin may look healed on the surface while deeper tissues are still recovering, particularly after reconstruction or radiation.

Preparing for Areola Reconstruction

At The Plastic Flamingo, we want every client to have the healthiest possible foundation for their areola reconstruction tattoo.

Scar maturity, skin condition, surgical history, and individual healing all influence when it is appropriate to proceed. Taking good care of your skin is worthwhile, but no product or treatment can guarantee a particular tattoo result.

If you have questions about preparing for areola reconstruction or would like to learn more about our services, please contact The Plastic Flamingo. We are happy to help you understand your options and take the next step in your reconstruction journey. 🦩

Your body has been through a lot. Give yourself grace, allow yourself time to heal, and remember that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

Areola Reconstruction Tattoo Aftercare

Proper aftercare is an important part of the healing process and can help support the best possible healed results. At The Plastic Flamingo, we want you to feel comfortable and confident caring for your new areola tattoos.

The First Week: Derm Shield Protection

We use Derm Shield to help protect your tattoo during the first week of healing.

Keep your Derm Shield on as directed by your artist. It acts as a protective barrier while your skin begins to heal. Follow the specific wear-time and removal instructions provided at your appointment.
You can wear a bra. Choose a clean, comfortable bra that does not create excessive friction or pressure against the treated area. A soft, supportive bra may be more comfortable during healing.
Keep the area protected. Avoid rubbing, scratching, picking, or unnecessarily touching the tattoo.
Watch for irritation. If the Derm Shield begins leaking, lifts enough to expose the tattoo, or causes significant irritation, contact the studio for guidance. Remove it if you experience a concerning reaction, following the removal instructions provided by your artist.

After the First Week: Hustle Butter

Once your Derm Shield has been removed and you have reached the next stage of aftercare, you can pick up Hustle Butter from The Plastic Flamingo.

Apply a thin layer to the healing area according to your artist’s instructions.
Continue using it as directed until the container is empty.
Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
Avoid applying excessive product, as keeping the area overly moist can interfere with healing.
If you notice irritation or a possible allergic reaction, discontinue use and contact the studio or a healthcare professional as appropriate.

Additional Healing Guidelines

Throughout the healing process:

Do not pick, scratch, or pull off flaking skin.
Avoid swimming, soaking in baths, and other activities that submerge the tattoo until it is fully healed.
Avoid unnecessary friction, pressure, and activities that irritate the treated area.
Do not apply other creams, ointments, or skincare products unless recommended by your artist.
Allow the tattoo to heal naturally. Do not attempt to correct fading or uneven color while the skin is healing.

What to Expect During Healing

Your tattoo may look darker or more vibrant immediately after the procedure. As the skin heals, the color and appearance will change. Some light flaking or temporary tenderness may occur.

Because areola reconstruction often involves scar tissue or reconstructed skin, healing and pigment retention can vary from person to person. Please allow the area to heal completely before evaluating your final results.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly if you develop spreading redness, increasing pain, significant swelling, pus, fever, or other signs of infection.

Questions About Your Aftercare?

We are here to support you throughout your healing journey! If you have questions or concerns about your areola reconstruction tattoo, please contact The Plastic Flamingo at 386-262-4042 before trying to correct the issue yourself.

Thank you for trusting us with such a personal and meaningful part of your reconstruction journey. ❤️🦩

Your Reconstruction, Your Way ❤️🦩

After everything you’ve been through, you deserve to have the final say in how you look and feel in your body. As your breast cancer and reconstruction journey begins to come to an end, this is your opportunity to make your results truly your own!

Areola reconstruction doesn’t have to look one particular way. While some people prefer a natural, realistic nipple and areola, others want something completely unique that reflects their personality. Your body, your choice, your vision. 🩷

At The Plastic Flamingo, we can create custom areola tattoos in a variety of shapes, styles, and designs. Want traditional, natural-looking areolas? Absolutely! Want hearts, stars, flowers, or something completely different? We love helping you explore the possibilities!

🌸 Flowers for something soft and beautiful.

💖 Hearts for a playful, meaningful design.

⭐ Stars for something bold and unique.

🌈 Custom designs that reflect your personality, your journey, and what makes you feel most like yourself.

And this service isn’t just for women who have undergone breast cancer treatment. We also welcome men, transgender and nonbinary clients, and anyone who has undergone top surgery or other chest procedures and wants to restore, redesign, or personalize the appearance of their nipples and areolas.

There is no single right way to look after surgery. Some people want their results to look as natural as possible, while others want something artistic, expressive, or completely unconventional. Whatever your vision, your preferences deserve to be heard and respected.

After everything your body has been through, this is your chance to choose what feels right for YOU.

At The Plastic Flamingo, we believe your reconstruction should reflect who you are—not what anyone else thinks it should look like.

💕 Let’s create something that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and authentically YOU.

Ready to explore your options? Contact The Plastic Flamingo at 3862624042 to get your journey finished and let’s talk about your vision! 🦩✨

areola tattooing done by Brittany Hayward of the Plastic Flamingo