Areola Tattooing: Emotional Healing & A Step-by-Step Journey Back to Yourself

Tracy Fensome

I’m Tracy Fensome founder of Tracy Fensome Clinics and Signature Academy, a multi-award-winning trainer, and a permanent makeup and medical tattooing specialist with over 20 years’ experience.

One of the most meaningful parts of my work is areola tattooing, a highly specialised treatment that helps restore the natural look of the areola and nipple area for breast cancer survivors with areola tattooing a specialist para medical treatment. It is a powerful, transformative service that goes beyond aesthetics. It is about comfort, confidence, and reclaiming your body in your own time and on your own terms.

What is Areola Tattooing?

Areola tattooing (also known as areola micropigmentation or medical tattooing) involves implanting bespoke pigment colour into the skin to recreate an areola or enhance the appearance of the areola. This can include:

– Creating a 3D areola and nipple effect after mastectomy or reconstruction
– Restoring pigment to faded, uneven or scarred areolas
– Enhancing areola symmetry after breast uplift or reduction surgery
– Providing gender-affirming results for trans and non-binary clients
– Softening and camouflaging surgical scars across the breast or chest area, surgery, injury scars

The technique blends my artistry and clinical precision, and the results can be life-changing giving my clients a renewed sense of emotional wellbeing over their appearance.

Who is it for?

This treatment is ideal for:

– cancer survivors following mastectomy or reconstruction
– Clients who have had nipple reconstruction but want colour and realism
– Individuals with scarring or asymmetry from surgery
– Those who’ve lost pigment due to trauma, burns or dermatological conditions
– Clients on gender-affirming journeys looking to complete their transformation

I’ve treated clients of all ages and backgrounds, and each journey is unique. What matters is that you choose this for you when the time feels right.

How the treatment works – step by step

Consultation
We start with a personal consultation where we talk through your goals, skin tone, medical history, and expectations. I will show you design and colour options, and we will co-create a plan that feels right for you.
2. Custom pigment selection
Using medical-grade, EU-compliant pigments, I mix a custom blend that suits your skin tone. This ensures a natural-looking finish, whether soft and subtle or more defined.
3. Application
A topical numbing cream is applied to ensure you are comfortable throughout (most clients do not feel anything. The treatment typically takes 90 minutes, depending on whether we are working on one or both sides, and if scar camouflage is also being included. You will be comfortable and kept warm.
4. Aftercare
You will receive a full aftercare plan, including how to clean and protect the area during the healing process (usually around 10–14 days). A follow-up appointment is offered after 6–8 weeks for any touch-ups or final adjustments.

The emotional benefit

Clients often say the areola tattooing session marks the moment they start to feel like themselves again, not because they weren’t whole before, but because they’ve chosen how they want to see and feel in their body going forward.

This isn’t cosmetic for vanity – it’s cosmetic for peace of mind, for dignity, for confidence.

Free Areola Tattooing & Scar Camouflage Treatments – June 2025

As part of my regulated training academy, I am offering two free model spaces for areola tattooing and scar camouflage for breast cancer survivors.

These take place during professional training and are fully overseen by myself and my team of qualified artists. The results are beautiful, natural, and delivered with the highest standard of care.

Location: Signature Academy, Luton – just off the M1 (J10) and 6 miles from the M25
Free parking on-site
Dates: 27–29 June 2025