Permanently Beautiful

The nice weather has brought out waves of pink-shirted walkers and runners bobbing their way through American towns. They wind through city streets in their pink shirts to support women who are fighting breast cancer and to raise money for local cancer hospitals and the American Cancer Society. Nearly everyone in America has shared a family member’s battle with cancer or has supported a friend who is fighting against this insidious disease. Every year, breast cancer strikes 1in 8 women and a number of men. An estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer were reported among American women in 2009, in addition to 62,280 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. Among U.S. men, 1,990 new cases of invasive breast cancer were reported.

When breast cancer necessitates the removal of a breast, the decision can be traumatic, affecting a woman’s core view of herself. Our breasts are part of what define us as women. Losing a breast to mastectomy makes many breast cancer survivors feel less feminine and less confident about their appearance. Long experience working with breast cancer survivors led paramedical cosmetic tattoo expert Melany Whitney to develop a realistic three-dimensional nipple and areola restoration technique that helps women regain their feeling of femininity after a mastectomy. Click here to find out more.

Christina Applegate

With advances in breast reconstruction surgery, more women are choosing to fight cancer by having their entire breast removed instead of just the immediately affected tissue. They feel that when cancer is diagnosed, removal of the entire breast gives them the best chance of long-term health. By removing the entire breast, women feel they are removing the opportunity for cancer to recur or spread. In fact, the emotional, physical and financial cost of fighting breast cancer and the constant worry of recurrence or spread has a growing number of women pressuring surgeons to remove healthy breasts as a preventive measure.

Many women were shocked by Christina Applegate’s decision to have both healthy breasts removed two years ago when she discovered she carried a known genetic risk marker for breast cancer. But since then more than 9,000 women have followed her lead and had a healthy breast removed, according to a new study in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Expert permanent makeup artist Melany Whitney works closely with many breast cancer patients and their surgeons to help create real-looking breasts after mastectomy. Through her work with breast cancer patients, Melany has developed a unique paramedical tattooing technique that can create a real-looking three-dimensional nipple and areola on a reconstructed breast. Melany’s technique and artistry allow breast cancer survivors to feel confident and proud about their breasts after mastectomy.

In good news for breast cancer survivors, a new survey of women who underwent paramedical tattooing to create nipple-areolas as part of breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy found a high rate of long-term patient satisfaction. Published in the Annals of Plastic Surgery, the report demonstrates acceptance by both the medical community and breast cancer patients of nipple-areola tattooing as a viable alternative to additional surgery in breast reconstruction.

Six years following paramedical tattooing, fully 84% of the women surveyed continued to rate their nipple-areola tattoo as satisfactorily pleasing in appearance; and 86% of patients agreed they would again choose a nipple-areola tattoo over other possible breast reconstruction options. Two to six years post surgery, more than half of the women (57%) surveyed reported that their nipple-areola tattoo still looked like a normal areola. Fewer than 3% reported problems with rash or infection post-procedure.

While 60% of tattoos in the study were marginally lighter in coloration than the natural areola, only 10% required any touching up to correct for excessive fading. Expert paramedical tattoo artist Melany Whitney has developed a procedure that minimizes potential fading of nipple-areola tattoos. By implanting a second layer of pigments six weeks after the initial implantation of permanent cosmetics, Melany is able to increase color retention and tattoo longevity. She has received no complaints about premature fading from her nipple-areola patients. In fact, Melany’s clients have been amazed by the realism and illusion of nipple protrusion achieved by Melany’s unique artistry and expert tattooing technique.

What's you bra color?

Tiger stripes. Purple with lace. Boring beige. Plain white. What’s the update in your Facebook status box today? Color. Just a single word statement of solidarity and support. Women started posting their bra color to their Facebook status update in the morning. Before they arrived at the office the phenomenon had gone viral. Single color statements of white or black were soon joined by the more colorful choices of women who enjoy expressing their individuality with their undergarments. Plaid with tiny flowers. Pink roses. Leopard spots. Red with yellow polka dots. No one really knew what was going on or why but it was fun!

For many it turned became a way to “spread the wings of cancer awareness.” It started out just for us girls with women sending their status only to gal pals. But it didn’t take men — and the media – long to catch on. Some guys even started posting their boxer colors in support! Whatever the reason for participating, it was a fun way to show your support for the fight against breast cancer.

Permanent cosmetics expert Melany Whitney is a long-time supporter of breast cancer awareness. Her revolutionary areola repigmentation and nipple restoration techniques have helped breast cancer patients undergoing breast reconstruction regain confidence in their personal beauty and femininity. Combining her skilled artistry with expert cosmetic tattoo micropigmentation techniques, Melany is able to create a natural three-dimensional appearing nipple and areola for women who have lost a breast to cancer.

The cameras may be positioned to make it less obvious, but look carefully and you’ll notice that hunky Twilight star Robert Pattinson suffers from grossly uneven nipples. Perhaps it’s embarrassment about his nipples and not his professed fear of injuring his beloved that is really at the core of vampire Edward Cullen’s sexual abstinence. Pattison’s Twilight alter ego is rarely shown shirtless, perhaps with good reason.

Fortunately, fans of the vampirous Brit need not worry. Robert’s uneven nipples can be permanently fixed by areola restoration, a specialized type of paramedical tattooing perfected by Melany Whitney. A nationally recognized expert and innovator in the field of permanent makeup, Melany has developed a unique tattooing process using special tools and pigments to create realistic-looking nipples. Originally developed to help breast cancer patients undergoing breast reconstruction, Melany’s innovative tattooing process produces a normal-looking, textured, three-dimensional nipple.

Melany’s cosmetic tattooing procedure can be used to provide men with the perfectly symmetrical nipples every man desires. Small nipples can be made to look larger. Melany’s specialized tattoo shading techniques can correct the size, color and shape of male nipples and areola (the colored skin surrounding the nipple) so that they are larger, attractively tinted and perfectly positioned. Don’t be embarrassed to take your shirt off. Melany Whitney can make male nipples look normal again.

Find out more about Melany’s unique tattooing techniques on our website.

I love the cool tat-designed Warriors in Pink t-shirt worn by NCIS star Pauley Perrette in the new Ford Cares fight against breast cancer public service announcement. Pauley plays the fabulously funky, tat-loving, sweet and huggable Princess of Darkness Abby Sciuto on the hit CBS crime show. The fight against breast cancer is close to Pauley’s heart. She lost her mom to breast cancer in 2002. When you purchase Pauley’s cool Midnight Warrior T-Shirt or other Warriors in Pink gear, Ford donates 100% of net profits to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

Warriors in Pink is just one of several new breast cancer awareness efforts aimed at younger women. At the forefront of this edgier, humorously self-aware approach is Canadian-based charity Rethink Breast Cancer. Their tongue-in-cheek, jiggly, giggly Save the Boobs psa recently rocked YouTube. Sponsors of Toronto’s annual Boobyball breast cancer benefit gala, the group is trying to connect with MTV-raised women who don’t see breast cancer as a personal risk, despite the fact that 5% of U.S. women battling breast cancer are under 40.

Pink t-shirts proclaiming “Save the ta-tas” and other cheeky slogans have catapulted Julia Fikse’s same-named Southern Cal t-shirt business to popularity among 20- and 30-somethings. The fashion designer donates 5% of every sale to breast cancer research and awareness in support of family members who are battling the disease.

That same personal involvement with women battling breast cancer led renowned paramedical tattoo artist Melany Whitney to develop her unique 3-D nipple and areola breast restoration technique.

As women we reject the chauvinistic notion that we are defined by our most protruding feature. We are not our breasts. Yet, the undeniable reality is that our breasts do differentiate us as wholly female and are inextricably intertwined with our sense of femininity. When a woman loses a breast to cancer, she grieves. Part of what makes her feel female is gone forever. The emotional struggle to adjust to the loss of a breast from mastectomy is one more hurdle toward recovery.

Breast reconstruction surgery has helped many breast cancer survivors regain confidence in their femininity. But breast reconstruction provides only the shape of the lost breast. For many women, the scarring and lack of areola and nipple definition can be as horrible as the initial loss and a jarring daily reminder of that loss. A breast is more than a mound of tissue. The deeper colored areola and protruding nipple define a woman’s breast. Without that essential definition it is difficult for many women to embrace a reconstructed breast as their own.

Many plastic surgeons do not understand the emotional need to create an aesthetically realistic breast. Through her work with mastectomy patients, paramedical tattoo expert Melany Whitney came to realize the deep emotional need breast cancer survivors had for reconstructed breasts that looked real. Combining her artistic ability and professional expertise, Melany developed a unique micropigmentation tattoo technique that recreates the natural, three-dimensional look of a real breast. Click here to see actual results. Paramedical breast restoration can be the final step in successful breast cancer recovery.

Most of us have a family member or close friend who has had or who is now struggling against breast cancer. For women, the fight against breast cancer is a universal experience, the struggle that binds us to each other, the cause that brings us together. Breast cancer doesn’t distinguish rich from poor, CEO from sales clerk, professional woman from hotel maid, Hollywood celebrity from small town soccer mom. For women, breast cancer is the great equalizer and the fight against it, a common bond.

If you are close to someone who has fought against breast cancer, you understand the difficulty and intensity of the struggle. You’ve held her hand and cried with her. You’ve kept her company in cold, drafty hospital rooms. You’ve watched her children when the nausea from chemotherapy made her ill. You’ve delivered endless casseroles when she was too exhausted to cook. You may have shaved your head in solidarity or grown your locks for donation to Locks of Love. You’ve walked and cycled countless miles to raise funds for cancer research. Most of all, you’ve been there when your friend needed you most. If you are fortunate, you’ve helped your friend survive for we are slowly, at long last, winning the fight against breast cancer.

But even after the fight is won, the struggle to adjust to the loss of a breast from mastectomy can be a difficult hurdle, one more agonizing battle in the fight against breast cancer.

Thursday: How Permanent Makeup can help your loved one fight the final battle in breast cancer recovery.

Breasts are central to our identities as women. Whether it be from social pressure or not, from adolescence onwards we vascillate between embarrassment and pride over their power to make us feel feminine. Our clothing choices are made based on whether we want to flaunt or disguise our feminine assets, and we are met with them regularly between the mirror and the shower. They have to be considered as we take up sports. And then of course, there’s motherhood, which makes them useful in a whole new way.

For breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomies, issues of mortality may give way to an appreciation of life, where ideas about femininity and identity come up. That trip between the mirror and the shower may not offer the reflection it once did and that can be difficult to deal with, let alone sharing the view with anyone else. Research has shown that having breast reconstruction improves self-image and morale, which may help improve the odds of surviving breast cancer.

An aspect of reconstruction is permanent areola repigmentation and nipple restoration. Even for women who have had other breast surgery, or who may have irregular or fading areolas, permanent paramedical breast restoration may seem like nothing short of a medical miracle. Melany Whitney’s permanent areola repigmentation and nipple restoration techniques employ cosmetically tattooed micropigmentation to restore the natural beauty of your breasts so you can regain confidence in your own femininity.

The removal of a breast due to cancer surgery is a deeply felt loss. Our breasts are part of what defines us as women. Though we understand the necessity of the medical procedure and are grateful for the renewed opportunity to embrace life, the loss is still painful. We grieve for our lost femininity and feel less whole. Breast reconstruction surgery allows us to reclaim our bodies and our femininity.

Breast reconstruction begins with the surgical creation of the 3-dimensional breast shape. But what makes a reconstructed breast seem real and feminine is the repigmentation of the skin that creates a natural-looking areola and nipple and makes the breast look real. Feeling that you look as feminine and whole as you did before surgery can be critical to a woman’s emotional recovery from breast cancer and her ability to accept herself.

Unfortunately not all reconstructive efforts result in a natural-looking breast. Many plastic surgeons lack the expertise and artistry necessary to perform the exacting paramedical tattooing involved in repigmenting the skin to create a natural-appearing areola and nipple. Some leave this vitally important procedure to inexperienced nurses or medical personnel. Many never mention to their patients that there are other options to having this critical final step performed in the surgeon’s office. 

Nationally recognized permanent makeup and paramedical tattooing expert Melany Whitney has developed a unique micropigmentation process for use in breast restoration that restores a woman’s sense of beauty. Calling upon her considerable skill and experience, Melany is able to artistically recreate a realistic, naturally-colored areola and three-dimensional appearing nipple. Grateful clients call Melany’s new technique nothing short of a miracle. For full information visit the Whitney Center for Permanent Cosmetics.