Our Mission
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Our mission through the charity is to empower and dignify breast cancer survivors with realistic nipple tattoos from professionals.
Currently breast cancer survivors are offered a free, semi-permanent tattoo along with their mastectomy treatment. These tattoos fade away and cause detrimental physical and mental health issues for the survivor. Repeat tattoos aren’t often offered due to lack of NHS funding and can cause further damage to the delicate scar tissue.
The purpose of the Nipple Innovation Project is to provide education and funding for breast cancer survivors alongside a directory of verified tattoo artists whom hold the skills to complete specialist experience and skill in tattooing. We are the permanent, safe solution to the current standard of areola tattooing post breast reconstruction.
The focus of the Nipple Innovation Project is to raise the awareness of the importance of permanent 3D nipple tattoos. We are often surprised that people have still not heard this service exists.
We believe breast cancer survivors should have access to knowledge of both services including having knowledge and facts of this important life changing service, so they can make their own choice through an educated and informed decision.
A survey we conducted showed 81% of breast cancer survivors who received nipple tattoos using micropigmentation techniques were left with detrimental physical (excessive scarring & faded tattoos) and mental (suicidal thoughts and low self esteem) health issues. This doesn’t need to happen, we have a solution to the problem of fading nipple tattoos. No one should have to go through losing a nipple twice.
NiP aims to provide breast cancer survivors with a directory of specially trained artists throughout the UK, our goal is to make sure this service is easily accessible to all who need it.
The general consensus is that after mastectomy and reconstructive surgery you are placed on a waiting list through the NHS to receive a semi-permanent nipple tattoo. This is usually a simple pink or brown circle, which would need ‘annual top ups’.
Multiple tattoo sessions on this delicate skin can be extremely damaging and regular ‘top-ups’ can and often do cause further scarring which can leave the skin beyond tattooable, unable to retain pigment due to the excessive scarring, like in the example shown here.
It is so important this specialist tattooing is done by an experienced practitioner using suitable equipment capable of tattooing scar tissue, using the right techniques and pigments to ensure the highest long lasting results possible.
An example of a faded hospital tattoo
NiP became established in 2018 to be able to provide breast cancer survivors with free 3D nipple tattoos that are long-lasting. The tattoos we offer are done by specially trained artists who all work to the same consistent standard. It’s important that these tattoos are permanent, we strongly believe a nipple tattoo should never fade away, we believe by offering a permanent solution this will stop any further damage to already traumatised and delicate skin.
Our mission is to provide a safe, permanent and empowering alternative to the semi-permanent hospital tattoos that fade away and often cause further damage by inexperienced practitioners.
We are working hard to educate medical professionals by collecting data through surveys to show the benefits this treatment has when performed correctly and the adverse mental & physical health effects when not.
NiP Is Proudly Supported By
