BODY
3D Areola Tattooing - The Final Step of Recovery
BY MARIJKE LINDEQUE SCHREIBER
“What is a woman without her breasts?”
One in every 8 woman in South Africa will develop breast cancer before the age of 45, and with these statistics already shockingly high, they are increasing year on year.
“Paramedical tattooing is considered the Icing on the cake”.
No doubt that breast cancer changes a woman’s life indefinitely, and even throughout this journey, it is filled with daunting roller coaster experiences, which once survived, is never forgotten.
As a paramedical tattoo artist, I have had the privilege of assisting in finalising this daunting journey with the final ‘Icing on the cake” step, giving woman back what they had once lost, not only literally but emotionally, empowering them to feel like a true woman again.
Reconstructive surgery has come a long way in the past twenty years, and with beautiful breastwork being done. I have seen woman whose chests look 100% better after breast cancer, with some clients removing theirs breasts as a preventative approach, removing the negative consequences of breast cancer all together.
3D Areola tattooing is the final step after months of chemo and sometimes many surgeries, and once clients approach me, they have had numerous procedures that have been performed to get them to where they are.
I have come across many questions with these procedures. Here is a general guideline of what to expect:
HOW LONG DOES THE PROCEDURE TAKE?
The procedure takes approximately 2 – 3 hours to be performed. At the start of the procedure, a topical anaesthetic is used to numb the skin for 30 minutes. Once this has been done, we proceed with drawing and measuring for perfect symmetry, followed with starting the tattoo procedure.
IS THE PROCESS PAINFUL?
With the initial start of the procedure, one can expect to feel a slight sensation, but no pain. Once the first pass has been done with pigment, a secondary topical anaesthetic is used, numbing the skin even further as well as preventing any bleeding.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED?
Scar tissue is one of the most difficult tissues to work on and does not react to tatttoing like normal skin does. Scar tissue can reject pigment or hold it, and for this reason, multiple tattooing sessions might be needed to create the desired result. No two scars react the same, and each treatment is customized to suit the procedure at hand.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL?
After the procedure, the area will be covered and the appropriate homecare will be issued. It is important to avoid any friction with clothes on the newly tattooed area, and to try and avoid water on the area for a minimum of one week. Surely one can still bath, but just avoid the area that has been treated with water. As with any other tattoo, the aftercare is as important as the procedure itself.
IS THE PROCEDURE PERMANENT AND WHAT IF I DONT LIKE IT…
It is important to understand that the pigment used for Areola work, is not the same as pigment used for tattoo’s. Pigment used are organic in nature and specifically designed for these procedures, and for this reason, is only semi-permanent. General fading will occur, and one would have to do touch-ups at 3 to 5 year intervals to maintain colour intensity. Even though I have never come across a removal request for areola work, one can perform a removal procedure if the end result is not what was expected.
HOW LONG WILL ONE WAIT BETWEEN TREATMENTS?
6-8 Weeks healing time would be adequate to ensure that the colour from the first session has adequately ‘settled’ into the skin.
HOW LONG AFTER MY TREATMENT HAS BEEN CONCLUDED CAN I HAVE MY AREOLA TATTOOED? The ideal time frame is 6 months, taken into account that medical clearance has been given by your physician. Due to the bodies immune system being impaired with all the different medications issued, it wouldn’t be advisable to start sooner.
Remember how far you’ve come, not just how far you have to go.
You are not where you want to be, but neither are you where you use to be.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME
I qualified with distinctions Internationally as a Somatologist in 2004 and qualified in Permanent make-up and Paramedical Tattooing in 2011. For the past 17 years, I have had the priveledge to act as a trainer and principal for Dermalogica South Africa, Helia-D International and Face to Face South Africa. I have acted as Business Development Manager for Merz Aesthetics, as well as IS Clinical and Xymogen Products for SA, Namibia and Botswana. These positions have allowed me to gain insight into treating the skin holistically, aesthetically and with a specialised and detailed cosmeceutical approach.
My passion has always been to uplift, empower and inspire people. Being a true perfectionist, I take great pride in ensuring that whatever I do, I do it to the best of my ability and understanding the skin’s integrate workings, allows me to approach and treat the skin effectively and efficiently.
Other procedures that I specialise in includes:
- Permanent Makeup Eyebrow Procedures
- Permanent Makeup Eyeliner Procedures
- Permanent Makeup Lip Procedures
- Aesthetic Advanced Facials including Microneedling
- Scar Camouflage Procedures
- Stretch Mark Camouflage Procedures
- Hair Follicle Stimulation or Scalp Pigmentation Procedures
- 3D Areola Procedures
My Motto has always been – Transform, Renew and Rejuvenate.
Marijke Lindeque Schreiber
Micro Pigmentation & Paramedical Tattoo Specialist
medmdbookings@gmail.com
0825705617 (Whatsapp only)
