A TATTOOIST who started her profession in Keighley goes nationwide along with her charity offering nipple tattoos for breast most cancers survivors.
Lucy Thompson began the Nipple Innovation undertaking to assist girls who’ve needed to go endure mastectomies.
Lucy, who for 3 years ran the Skinflicted tattoo studio in Keighley, believes all post-mastectomy sufferers within the UK ought to have easy accessibility to the free service.
She has launched into a seek for skilled artists from all through the UK who can be taught the specialist process.
Lucy stated: “I consider everybody within the UK ought to have entry to this everlasting therapeutic service so we’re presently constructing a group of compassionate and skilled paramedical practitioners all through the UK and Eire with six on our map to date.
“I’m presently the furthest particular person north in England. I’m greater than open to travelling up north to Newcastle, Scotland and past to carry visitor spots however its not a long-term repair so have been very eager to listen to from individuals who can be concerned with studying extra about what we do and what we are able to obtain collectively.”
The Nipple Innovation Mission not too long ago turned an official charity, the UK’s first for most cancers tattoos, and is pushed by the purpose of empowering girls.
It was based by Lucy, who travelled to Texas again in 2017 to be taught the artwork of everlasting nipple tattooing. The trigger is one near her coronary heart.
Considered one of Lucy’s first shoppers was her auntie, who underwent a breast re-construction, nipple graft and tattoo in hospital.
The tattoo pale over time, prompting Lucy to discover a approach to assist her auntie and different girls dealing with the identical dilemma.
She travelled 5,000 miles to endure specialist coaching along with her mentor, Stacie Rae, at The Home of A.R.T (Areola Restorative Tattooing) in San Antonio, Texas – and hasn’t appeared again.
The influence is obvious to see, with girls praising Lucy for serving to them “really feel like a girl once more” after gruelling most cancers journeys.
Lucy stated: “We purpose to supply funding for everlasting and real looking 3D nipple and ornamental tattoos following mastectomy surgical procedure, as a way to support bodily and emotional therapeutic – freed from cost to all survivors funded by way of fundraisers and donations.
“We’re trying to educate and lift consciousness within the distinction of what we, specifically educated paramedical artists do, additionally to let others know there may be now a complicated various real looking and everlasting choice to the essential semi-permanent possibility that’s usually the one out there selection in a hospital.”
“It is a very area of interest topic but additionally one which deserves consciousness elevating as a result of it genuinely helps save lives.
“So many individuals don’t even know that is an possibility. We’re actually making an attempt to teach and lift consciousness.
“We’re making an attempt to supply an alternative choice to the NHS and alleviate among the strain by coaching up specialists to supply this as a everlasting answer.
“We really feel nurses and surgeons have already got so much to decide to and deal with – particularly now – so possibly leaving tattooing to a specialist is the way in which to go ahead.
“We have now achieved Freedom of Info requests and know that these procedures can value the NHS £856 for bilateral semi-permanent tattoos that may fade away after as little as three months.
“Or alternatively we cost £350 for bilateral everlasting and real looking tattoos that by no means fade away. N.I.P is making an attempt to boost funds to have the ability to supply this remedy at no cost for everybody and alleviate some if not loads of strain off the NHS.”
Go to www.nippletattoos.co.uk
