When Amanda King helped her grandmother remove her bandages after a double mastectomy, she witnessed an emotional part of breast cancer recovery that would later shape her work. Her grandmother had felt prepared for the loss of her breasts, but seeing that her nipples were gone brought an unexpected sense of grief. Today, King offers 3D areola tattooing through her Pahrump business, King Ink, giving breast cancer survivors an opportunity to recreate that familiar appearance as part of their recovery.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and King hopes to bring greater awareness to this specialized service and the personal significance it can hold for those who choose it. For her, the work is rooted in both her artistic training and an understanding of what her grandmother experienced.
King began her career in permanent makeup without knowing areola tattooing was an option. As she became more involved in the field, she discovered its paramedical side, which includes specialized tattooing related to physical changes caused by medical procedures. Of those services, areola tattooing became her focus.
Her grandmother’s breast cancer diagnosis made that interest deeply personal. King traveled to Arizona to help her during recovery from a double mastectomy. Before the bandages were removed, her grandmother had expressed that she could accept the loss of her breasts. What she had not anticipated was how she would feel about the absence of her nipples.
“She’s like, ‘I don’t feel like a woman anymore,’” King recalled.
That moment stayed with King. It showed her that a change someone else might consider a small detail could carry profound emotional meaning for the person experiencing it.
“For the breast cancer warriors, they get so much taken from them,” King said.
Through areola tattooing, King hopes to offer clients a way to regain an appearance that feels familiar and comfortable to them. She recognizes that every survivor’s relationship with their body is different and that the decision to pursue tattooing is an individual one.
“It’s part of their healing journey for some,” she said. “I can’t speak for all. Just the women that I have talked to.”
The service uses pigment, detail and shading to recreate the appearance of a nipple and the surrounding areola. Although the tattoo is flat to the touch, the shading creates the visual impression of dimension. Specialized 3D nipple tattooing is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as an option for recreating the appearance of a nipple and areola following breast reconstruction.
King can work on one side to match an existing nipple and areola, or on both sides to recreate their appearance. The service is available for clients with or without surgical nipple reconstruction and can also restore color and detail following reconstruction.
To prepare for this work, King completed specialized, hands-on training at Brooke Kara Studio in Salt Lake City, Utah. A certified areola reconstruction specialist and permanent makeup artist, she described spending approximately four days working one-on-one with her instructor.
The individual training gave her dedicated time to learn the process and ask questions. That professional relationship also continues, providing a resource when she encounters a situation that calls for additional guidance.
King said she can reach out to her instructor with questions, including circumstances that did not arise during their training.
Before proceeding with tattooing, King requires a consultation. She prefers meeting in person, although virtual consultations are available. The consultation allows clients to discuss their circumstances, ask questions and explore the appearance they would like to achieve.
King generally asks clients to wait at least four to six months after their final surgery, unless their doctor advises otherwise. The appropriate timing depends on the individual’s recovery and should be discussed with their treating physician.
An appointment typically takes about three hours, allowing time to determine placement, select pigment colors, apply numbing cream if needed and complete the tattooing. Those preparatory steps are part of developing a result suited to each client.
Comfort needs vary. Some people have little or no sensation in the area following reconstruction, while others retain feeling. King offers topical numbing cream when needed to help clients remain comfortable during the appointment.
Following the procedure, she applies a protective dressing and provides aftercare instructions for clients to take home. The initial healing period typically lasts about seven to 10 days and may include slight scabbing and peeling.
King also schedules a touch-up approximately six to eight weeks after the initial appointment. She uses permanent body tattoo pigment with the goal of producing a lasting result, although the tattoos may benefit from freshening over time to maintain their color and the clarity of the 3D effect.
Along with explaining the procedure, King wants clients to understand their payment options. She works with Medical Tattooing Billing Service, known as MTBS, a third-party service that handles insurance preauthorization and claim submissions.
Clients who want to pursue insurance coverage complete paperwork with their insurance information. The billing service then works with the insurer to seek approval, taking on the communication and claims process.
“They fight for you,” King said.
Pursuing insurance coverage can take longer than paying directly because of the approval process. Coverage and any copay or other out-of-pocket responsibility depend on the client’s plan and the insurer’s determination.
Clients also have the option to pay directly. Pricing can vary depending on whether one or both sides are being tattooed, the presence of scarring and other individual considerations. King encourages those interested to contact her to discuss current pricing and availability.
Helping people learn that this service exists has become another important part of her work. King has placed information at Desert View Hospital, the VA, Hope Cancer Care and salons throughout Pahrump to reach people who may benefit from knowing their options.
She said connecting with potential clients can be challenging, particularly in a specialized field that many people may not encounter until they or someone close to them undergo breast cancer surgery.
As King continues building her portfolio, she hopes to make areola tattooing increasingly accessible. Her long-term goal is to be able to provide the service free of charge.
“That’s the goal in life, is to be able to just give back,” she said.
Her grandmother’s experience remains central to that purpose. By offering survivors another choice in their recovery, King hopes her work can help them feel more comfortable in their bodies and supported in a deeply personal decision.
For more information or to arrange a consultation, call or text King at 775-253-5665, visit king-ink.square.site, or find her on Instagram at @King_ink2023.
