FAQS 

Our annual sign ups for P.ink Days are held every year, and are generally announced in the late spring when we have commitment from tattoo studios that wish to participate. Stay tuned to our website and Facebook page for announcements, or better yet, use the link in our website header to join our mailing list for announcements!

Following are the list of statements that you will need to be able to agree and adhere to when you apply, in order to be considered for a P.ink Day tattoo. We are unable to accommodate exceptions. Thanks for your understanding! You have had a mastectomy (single or bilateral), and are seeking a decorative tattoo over your mastectomy site. You understand that we do not provide nipple/areola tattoo/s, side or under-breast tattoos, port or TRAM scar tattoos) as part of P.ink Days You are at least two years out from my last surgery, and have no pending surgeries. (Note that some scars can take longer to heal, and it will be up to the artists to determine whether they can achieve a good outcome for you, or whether it would be better for you to wait) You do not have any existing tattoos on your chest area - between the neck and your bra line area. Areola tattoos are ok. You agree that you will receive a tattoo that can be completed in 6-8 hours. A good frame of reference is a medium open-hand sized tattoo. If you want more than that, it's your responsibility to make those arrangements with your artist well ahead of time, offer to pay your artist for any additional sessions, and inform your event organizer of those arrangements. You also understand that they may not have availability for some time to schedule you. You understand that you will be matched with an artist who is best suited to execute your design ideas. Your artist is the expert and will have the final say on design composition and placement as they understand what works best with your body and scars. You understand that you will see your draft tattoo design the day of your event, and the opportunity for adjustments will be available at that time. There will be a mandatory phone/video or in person consultation with your artist to discuss your design ideas prior to that. You are able to fully commit to the date and location that you sign up for. You understand that you are allowed to bring one adult guest who may attend the opening ceremony at the beginning of the event, and come back for your reveal and closing ceremony at the end of the event. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate guests at our shops for the entire day. You agree to cover all travel related expenses should you choose to travel to a P.ink location. You agree that images of your tattoo from the event may be used by us for marketing purposes.

We have a road-map for expansion into areas where we currently have no coverage, taking population density into account, as well as demand, and a number of other demographics. We identify artists in those areas through recommendations from our current trusted artist network, and work with them to identify shops to host and local artists to participate. That vetting process takes into account a number of variables, including, but not limited to, willingness. Artists have to have not just the right skills to work with scar tissue and radiated skin, but really also need to have an understanding of the truly emotional impact of this work! We find these things are best assessed by our already skilled and experienced artists. Once we have a location willing and able to participate we recruit for a local leader, who would recruit other volunteers to help out. We understand and love that many people want to organize P.ink Day events in their home towns, and while we cannot guarantee if or when we'll be adding your town to our roadmap, we invite you to fill out a volunteer interest form, which can be found on our Contact Us page, and we will reach our when and if we have a need!

If you'd like to be included in our artist directory, or if you'd like to volunteer for a P.ink Day event, head over to our Contact Us page and scroll down to find the link to apply!

We welcome artists to apply to be in our directory from anywhere in the world. If you are an artist who wants to be listed in our directory, head over to our Contact Us page and click the Artist Interest link to apply. If you're looking for an artist outside the US, check our directory from time to time to see if we have artists in your area.

Our main focus is on artists who specialize in decorative mastectomy tattoos, but we do know of a directory that might help. One of our artists does this type of training and has a list of artists that have completed it. Copy and paste the link below to access the directory. If you cannot find an artist in your area on this list, we strongly recommend that you do your research and find a practitioner who has experience, and training in this specific work. As always, ask for references! https://www.areolarestorativetattoo.com/artists?fbclid=IwAR30HK0FXbFztzGQi6IF13MAmKr-sVhTzYPkSwSrKa-6uek7HkE4_8RoqVU

A great resource is to search Instagram on #mastectomytattoo. You will find hundreds of design ideas there to inspire you!

Typically, doctors advise waiting 2 years after your mastectomy before starting the mastectomy tattoo process. Check with your doctor to be safe. Everyone heals a bit differently.

Mastectomy tattoos are an alternative that many choose to get for their own emoltional and physical healing. It's a very personal decision and we encourage you to consider you options carefully. Also, please consult with your doctor before applying to make sure this is right for you as everyone’s medical history is different.

Usually 18 but varies by state, for more information visit: http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/tattooing-and-body-piercing.aspx

Everyone's medical demands and artistic tastes vary greatly. Artist fees run between $200 and $2,000 (USD) or more depending on the situation, size and complexity of the desired design.

Two of our programs, P.ink Day and the P.ink Fund, provide complimentary tattoos for survivors. P.ink Day: Each October we organize P.ink Days, an all-out, volunteer-driven day of creative reclamation for survivors which culminates in a complementary tattoo. P.ink Fund: October aside, we're also working year-round to impact change. Donations to the P.ink Fund at http://p-ink.org/give help us pay our most trusted artists to do their best work for survivors seeking a mastectomy tattoo, regardless of the time of year. The more donations we receive, the more survivors we can serve. NOTE: Due to overwhelming demand and limited slots, new applications for the P.ink Fund are not currently being accepted as we work our way through the backlog of requests.

You shouldn't. There is always the possibility that a mole could serve as an indicator of cancer. This makes the preservation of a mole important. One of the ways a mole can indicate a problem is by changing color. If it has been tattooed over with any kind of pigment, it will hinder your ability to spot any color differences.

Scar tissue may form when you get a tattoo, or you could develop granulomas, small knots or bumps that may form around material that the body perceives as foreign. If you tend to get keloids—scars that grow beyond normal boundaries—you may develop the same kind of reaction to the tattoo.

Trick question, you should ALWAYS use sunscreen. Try to make sure you use mineral sunscreens without avobenze but that does have titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Tattoos aren't exactly pain-free, of course, even for women who've had a mastectomy. Your artist will talk you through the process and we encourage you to check out our resources page for more information.

Slamming a few shots right before getting your tattoo may seem like an easy way to curb the pain, but in reality, it can be dangerous. Alcohol thins your blood and can make you bleed more during your tattoo. Scary for health reasons and annoying for aesthetic reasons: The excess blood can thin the ink and mess with your final result. And while marijuana may relax you for a semi unpleasant experience, it might also make you more anxious and sensitive to pain. Having anxiety or increased sensation while being tattooed probanbly wouldn't be much fun!

Tylenol (acetaminophen) Emla Cream: It's a mixture of lidocaine and prilocaine. It’s a local anesthetic, which works by preventing nerve endings from sending signals to the brain about any sensation in the area, resulting in a numb feeling. The cream must be applied to the skin at least a half hour before the procedure, and covered in saran to prevent it from drying out. Note that many artists discourage the use of numbing cream as it lessens their ability to gauge how your body is reacting to the tattooing process. Please check with your artist on their preference for using numbing creams.

Tattoos will fade over time. The rate at which this happens can vary, and the desire for touch ups in the future will vary depending on individual preferences.