Jordan’s Story: Nipple Tattooing after Mastectomy

Jordan Diaz Cross was interested in a breast reduction, but her appointment in a plastic surgery office in August 2021 went in a very different direction. The physician found a lump, and suggested a mammogram, which confirmed Jordan had breast cancer.

From there, things moved quickly. Jordan chose to have a double mastectomy that September, followed by chemotherapy. She finished treatment in January 2022.

After treatment, she joined several online groups for breast cancer survivors and noticed some people in the group sharing their experience with nipple tattooing, which creates the appearance of nipples for those who lose them due to surgery.

An experienced nipple tattoo artist can create a realistic image of a nipple that appears to have physical dimension. It is applied with needles that insert pigment into the skin, and it avoids the need for additional reconstructive surgery.

Jordan called Luminis Health Plastic Surgery to learn more, and was happy to find out that Luminis Health is the only hospital in Maryland offering nipple tattoos that are covered by insurance. Just two weeks later she went in for her appointment.

“It was quick, painless and it looks awesome,” Jordan says.

On average, it takes about 15 to 30 minutes to tattoo each nipple.

“It is rewarding to work with breast cancer survivors and help them feel more confident after surgery,” says Virginia Orlov, the plastic surgery physician assistant who created Jordan’s tattoos. Many patients consider the tattoos to be their final step in feeling comfortable in their body again.

For those interested in nipple tattoos, it is generally advised to wait at least four months after surgery to allow time for your breasts to heal and settle into position.

Luminis Health offers many breast reconstructive services, including nipple tattooing. Learn about them and our breast cancer treatments on our website.