Home / How It Works
CONSULTATION · TREATMENT · HEALING
PERSONALISED CONSULTATION · COLOUR MATCHING · LAYERED SHADING · REVIEW
REFERENCE PHOTOGRAPH · A CALM TREATMENT ROOM
Quiet, unhurried and explained as we go.
WHAT THIS PAGE COVERS
Every client starts with a personalised consultation. From there, nipple and areola tattooing follows four stages: understanding your skin and history, matching colour, layering and shading, then healing and review. Below, we explain each stage in plain terms, along with what happens after you get in touch and where medical clearance may come in.
WHAT THE WORK IS
Cosmetic and restorative pigment application, carried out in person at our Forest Hill studio in Melbourne. It is not surgery and does not replace medical advice. How long it takes and how many appointments you need depend on you, so we talk this through at your consultation.
THE SEQUENCE
FOUR STAGES · ONE CLIENT AT A TIME
Each step is decided only after the one before it.
Natural areolas are rarely one flat colour. Each stage below is about building that variation carefully. You can read more in Why a Single Pigment Looks Flat.
01
SKIN CONDITION · SURGICAL HISTORY · YOUR PREFERENCES
We start by listening. We talk about what you hope for, then look at your skin, any scarring and your surgical history, including a mastectomy, reconstruction, reduction or lift. This tells us whether treatment is suitable now, whether it would be better to wait, and what kind of natural-looking result is realistic for your skin. You are welcome to ask as many questions as you like.
02
PIGMENT SELECTION · SKIN UNDERTONE · VISUAL SYMMETRY
Rather than choosing one shade, we select several tones that suit your skin’s undertone. If one side has natural colour, we use it as a reference so the two sides read as a pair. We also discuss your preferences, as some clients would like a softer tone and others something deeper.
03
BASE TONE · DEEPER CENTRE · SOFT HIGHLIGHT
Colour goes in as layers: a base tone, deeper shading towards the centre and lighter touches that suggest texture. With 3D nipple tattooing, light and shadow create the look of a nipple on flat skin. It is a visual effect only and does not create physical projection.
04
AFTERCARE · SETTLED COLOUR · INDIVIDUAL HEALING
Pigment changes as skin heals, and every client heals differently. Previously operated or scarred skin can hold colour in its own way. We explain how to care for the area, then review the healed result with you and talk honestly about whether further work could help.
BEFORE STEP 01
ENQUIRY · REPLY · MEDICAL CLEARANCE
You’ll receive a confirmation that your message has arrived. We read it carefully, then reply by email or phone to answer your questions and arrange a time for your consultation. You don’t need to have everything worked out first. A few lines about your situation is plenty to begin with.
Sometimes. Depending on your surgical history and where you are in your recovery, we may ask you to check with your surgeon or treating doctor before we tattoo. Tattooing is cosmetic and restorative, and it does not replace medical advice or surgical treatment. We don’t diagnose or treat medical conditions.
Suitability and results depend on your skin condition, surgical history, scarring, pigmentation and how you heal. That’s why we assess in person rather than promise anything in advance. Our page on suitability, limitations and risks explains this in more detail.
THROUGHOUT EVERY STAGE
PROFESSIONAL HYGIENE · INFECTION PREVENTION · QUESTIONS WELCOME
We follow professional hygiene and infection-prevention practices, and you are welcome to ask about them at your consultation.
REPRESENTATIVE REFERENCE IMAGE · PIGMENT PREPARATION
A SHORT CHECKLIST
—The type of breast surgery you’ve had, and roughly when
—Whether your surgeon or doctor has mentioned anything about tattooing
—What you’d like: one side or both, a softer tone or a deeper one
—Any questions you’d like answered first, however small
For more on getting ready, read Preparing for Areola Tattooing After Breast Surgery or browse Common Client Questions. If you’re travelling from outside Melbourne, Visiting Our Forest Hill Studio may help.
