Earlier this week I finally completed my breast reconstruction and got areola and nipple tattoos. It was kind of odd to go to my plastic surgeon's office and have a tattoo artist tattoo my breasts! I always imagined that if I got a tattoo, it would be on a crazy girl's vacation with my best friend and there would be a lot of alcohol involved. I thought it would be of a butterfly or something cute on my stomach or hip. Never in a million years did I think I would be getting areola and nipple tattoos on my new fake breasts.
I always thought getting a tattoo would hurt really bad, but it didn't. The procedure took about 1 1/2 hours and I did not feel most of it. I guess I didn't feel it because I have a lot of numbness on my breasts after all the surgeries. All went smoothly and I drove myself home. I felt a little tender the rest of the day but only if I bumped my tattoo area. The next morning nothing hurt or was red at all. A few days later, they look great.
I never thought I would see the day that I would finally be finished with reconstructive surgery. It seemed like such an impossible thing at the beginning of all of this. Now I can say "I am done!" That really feels good to say after so much time! What's even nicer is looking in the mirror when I get out of the shower and actually looking pretty normal. I can't believe what miracle workers the breast surgeons are. My breasts look pretty real. Of course I have some scars, but once those continue to fade, they won't be very noticeable. I can't believe how just a little tattoo can make me feel so complete!
I am a wife, a mom, a sister, a daughter, a neice, an aunt and a friend. I never thought I would hear the words "It's not good. There are cancer cells". December 8, 2010 changed my life forever. This is my scary, long, enlightening journey through breast cancer. I hope that my words help others facing a similar situation or those that love someone going through breast cancer. I don't know where the road in front of me leads, but I know that Breast Cancer won't define me.
Quote:
"Don't spend time worrying about how you are going to die. Worry about how you are going to live today"