Breast cancer affects thousands of people a year in the UK, with an average of 55,000 cases confirmed every twelve months - approximately 40% of those resulting in a mastectomy, in which some or all of the breast tissue is removed. But what happens after the mastectomy, and how do people adjust to life with a scar? We catch up with Anna Garvey, the Nottingham tattoo artist who specialises in post-surgery tattoos, and learn more about the joy of reclaiming your body after trauma…
Taking an average time of only ninety minutes, a mastectomy is a relatively short medical process. One in which either some, one, or both of the breasts are removed. But despite its brevity, it’s a surgery that has a lasting effect. Whether those who undergo a mastectomy choose to have reconstructive surgery or not, they will live the rest of their lives with a scar - which can often lead to body image issues and a loss of self-esteem.
There is, however, one tattooist in Nottingham who helps aid breast cancer survivors in accepting and celebrating their post-surgery bodies. That is Anna Garvey, who has been tattooing nearly eighteen years and specialising in tattooing on scars for ten, working on skin that has experienced “spinal surgery, self-harm, top surgery scars, tummy tucks” and more, with a particular emphasis on creating post-mastectomy pieces.
Part of the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance - an organisation that helps to both fund post-mastectomy tattoos and recommend artists - Anna describes her work as “applying a beautiful image over an area that has either been damaged or had surgery performed”, which is “a real way for people to take ownership of their bodies and feel some joy after trauma”. A journey that began after a client approached her to do a mastectomy tattoo and she found herself excited by the challenge and the “opportunity to take this journey with somebody”.
Tattoos give people a chance to re-own their body and to celebrate themselves
Now something of an expert in the field, Anna is among the six artists recognised in the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance’s directory, which means she is especially qualified to tattoo on post-surgery bodies. As she explains, “It is quite technically unique, because the biological structure of skin that’s experienced trauma is completely different. It’s very much about making minute, continuous alterations. You have to understand how to coax the ink into the skin,” meaning those who create these artworks have to be skilled and experienced.
Likewise, the artist has to be prepared for the emotional nature of the task. While Anna emphasises that she tries not to let her emotions override her professional work, she notes that each session is moving in its own way. “So many people I’ve done this on have said they’ve spent years hiding this part of themselves from others and even from themselves, and now they want to show everyone, when sometimes two weeks ago they couldn’t even look in the mirror.” The tattoos give people a chance to re-own their body and to celebrate themselves, and Anna says that “giving people power over how they feel is a really phenomenal thing”.
So many people I’ve done this on have said they’ve spent years hiding this part of themselves and now they want to show everyone
Full of admiration for her clients, Anna explains that the most inspiring thing about what she does isn’t the artwork but “the work that people do for themselves. It’s really brave to let somebody touch your scar and to look at you, and it’s amazing to see people saying, ‘I can be confident, I can be brave.’” Of course, she thinks these bodies are beautiful herself. “They might be different, but they show strength. They have this texture of scar that I see as lovely. We should never be ashamed of our bodies being different.” Recalling an incident in which one woman's partner commented after seeing the tattoo, “I hope you see yourself as beautiful now as I see you every day,” it’s clear that Anna wants the same - for her clients to feel strong and beautiful.
For many people, the post-mastectomy tattoo is their first tattoo, and so it’s vital that Anna guides them through this journey with care, especially because the process of getting the initial breast removal can be traumatic. And that’s why Anna puts a real emphasis on “metaphorically holding their hand” through the process and creating a truly nurturing environment. “It’s also really exciting to work on people’s first tattoo,” she adds, emphasising that she loves helping people explore a different side to themselves.
So, while it may be intimidating or overwhelming to think about getting a post-mastectomy tattoo, anyone who wants to access the service would be in safe hands with Anna, and it could mark a really exciting new chapter in life. Or, if cancer survivors want a different tattoo style, or alternatively areola tattooing on top of a reconstruction, then the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance is a great resource more generally. “You can just book a consultation through my website,” Anna explains, “then we can have an open dialogue about the whole process and go from there.”
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