Tattoo artist’s mission to support breast cancer survivors through specialist areola work

A Torquay tattoo artist hopes to become the first Devon-based specialist registered with a national mastectomy tattoo charity after completing advanced areola restoration training.

Amie Leonhardt, who has been tattooing for 10 years and is based in Torquay, has recently gained her CPD Level 4 qualification in areola tattooing under Lucy Thompson, founder of the Nipple Innovation Project - the UK’s first mastectomy tattoo charity.

She is now building a portfolio in order to apply to join the charity’s network of verified artists. If successful, she would become the first registered NiP areola artist in Devon.

Areola tattooing is often sought by people following breast cancer surgery, gender-affirming procedures or other operations which have altered the appearance of the chest. The treatment recreates the appearance of a natural nipple and areola using specialist tattooing techniques.

Ms Leonhardt said her decision to move into the field was partly shaped by her own life experience. A survivor of two sudden cardiac arrests, she said she wanted to use her skills “to do good and help others”.

“Using the skills I’ve been building over the last 10 years, I can now do that through this work,” she said. “Whether it’s breast cancer, gender-affirming surgeries or someone who needs nipples for any other reason, I am here to help.”

She believes specialist tattoo artists are uniquely equipped for the work, which involves delicate application on scarred or surgically altered skin. Tattoo artists typically undertake around two years of training, she said, learning about skin types, healing processes and working safely with different textures.

“It isn’t as simple as picking up a machine and scribbling on the skin — we have all seen those terrible kitchen tattoos. We understand that damaged and scarred skin needs to be treated much more delicately and Lucy’s advanced training really goes into detail on this,” she said.

She added: “NiP are currently working to partner with NHS trusts all over the country to hopefully get patients referred to fully trained specialist areola artists. This way the patient will get the best results and the NHS can focus on what they do best - saving lives.”

Ms Leonhardt said she is in discussions with Torbay Hospital and plans to approach Derriford and Exeter hospitals about possible referral systems.

Ms Leonhardt said patients often describe the tattoos as helping them “take back their body” and regain confidence following surgery.

“These tattoos really do make a huge difference to these people and it is an absolute privilege to be able to provide this service to the people of Devon and Cornwall,” she said.

With around 55,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year - roughly one in seven over a lifetime - and around 400 men also diagnosed annually, she said increasing awareness of restorative areola tattooing is vital so that those who could benefit know the service exists and how to access it. 

However, she added that social media platforms often restrict or remove images of areola tattooing, categorising them as explicit content despite their medical and restorative purpose, making it harder to reach those who may need the service most.