Breast Free support/empowerment?

[turtles_path]

I got to wondering if, in your travels, you've come across any support communities for women who have had a bi-lateral mastectomy w/o reconstruction that choose not to use prosthesis? I've been fortunate to be connected with two inspiring women and I've done a few searches on the net from time to time, but have mostly come up empty. I know about

Comments

[rhiannasilel]

Sorry, I don't know of any active online communities for women who choose not to reconstruct, but have you seen some of the tattoo work that's been done for women who do not reconstruct

[turtles_path]

i remember when you sent me one of these links when i was making my decision... i had considered it abstractly, but it was too hard for me to look at the images then.

i think about this from time, to time, and it appeals to me on many levels as something to consider and dream about as part of my transformation... eventually. it's going to be a while but i'm enjoying these images a lot right now, they're beautiful.

exploring this possibility could definitely be a door to finding some manifestation of community through the artists who specialize in mastectomy tattoo design!

thanks!

[rhiannasilel]

I think this would definitely be something that would likely have to wait at least a year or more after your mastectomy if for no other reason than the healing time for scarring. I'm not sure how long you actually have to wait before you can safely tattoo over a scar, but I would think it could be at least a year or more

In a way, though, that's really a good thing because a tattoo isn't something someone should rush into anyway and a tattoo of this particular nature (one that's being done for self healing both mental and physical in this case) would be one that you'd really want to think out fully before you got it and then you'd want to have the right artist who understood what you were doing and why.

The wrong tattoo or a bad artist could really mess you up psychologically for quite some time when you're looking at this particular type of tattoo which I think definitely borders on spiritual tattooing.

[turtles_path]

Oh, I agree wholeheartedly - for any tattoo, and especially one of this nature. I'm 13 mos out from surgery and I'd definitely check with my surgeon, tattoo folks and/or other pros about the timing for tattooing over scar tissue, but this isn't something I'd go into lightly regardless.

I've considered other tattoo ideas in the past but it's been fleeting. Once I get comfortable with a design and location I want to meditate on it for a good while, and be sure of the artist before I commit. I think any tattoo would be a spiritual endeavor for me.