Breast cancer survivor feels complete after nipple tattoo

Laura Rose (right), got nipple tattoos from Anna Ishak (left) following a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery

A mum-of-two has said nipple tattoos have allowed her to "feel complete" following a double mastectomy.

Laura Rose, 39, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 and faced an 18-month wait for the tattoos on the NHS.

She then discovered Anna Ishak, a medical tattoo artist from Wrexham who specialises in lifelike nipple tattoos.

Anna, who relocated to Wales from Russia two years ago, has now been named UK areola artist of the year at an industry awards.

Laura, from Grantham in Lincolnshire, said she was "in shock" after her diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer, which led to six months of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy.

• Bras and pants to carry new cancer check labels

• Cancer survivor moved to tears by Amy on Strictly

"Since then I've been through two reconstructions which have been really difficult. I was left with no nipples and I thought 'OK. That's fine. I still look normal'," she said.

"But as time went on I was a little bit less confident in myself. I was on the list for the NHS but they said to me it was about an 18-month wait."

Laura was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2021

The Welsh Health Service said it hopes to reduce waiting times for patients in south Wales to pre-pandemic levels this year.

Using social media she discovered Anna offering the service privately in Chester and made the five-hour round trip for the treatment, which costs £600 for a pair of tattoos.

Although often called tattoos, they are actually semi-permanent make-up which may need topping up after a few months.

Anna has said she hoped "from the bottom of her heart" to one day offer her services via the NHS to help reduce waiting times.

Medical tattoo artist Anna Ishak helped Laura "feel complete"

She added: "We start with a consultation to see what the needs of the client are, we discuss colour, shape, size and draw the sketch then mix the pigments and apply them to the skin.

"It's vital for those men and women who fought breast cancer to have this final step to make them feel whole or even complete, because it has a significant impact on their mental health.

"Unfortunately, there is a huge waiting list and sometimes the outcome may not be the one they desire. I have a great desire to help people."

Laura said she was "so incredibly grateful" for the work Anna has done, adding: "I feel complete. I can look in the mirror and feel normal. I'm so happy with it."

Anna hopes she can play a part in offering her work to more NHS patients in the future

Anna's work was recently recognised at the UK Permanent Makeup Artists Conference in London where she was named medical/areola artist of the year.

"I'm so pleased, honoured and proud of myself," she said.

The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee said: "Waiting times in north Wales have been reported as around two months but are longer in south Wales.

"In south Wales, because of the impact of the pandemic we currently have patients waiting up to two years however the health board have increased the number of patients they can see each week and the waiting times are expected to reduced rapidly over the next 12 months to pre-pandemic levels."