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Every year, thousands of women in the U.S. who are faced with a breast cancer diagnosis have to make the difficult decision to undergo some form of mastectomy, or the partial or complete removal of one or both breasts. Some women have the disease and opt to have the surgery. Other women (like Angelina Jolie) who are carriers of the BRCA1 or BCRA2 gene mutations, hope that removal of healthy breast tissue will save them from a cancer scare down the road.
In some cases, this surgery can be life-saving and a huge relief. But that often doesn t negate the emotionally trying process of losing a part of one s body or accepting new scars. Many women seek a variety of cosmetic solutions to move through these challenging experiences. And one of those solutions is getting a mastectomy tattoo.