DOVER, Pa. — For many, the journey through breast cancer continues long past October's Breast Cancer Awareness month.
In this week's Health Smart report, we visited Natural Touch Beautification in Dover to learn about a unique tattoo technique that is helping women regain confidence and feel whole once again.
It's an art that goes far beyond the ink.
For cancer patients, getting areola tattoos are a new beginning.
For the artist, it feels like nothing they can put into words.
"It's so strong, so powerful. They are so happy and it's basically the final cherry on top for them that just closes the case," said Sage Leftwich.
The permanent makeup artist operates "Permanent Beauty by Sage" inside Natural Touch Beautification. She recently discovered a new passion in paramedical tattooing, which she went to Canada to train for.
"It's very quick, very smooth... a lot of my patients have no feeling left in their area that has had surgery. The nerves are fully damaged so it is pain free I would say for 95 percent of women," Leftwich said.
Leftwich practices often, using advanced shading and color techniques to create tattoos with depth and dimension, making them appear more natural.
"A lot of women have told me that they didn't feel like a woman when they lost their nipple and getting it back gives them that sense of hole again," she said.
Mindy Rutzebeck of York County is one of them, who survived breast cancer a decade ago.
"There are no words... I can't look at her or I'll start crying. You just don't realize how important it is because cancer takes so much from you and at that point like you're just so focused on survival you don't think about how you look or what you see in the mirror until you realize what you don't have," explained Rutzebeck.
The entire process takes less than an hour and after a touch-up 6 weeks later, Rutzebeck's new tattoos will last anywhere from 5-10 years.
"You cannot complete this journey without having this done. It took me a couple years to get to that point but now I am absolutely positively sure of it. This is the only way to close the book," Rutzebeck said, hopefully.
The procedure and their newly formed friendship, goes beyond skin deep.
Experts say getting services like this play an essential role in post-mastectomy recovery, aiding in a survivor's mental health and emotional healing.
If you'd like more information about Permanent Beauty by Sage, click here.
For more information on Natural Touch Beautification, which offers microblading and permanent makeup, click here.