First hospital in Ontario providing areola tattooing by physician

A doctor at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial hospital has started a rare clinic that restores hope for patients with breast cancer. Faiza Amin reports on the physician performing areola tattooing.

By Faiza Amin and Meredith Bond

Areola tattooing can be an important part of breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, and for the first time in Ontario, one hospital in Halton Region will be providing the service performed by a physician.

Dr. Alexandra Ginty, the Regional Primary Care Lead for Mississauga Halton Central West Regional Cancer Program, is a breast cancer survivor and an artist. She has undergone extensive training to gain a certification in this specialty and become the first physician in the region to be certified.

“I just knew if there was someone who could do this, it would be me. But it was really hard getting someone to teach me, to believe in me being a tattooist and take me on a journey that was 200 hours of training,” Dr. Ginty explained to CityNews. “It’s a really interesting journey because art therapy became the way that I psychologically healed from my cancer. And I got back into art again.”

Dr. Ginty explains that the procedure replicates a natural areola using pigment to simulate the physical dimension and depth of an areola, usually removed as a part of a mastectomy.

“We can do a really good job of that with the tattooing, and sometimes I do completely 3D tattooing where it’s a complete illusion that there’s a nipple,” said Dr. Ginty. “It can look fantastic.”

She said it’s an integral part of recovery for many mastectomy patients.

“We just saw the need because there was beautiful reconstruction, but it was missing that last piece, missing the centrepiece,” said Dr. Ginty, explaining it’s often a psychological thing for patients.

“They would just look at the scars and looking at the scars reminded them of where they’ve been.”

Having Dr. Ginty perform the procedure also makes it more financially accessible for patients as OHIP covers it. Otherwise, it can cost up to $1,000.

“It’s the fact that this is part of your cancer journey. I want this to be the gold standard. Not an add-on. It is not an add-on. This is the gold standard that moves you through the cancer journey,” said Dr. Ginty.

She has so far performed the procedure on 72 people.

“This is a huge confidence builder. Quality of life increases significantly with women I tattoo.”

“When I look in the mirror, I’m back to who I was before. I don’t look at myself in the mirror anymore and say, Oh, here’s a cancer patient now and like, I am back to me,” said Heidi Corley, a breast cancer patient who recently underwent areola tattooing.

“Having the procedure done where she was treated also helped make the decision for her. “I know I’m in a safe environment. It’s a sterile environment. I know my health will always be the number one,” added Corley.

She said it was wonderful to have Dr. Ginty, a breast cancer survivor.

“While we were doing it, she made it such a wonderful process; we could also chat about our experiences and compare stories, and she gave me a little bit of guidance as to what to expect.”

Sarah Garraway, Program Director of Cancer and Ambulatory Care at Halton Healthcare, said she didn’t need any convincing when Dr. Ginty gave her the idea.

“We’re already seeing patients through the diagnostic phase, the treatment phase, and this is that last piece, that survivorship piece, where we help to restore control back to feeling good about themselves physically and psychologically.”

She added they would love to expand, but currently, Dr. Ginty is the only one able to perform the procedure.

“She is a very busy family doctor as well as regional lead for primary care and for the Regional Cancer Program. So, as one person, I don’t know how much more capacity would be if it was up to her. She’d probably be doing it seven days a week. But it is a program that we would love to expand as the need is there.”

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities.

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