Sure, many opt for reconstruction afterward. But more and more often, they're opting for reconstruction and mastectomy tattoos.
"I see emotional, physical, and mental improvement for the client if tattooing is their choice of recovery/reconstruction," says Amy Black, a tattoo artist who has worked on hundreds of mastectomy patients over the past three years and recently started her own nonprofit, the Pink Ink Fund.
"They can see something new and beautiful that either helps cover, distract, or sometimes even enhance what is left after surgery. To see someone beam true happiness is indescribable for me."
More from CafeMom: Mom Battling Breast Cancer Gives Birth & the Photos Are Breathtaking
Like Black, many other tattoo artists are now teaming up with nonprofits and plastic surgeons to work one-on-one with breast cancer survivors and create beautiful body art on their busts. We rounded up 10 images of their gorgeous work.
Check out these 10 beautiful mastectomy tattoos.
Image via iStock.com/Brainsil