Chapter 27: Living with and beyond cancer
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Definition
Tattoo
Tattooing is the introduction, by punctures, of permanent colours into the skin. It is more specifically ‘the process of implantation of exogenous colour fast pigments into the skin or mucous membranes leading to a discoloration known as a tattoo’ (Vassileva and Hristakieva [282]). Tattoos are now widely promoted for many indications including breast reconstruction to provide an areola and/or nipple for the reconstructed breast (Vassileva and Hristakieva [282]).
Tattoo is a composite word derived from the Polynesian word ‘ta’ (meaning to strike something) and the Tahitian word ‘tatau’ (meaning to mark something) (Potter et al. [228]). The history of tattooing dates back to more than 5000 years ago, and nipple tattooing represents a modern application of an ancient custom.
