Nipple tattooist helps cancer survivors for free
BBCBreast cancer survivors have been moved by a tattooist who has helped them regain body confidence by giving them nipple tattoos at no charge.
Beth Jones, from Swansea, underwent specialist training to be able to offer remarkably lifelike 3D-effect areola tattoos.
"She does it just because it makes her happy. She's a phenomenal person," said Sam, who has received the procedure from Beth.
Beth said she was grateful to be able to support people who had experienced breast cancer.
"I don't want to ever charge anyone to do it for a body part that should be there," said the 27-year-old.
"It's something that I just love and I think if anyone can offer someone help or can change someone's life in a positive way you would do that and I'm just lucky that I am able to do that really."
Anne was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2022 after going to her GP with an inverted nipple and has had a double mastectomy.
She said having implants followed by the tattoos made her feel "put back together".
"I just show everybody my breasts now, which is totally mad, isn't it?," she laughed.
"I find I look pretty realistic now. When I look at myself I just think it's amazing."
She could not speak highly enough of Beth.
"I was totally amazed that she did all this for nothing," she said.
"I would like to thank her with all my heart and just hope that she carries on all her good work."
Sam was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2023. She lost one of her nipples through breast-conserving surgery, also known as a lumpectomy, a procedure that removes breast cancer while preserving as much of the breast as possible.
She said since getting her tattoo eight months ago it has given her a "different level of confidence".
"I'm like Anne, I will show people my photos going 'look at my boobs, they're amazing,'" she laughed.
"This does make such a difference to women's lives, it's unbelievable and Beth gives up all her time and she doesn't get paid."
Beth said she was motivated to help others after the experience of seeing her mother unwell.
"I was either going to quit tattooing and become a nurse or I just wanted to find a way to really help people," said Beth who works at Highwater Gallery in Uplands, Swansea.
After doing some research she came across areola tattoos and decided to go to York to complete specialist training.
She said she learnt all about breast cancer, different types of scar tissue, how to create a safe space for women and how to create a "hyper realistic" look through shadowing.
Beth draws out every nipple free hand and doesn't use stencils.
Using three different sized needles she spends a maximum of 20 minutes tattooing each areola to prevent overworking the skin.
She sees her work as being "the final part of a woman's healing story".
"A lot of women come to me and they've not looked in the mirror for years," she said.
"Every time they look at themselves they see that traumatic event that they went through so I really wanted to leave a positive and life-changing mark on these survivors."
She finds the work highly rewarding as well as emotional.
"I cry I think at every appointment, I'm such a crier, especially seeing the reaction when people leave and they feel like a completely different person," she said.
"They're more confident, they feel more sexy, they feel like their old self again.
"There's literally no better feeling."