A TATTOOIST has opened a specialist clinic to help women restore their body confidence.

Becky Barker, who has been in the trade for more than 10 years, has been providing scar concealment and nipple tattoos for women who have been treated for breast cancer.

Her work sees her re-create nipples and areolae for women who have had mastectomies, helping them feel normal again.

Since we first published Mrs Barker’s story earlier this year, she has been able to set up a new clinic with another tattooist, Kerry Irvine, to provide the services for free.

She said: "After we did the story last time we were able to provide the service three times for free.

"Since then one of my clients, Anna Coles, was able to raise £2447.08 with her colleagues from Salts."

In total the fundraising appeal was able to raise £2,802 and the duo have been able to set up Worcestershire Mastectomy ART which will hopefully provide funded treatments across the county.

They are using Patreon to generate regular funding, and give goodies to people that pledge and provide updates on how the service goes.

Mrs Barker, 34, added: "We are available for talks with any support groups that are interested, and we're having an open evening at Number nine Tattoo on November 30 at 4.30pm with a talk about restorative tattooing at 6pm. This includes scar and stretch mark camouflage.

"We are also generating medical research along side 'The Nipple Innovation Project' which is a UK-wide charity providing high quality areola tattooing.

"We are doing this to gather statistics regarding the mental health implications of the semi permanent treatment available on the NHS as we feel that having a permanent option is really important and are on a mission to prove its safety and effectiveness."

Mrs Barker works from Hermits’ Retreat above the Number Nine tattoo studio in Malvern, and said the work is a vital form of aftercare.

She added: “A lot of the care people receive is while they are suffering from cancer, but people carry on living with the trauma of the experience, so anything that can help them with recovering from that is great.”

To see the Patreon page, go to www.patreon.com/Tittoouk

To find out more about the medical research being carried out, go to: beckybarker949192.typeform.com/to/Mde3KK