A PIONEERING mastectomy tattoo charity is helping hospital patients following breast cancer surgery thanks to a new partnership.

The Nipple Innovation Project, known as NiP, has linked up with Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to provide its expertise to patients at St Luke's in the city.

People who have undergone mastectomy surgery will be offered three-dimensional tattoos, which restore the appearance of the nipple and areola.

NiP founder and chief executive officer Lucy Thompson will carry out the procedure at her Cullingworth studio.

She welcomed the new partnership, which is the charity's first with an NHS organisation.

"We are incredibly proud to be recognised by Bradford Teaching Hospitals and look forward to establishing this new collaboration with the breast cancer team at St Luke’s Hospital," she added.

"This partnership signifies a significant step forward in making realistic and long-lasting nipple tattoo services more accessible to breast cancer survivors within the UK healthcare system.

"We believe that every breast cancer 'thriver' deserves the opportunity to explore this empowering option and reclaim their body image after treatment."

The service was previously carried out at the hospital by specialist nurses, but was suspended during the pandemic.

Around 300 patients are treated for breast cancer in Bradford every year.

Catherine Tait, breast cancer surgeon and multi-disciplinary team lead at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, says: "We were disappointed when we had to – understandably – pause the clinic during the pandemic, but we are delighted that the breast tattooing service has been restarted. This new partnership allows us to offer nipple tattoos again as a valuable option for post-mastectomy reconstruction.

"At Bradford Teaching Hospitals we are committed to enhancing the patient experience, and nipple tattooing delivers the ‘finishing touch’ for our patients who have had reconstructive surgery after breast cancer.

"These tattoos can have a profound impact on a survivor's emotional wellbeing and body image, and we are delighted to make this service available again within our trust. The importance of this positive procedure cannot be underestimated for those who have survived breast cancer."

NiP is the UK’s first mastectomy tattoo charity, founded in 2018.

It works with a team of specially-trained tattoo artists across the UK and Ireland.

The charity says it strives to "empower and dignify breast cancer survivors with realistic nipple tattoos that never fade away".

For further information, visit nipcharity.org or email info@nipcharity.org