Tattoos help breast cancer survivors heal

Fifteen years ago, tattoo artist Amy Black got an unusual request: Could she ink a realistic-looking nipple?

Why it matters: That question came from a breast cancer survivor who'd undergone reconstruction. The answer was yes, and the results were life-changing — both for the client who loved the tattoo and also for Black.

• She built a new specialty in mastectomy tattoos.

Zoom in: Black's mastectomy ink "used to be 90% nipple tattoos," but now she sees an increasing number of survivor requests for decorative art, often on flat chests.

• See the tattoos.

Fun fact: Vinnie Myers is one of the country's best known nipple and areola tattoo artists. He splits his time between New Orleans and Baltimore.

• He started doing the specialized tattoos in 2002 and has worked with more than 10,000 women, WWL says.