A Northern Ireland woman has opened up about the emotional rollercoaster that she went through after tattooing a woman's breasts after she braved cancer.
Katrina McVeigh works as a beautician from her Co Tyrone home, and says the feeling she gets when she transforms her clients is second to none. But through a new journey, the mum-of-one says nothing comes close to when she carried out a 3D areola tattoo for a cancer survivor.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Katrina said she was moved to tears by a comment that was made to her by a client that had the procedure.
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"A client of mine who had come to me for brows previous to chemotherapy had messaged me to say she needed in quickly because her treatment was starting," Katrina said.
"She came for me and a year later came for a top-up and asked if I knew anyone in the industry that does areola tattooing. She said she had done her research and couldn't find anyone that wasn't through the NHS, which she didn't want to do.
"I told her that there was one woman only to go to, her name is Vicky Martin and she is in England. She then sent me a text to say she had been for the tattoo.
"The following morning, Vicky messaged me to thank me for the referral. I told her I was interested in her course, and I knew in my heart that it was what I wanted to do."
Katrina then completed the course with Vicky Martin, who is an internationally acclaimed 3D areola tattooist. With her Vicky Martin Method, she mixed the world wide techniques she picked up with her tattooing background and has created her own method, and is passing it on to others like Katrina.
"Giving brows to a woman who has lost them to over plucking or age, is amazing.," Katrina added.
"They come in one woman, and leave as another. They really do. Their confidence is sky high.
"To be able to do that for someone who has been through a tough time, is actually even more rewarding. Vicki said to me, 'if you feel good giving somebody a set of brows, wait until you give them a nipple'.
"It is the best feeling in the world. When you see the final result, it is flat but it makes it look 3D. When I done my first one, the reveal was amazing.
"The client looked at her breasts and said 'up until now, I have felt like a Barbie doll' because dolls have the two breasts and no nipple.
"It was the most amazing feeling."
Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.
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