With a simple design, a talented tattooist and some ink, it was like Dianne Treveton had closed a chapter of her life.
Readers are advised this article includes images of partial nudity.
"It has been quite a journey and I'm so happy that now it's finally done," Ms Treveton said.
Ms Treveton, who is from Mackay in north Queensland, survived breast cancer, underwent a double mastectomy and was recovering well, with implants.
But something was still missing.
"I didn't have any nipples."
"Some people can have [the operation] with their nipples removed and recreated by their plastic surgeon but I chose to have the nipples and the reconstruction done at a later time.
"I did only have breast cancer in one breast but the double mastectomy was the best option because that way I could get some expanders put in and some implants and feel like a woman again.
Ms Treveton chose lifelike tattoos over surgical reconstruction of her nipples and areola.
"The skin is … a little bit numb anyway, so it's just a like a really sharp pinprick."
It was all achieved with the help of local tattoo artist Katie Fox.
"I first did [a mastectomy tattoo] a couple of years ago, I had someone approach me," Ms Fox said.
"And I'm a realism tattoo artist … so I thought, '[It] can't be that hard.'"
In some cases, mastectomy scar tissue on the breast area can minimise pain in the process.
The design process
Ms Fox said she approached the design like any other tattoo, and was guided by the individual.
"[Dianne] is a brunette … I said, 'We can do a bit more of a brown tone in it'.
"I even asked her husband, 'Have you got any photos from before, so we can try and match?'
"But he didn't, so we just winged it and I think [it] came out pretty good."
Mastectomy tattoos can vary from abstract artwork that covers the breast area to realistic depictions of nipples in all sorts of shapes, colours and sizes.
"It's common sense really, you just colour match to that person … what size nipple is going to look good in proportion," Ms Fox said.
"I think it's definitely something that should be more open, and I would encourage these women to step out of their comfort zone and [speak to a tattooist]."
