Bury St Edmunds beautician helps breast cancer survivors restore their confidence with areola tattoos

A beautician is helping breast cancer survivors restore their confidence with a new service.

Kirsty Jackson, who runs Belle Rose Lashes and Beauty Academy in Hillside Road, Bury St Edmunds, has trained in the art of 3D areola tattooing.

The 36-year-old is offering the service for free to help them rebuild their lives.

Kirsty said: “The training is something I have wanted to do for a while.

“The service is for women who have gone through breast cancer or breast cancer preventative surgery and who want to restore their areola and nipples after mastectomy.

“It is one of the best things for helping restore women’s confidence and why I wanted to do it for free.”

Kirsty’s uncle is Steve Trowles, who runs Stephen John Salon, on Moreton Hall.

Steve has worked with the cancer unit at West Suffolk Hospital for more than a decade, helping women as they lose their hair through chemotherapy.

He also works with My WiSH Charity, for which he has raised £36,000, and hosts ‘Mama B’ days, which run wellbeing days for cancer treatment patients,

Steve was inspired by his mum Brenda Avison, who died of cancer in 2016.

Kirsty added: “I help out at the Mama B days group but wanted to do more, in memory of my nan.

“My clinic also offers permanent and semi-permanent make-up which can help women during chemotherapy.

“I have also trained in MCA scar revision, which involves controlled trauma to scar tissue, which stimulates natural collagen production and promotes a softer, more refined appearance.”

Kirsty trained in areola tattooing with the The Tata Foundation, a charity set up to raise funds to cover costs of products, equipment, and time to create the life-changing tattoos.

Her salon and beauty academy recently expanded and now offers lash services and full training, as well as massage, facials and nails.