Jeanine McTasney, who not only runs Restorative Ink Specialists in Napa but also teaches tattoo classes that are designed to guide her students in restoring nipples for those that have survived breast cancer, works on a mannequin at her studio on Nov. 19.

Designed for all bodies

Through listening to her clients, McTasney has created designs for small, medium, large and extra-large areolas. Their advice also helped her design temporary brow tattoos for chemotherapy patients.

"I'm constantly changing my designs so there will be (features) for all sizes and skin tones. I design areolas for male, female and nonbinary individuals. These tattoos particularly assist people recovering from accidents with scar tissue and transgender people after top surgery," said McTasney.

Listening and being supportive is key to encouraging people who face pain and social challenges during recovery.

"Restoration is a private process. Some people want a lot of connection and communication. Others need time and silence to figure things out. I am there for them as they determine what they want their new body to look like," said McTasney.

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McTasney often takes time out for herself to process her own emotions. Her tools include meditating, doing yoga in nature spots like Skyline Park, and riding her horse in the Carneros area.

"Taking care of myself helps me be at my best for my patients. I love Napa Valley because it is beautiful and has many places where I feel rejuvenated," said McTasney.

Advice for clients and practitioners

McTasney has advice for everyone she works with, from clients to doctors. She advises a client to touch their body through chemotherapy and after surgery, to become familiar with their new form and grow to accept it.

Her thoughts for professionals who work in healthcare-related fields are adults learn through visual, tactile and audio experiences.

"The audio involves listening to my lectures. Visual and tactile means touching the machines and examining the designs. That way people can see how the designs appear under light and in shadows," said McTasney.

Her advice for all types of entrepreneurs is to be responsive to clients' needs and allow time for a reputation to spread through word of mouth.

"I've come this far by seeing the holes in our health care system. There are not enough people meeting the needs of cancer survivors. Reconstruction can take a tremendous amount of time because of revisions, healing and recovery from infections," said McTasney.

Her goal is to offer clients what they need to feel like themselves.

"This is why I stay creative and improve my designs all the time," said McTasney.

Info: restorativeinkspecialists.com; 707-320-8800; 433 Soscol Ave., Suite B-161, Napa.

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