If you’ve had lymph nodes removed as part of your breast cancer treatment, you may have wondered whether you can get a tattoo afterward.

After lymph node removal, some people can develop lymphedema, which is tissue swelling caused by fluid buildup. Skin injuries, such as those from tattoos, can make lymphedema worse.

Some people do fine with tattoos after lymph node removal, while others experience complications. Here’s what you should know before making a decision.

What Do Tattoos Have To Do With Lymph Nodes?

The lymph nodes are part of the immune system. They’re small, bean-shaped organs located throughout the body. If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, your doctor may perform a lymph node biopsy to see if cancer cells have spread.

Sometimes surgeons remove only the sentinel lymph node (the one most likely to have tumor cells). Other times, they remove additional lymph nodes in the armpit area.

The more lymph nodes you have removed, the higher your risk of swelling or infection. That’s where getting a tattoo can become a concern.

Getting a tattoo — whether for artistic or cosmetic reasons — always comes with risks, even for someone who doesn’t have cancer or lymph node surgery. For tattoos to be permanent, the tattoo artist must pierce the top layer of the skin. These tiny punctures produce minor skin injuries that become temporarily inflamed while they heal. Sometimes, the healing process doesn’t go smoothly.

Tattoo Safety Tips

It’s crucial to find a tattoo parlor that follows good safety precautions, especially if your history of lymph node removal increases your risk of poor healing, swelling, or infection. Check on your state’s licensing regulations and research the shop and tattoo artist to screen for past violations.

Tattoo artists should always:

• Wash their hands and use a fresh pair of gloves for tattooing
• Use new, single-use needles and tubes that come from sealed packaging.
• Properly sterilize any reusable equipment using a medical-grade sterilizer (like an autoclave), rather than just cleaning or wiping the equipment with disinfectant

“I’m a 21-year stage 3 breast cancer survivor with over 20 lymph nodes removed. I was told I can never have any [tattoos] done on that side, and I still get severe lymphedema to this day.”

— A MyBCTeam member

Tattoo equipment that isn’t properly sterilized can spread bloodborne diseases like hepatitis.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions before scheduling your tattoo session. If you feel comfortable sharing, you can let the tattoo artist know you have health concerns and that they must ensure proper safety measures.

One MyBCTeam member encouraged others to do this, noting, “I would make sure your tattooist knows about your lymph node removal and breast cancer. They will do less at a time to prevent issues like lymphedema.”

Complications

Potential complications after getting a tattoo include:

• Skin infections
• Granulomas — Localized inflammation around the tattooed area
• Keloids — An overgrowth of scar tissue

In addition, some people are allergic to the tattoo pigments used to make colored tattoo ink, leading to itchy rashes that can persist for years.

Many tattoos look healed on the surface in about two to three weeks, but deeper healing can take longer, especially for larger tattoos. During this time, you’ll want to be extra careful to avoid sun exposure and swimming and to diligently clean and moisturize the area.

MyBCTeam Members on Tattoos After Lymph Node Removal

Discussions about tattoos after lymph node removal are abundant on MyBCTeam. While your experience may not be the same as someone else’s, it’s helpful to get the perspective of others who have been there.

A member asked, “Can a five-year post-double-mastectomy, lymph-node-removal breast cancer patient have a tattoo?”

One member responded, “I believe so, as long as you’re not getting the tattoo on the arm where your lymph nodes were removed. Even after five years, you can still get lymphedema on the arm where you had the lymph node dissection.”

Another shared, “I’m a 21-year stage 3 breast cancer survivor with over 20 lymph nodes removed. I was told I can never have any [tattoos] done on that side, and I still get severe lymphedema to this day.”

In another thread, a member wrote, “Question for anyone that has gotten an arm tattoo post lymph dissection on the affected side. … Did it cause you to develop lymphedema in that arm? I really want to finish my sleeve and don’t want to move to the other arm yet.”

One member described taking extra precautions before getting a tattoo on the side where they had lymph nodes removed. “I waited six years after surgery,” they said. “My artist is aware of my medical issues, and we are working on this for a maximum of 90 minutes per session.”

They also shared that they experienced a reaction after one session: “When I had a lot of color done, I experienced some really bad itching and burning, but no swelling. The issues lasted about 12 hours and stopped on their own.”

Discuss Tattoos With Your Doctor

Only your oncologist can advise whether getting a tattoo is safe for you. A tattoo is a skin injury, and any skin injury can raise the risk of infection.

If you’re at risk for lymphedema, a tattoo on that side could also trigger or worsen swelling. That’s why it’s important to talk with your cancer care team and wait until you’ve recovered from treatment.

Depending on the extent of your lymph node removal and other health history, your provider may give you the go-ahead or encourage you to hold off. Whether you’re considering mastectomy tattoos as part of your breast reconstruction or you’re getting a tattoo as a creative gesture, it’s always smart to talk through your concerns with your healthcare team.

Join the Conversation

On MyBCTeam, people share their experiences with breast cancer, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

Did you experience any side effects from body art or mastectomy tattoos after lymph node removal? Let others know in the comments below.