Breast cancer is a devastating disease, and to say that is an understatement. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 230,815 women and 2,109 men were diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States in 2013.
Not only does this disease change the lives of those who are diagnosed, but it can also put a tremendous amount of strain on families as well. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the following story features a local tattoo artist who has been working to help women who have been impacted by this disease, allowing women to find a sense of normalcy after their battle with cancer.
In 2003, Kyle Harvey had the opportunity to participate in an apprenticeship at a Pinellas County tattoo shop, and apprenticed there for about two years. He’s been interested in tattoo art for as long as he remembers.
“Even when I was little I would marvel at the aged tattoos on the older guys, WWI and WWII,” Mr. Harvey said. “I still to this day will strike up a conversation with them, if I can, just to hear the story they have to tell about it.”
Mr. Harvey explained he likes doing realism tattoos, and was approached with a request for an areola tattoo about 5 or 6 years ago in a very similar way to other tattoos he’s done.
“I had a woman come to me and ask if it was something I could do. Her plastic surgeon had suggested she find a competent tattoo artist and see if they could do it,” Mr. Harvey explained.
When he was asked, he had never completed an areola and nipple tattoo before. However, the plastic surgeon contacted Mr. Harvey a while later after seeing his work, asking if he could provide tattooing for his patients.
“He is actually who I would have to credit with helping me get the word out there that this service is available. And for that I’ll be forever grateful.”
That doctor was Dr. Pedro Soler, who I had the opportunity to speak with over the phone. When I asked how he had first heard about Kyle Harvey, he explained that his patient had had a three dimensional tattooing of her nipple-areola complex after a breast reconstruction.
“I was so amazed that I told her that I need to know who did that, and sort of, the rest is history if you will,” Dr. Soler said. “His work spoke for him. I mean, my interest, obviously, was in providing my patients – especially my breast reconstruction patients with somebody who knew what they were doing.”
Dr. Soler explained that there are different ways of reconstructing the breast, but gave me an example of what might happen when a woman has a mastectomy. The reconstruction will usually be done the same day as the mastectomy. In this situation they would put in a tissue expander/stretcher and use fluid to expand it to the desired size, helping the muscles and skin to stretch. They later remove the expander and put in a permanent implant. After all of this is completed, then the reconstruction of the nipple and areola can begin. He explained that once he has finished surgery or what a patient wants done, he will send them to Mr. Harvey.
I also asked what the feedback has been from patients who go to him.
“I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t had negative feedback at all. It’s all been positive. If there’s any issues he’s always more than willing to correct them. And just very engaging and, just, always stays on top of things, so I’ve been very pleased.”
Since he accepted Dr. Soler’s request to provide the service to his patients, Kyle Harvey explains “From that it has expanded to being referred by Moffit Cancer Center and St. Joseph Women’s Center and various doctors that hear about me through them.”
Kyle Harvey recently opened a studio where he performs the traditional, or conventional, tattooing and also the areola complex tattoos. “Studio Spring Hill,” at 12547 Spring Hill Dr. is open by appointment. To contact him, call 727-999-0570.
If you’re an artist, art related business, or have an interesting lead for an art-related story, be sure to contact Elizabeth Dentato at edentato1@gmail.com.