Reintroduction time
CPD Accredited Advanced Medical Tattoo Training in the UK
Areola Tattoo Mentorship with Lucy Thompson BCAh
Medical tattooing is specialist work.
It is not cosmetic tattooing.
It holds great responsibility.
At Areola Academy, advanced areola and mastectomy tattoo training is delivered through a structured, CPD accredited mentorship designed for experienced tattoo artists and PMU practitioners who want to work ethically, confidently and to the highest professional standard.
Founded and led by Lucy Thompson BCAh, the UK’s leading medical tattoo artist. This training supports artists across Leeds, Yorkshire, London, Bristol, Brighton, Wales, Cardiff, Scotland and Newcastle, Europe, America and even Australia! People who are ready to step into meaningful medical tattoo work.
Led by the UK’s Leading Medical Tattoo Expert
Lucy Thompson BCAh was recognised nationally by parliament with a British Citizens award for her contribution to healthcare and the impact she is making through medical tattooing.
She has worked as a traditional tattoo artist for 13 years and has specialised in long lasting, realistic 3D nipple and areola tattoos for nearly a decade. Lucy works directly with her local NHS receiving gornment funded treatment pathways for the patients of Bradford Teaching hospitals NHS Trust and is a proud TEDx speaker on medical tattooing and body autonomy.
In 2018, she founded The Nipple Innovation Project, the UK’s first mastectomy tattoo charity, created to ensure that cost is never a barrier to accessing high quality areola tattoos through their nationwide directory of approved areola artists. That same ethical foundation underpins every element of Areola Academy training.
CPD Accredited Areola Tattoo Training
All Areola Academy training is CPD accredited, providing recognised professional development for artists who want credible, accountable education in medical tattooing.
This accreditation reflects the depth, structure, and professionalism of the programme and supports artists working towards partnerships with clinics, healthcare providers, and referral pathways across the UK.
A Mentorship, Not a Short Course
Areola Academy offers one of the most comprehensive areola tattoo training programmes in the UK. This is a six month mentorship commitment from both trainer and student, designed to build real knowledgeable skill, not surface level confidence.
The programme was developed in response to feedback from artists who had previously taken cosmetic or short format areola courses and felt unprepared to work safely with scarred and reconstructed skin. I wanted to offer something comprehensive to cover all basis, starting with the fundamental practise of this work - drawing realistic areolas! This mentorship course includes an online step by step areola drawing course to help people of all drawing skills and experiences learn this skill on paper first of all.
Drawing as the Foundation of Realism
Training begins with structured drawing practice. This stage is non negotiable and a super important part of the drawing process and is what sets people apart from the basic 3d options available ive seen.
Artists are guided through realism based drawing exercises and challenges that develop colour theory, depth, softness texture and control. These skills are essential for creating natural areola tattoos and cannot be learned effectively on skin alone.
This stage allows artists to process theory in their own time via a hybrid approach, while building the visual understanding needed for advanced medical tattoo work.
In Person Practical Training with Real Models
Artists then attend in person training days, working directly with Lucy on real models. This includes hands on tattooing, decision making, pigment selection and adapting techniques to suit different skin types, scars, and surgical outcomes.
Training is intentionally small scale to allow close supervision, discussion and support.
Healed Results Review
Where Medical Tattoo Artists Are Truly Made, where the learning really truly happens.
What sets Areola Academy apart is the requirement to return for the final day of training a few months later to review healed results, together, in person.
When working with scar tissue, reconstructed skin and radiated tissue, assessing the healed outcomes are where the real learning happens. Understanding pigment retention, trauma response, and long term appearance is essential for safe and ethical practice.
in my opinion from my research, this stage is often missing from areola tattoo courses and is a core pillar of the Areola Academy mentorship, i used my own experiences as a tattoo apprentice and the extended period of learning to apply it to a unique mentorship style training option.
Who This Training Is For
This CPD accredited advanced medical tattoo training is designed for:
Experienced tattoo artists - min of 2 years tattoo exp
Experienced PMU artists - min of 3 years machine tattoo exp
Medical Professionals already trained in areolas looking to develop their skills
Practitioners seeking to offer areola and mastectomy tattoos
Tattoo Artists looking to serve their local communities ethically with paramedical tattoos
Because of the challenging nature of the skin involved, this training is not suitable for beginners. There are no shortcuts in learning tattooing, medical tattooing is very much an advanced service.
Medical Tattoo Training Across the UK
Areola Academy attracts artists from across the UK and internationally, including:
Leeds and West Yorkshire
London and the South East
Bristol and the South West
Brighton
Wales and Cardiff
Scotland
Newcastle and the North East
Europe and Greece
Netherlands
USA
Austrailia
Many artists travel to train due to the depth, credibility, and long term support offered through the mentorship. I travel a couple of times a year to offer group areola training classes from different locations.
Why Advanced Medical Tattoo Training Is in Demand
Medical and mastectomy tattooing is a growing field because more people are seeking choice, dignity, and realistic outcomes after surgery and awareness of this life enhancing service is growing.
Areola tattooing can be the final step in someone reclaiming their body after breast cancer or gender affirming surgery. That responsibility requires advanced training, ethical decision making, and humility.
Artists trained through Areola Academy are equipped to offer this service safely and confidently within their communities, its the most special gift to be able to give someone. The gift of confidence and artistry.
Training with Integrity, Not Ego
Areola Academy is built on collaboration, not competition. Artists trained here become part of a wider network committed to raising standards and protecting clients.
Lucy remains closely involved throughout the mentorship and beyond, offering continued guidance as artists grow into their medical tattoo practice. All Areola Academy Alumni are invited to join the community whatsapp support group so the training can continue together.
This work matters.
And it deserves to be taught properly.
Apply for CPD Accredited Areola Tattoo Training
Areola Academy offers a limited number of group and one to one training dates each year.
If you are an experienced tattoo or PMU artist based in Leeds, Yorkshire, London, Bristol, Brighton, Wales, Cardiff, Scotland or Newcastle and are ready to invest in advanced medical tattoo training, you are invited to apply.
To enquire about upcoming dates or to discuss whether this mentorship is right for you, please get in touch directly.
