Guest Blog | The Pixel Nurse – Restoring Confidence After Cancer Through Specialist Tattooing

In today’s blog, we hear from Laura Jane Powell about her journey through nursing and oncology plastics, to medical tattooing.

The Pixel Nurse began in a small, uninspiring hospital room at The Royal Marsden.

After completing a foundation year in art, I decided that a traditional career in art wasn’t for me and chose a different path: nursing.

I was fortunate enough to build a career in plastic surgery, where I have spent the last 17 years working across burns, trauma, and oncology plastics across 3 major London Hospitals.

Being heavily tattooed myself, I was encouraged by Mr Stuart James to explore tattooing as a skill that could complement my nursing background, already having a huge interest in scar care and how body image affects a patient’s cancer journey.

He generously supported my training, and after several years of NHS tattooing, another surgeon, Mr Theo Nanidis encouraged me to take the next step and create my own specialist private service.

And so, The Pixel Nurse was born.

I was incredibly fortunate to have the support of Mr Theo Nanidis, who believed in my vision and trusted me to tattoo his private patients. I continued to develop my expertise by gaining further skills in cosmetic tattooing, alongside learning from and supporting Tanya Buxton through her charity, the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance.

Today, I tattoo for 25+ plastic surgeons across the UK and Ireland, and provide tattooing for Trusts, including The Royal Free and Guys and St Thomas’. As well as welcoming patients from across the world, including Nigeria, Israel, and Jordan, who travel to access specialist treatments.

Specialist Services

I offer a range of restorative and cosmetic treatments, including:

• Areola tattooing
• Gender-affirming tattooing
• Scar camouflage and microneedling
• Body-part tattooing, including toenails, fingernails, and belly buttons
• Vitiligo coverage
• Brows before chemotherapy
• Cosmetic tattooing, including brows, lips, and eyeliner
• Scar massage
• Manual lymphatic drainage

My services are available to anyone over the age of 18. As long as you can comfortably access my treatment couch and your wellbeing allows, I am happy to help.

I am covered by all major insurance companies for Areola Tattooing, as well as offering reduced cost clinics for NHS patients funded by the charitable work of The Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance. Patients can also ‘self fund’ to see me. All prices are clear on my website and agreed before treatment.

An Inclusive and Accessible Service

The Pixel Nurse is a welcoming business.

There is one small step into the building, and my treatment couch lowers significantly to help make access easier for those with mobility needs.

All information is provided in PDF format, making it simple to translate into different languages.

My studio is very relaxed and I have a private room for tattooing, so you are never left to feel uncomfortable.

Why I Do What I Do

The most rewarding part of my work is seeing people regain confidence after cancer and other life-changing experiences. Helping someone feel like themselves again and seeing the happiness on their face after treatment is what makes me love my job.

You cannot describe the changes that tattooing can make to a person’s wellbeing, but it’s very healing.

How Do I Get in Touch?

If you are considering treatment, please get in touch. I offer free consultations where we can discuss your questions, concerns, and options. There is never any pressure to book and it is always me you will speak to.

With over 130 five-star Google reviews, my clients’ experiences reflect the care, skill, and compassion that sit at the heart of The Pixel Nurse.

“3D Nipple and Areola Tattoo – a full stop on my recovery from cancer journey! As a woman of colour – I was struggling to find options for competent medical tattooists showing their work on my skin colour in their gallery – came across Laura’s website which had many examples of her work with afro/caribbean women. The best decision ever! She was warm, welcoming and professional. Her work is amazing – I cried with joy after my first session.. it looked sooo real I couldn’t stop touching it! 2nd session to perfect her already perfect work was great – her attention to detail, making sure it looked like something she herself would want – was touching! Highly recommended professional service from a highly professional and brilliant lady! THANK YOU!”

“I waited a while before getting the nipple tattoos after my breast cancer treatment as I wasn’t convinced they’d make much difference. I was definitely wrong and wish I’d had them done sooner. It really does finish off my reconstruction beautifully. They look like real nipples, so clever! LJ is very talented and has a lovely bedside manner which really helps ease those nerves. She really is an artist. Thank you so much xx”

“Laura is so welcoming, caring and very organised. She has always made every appointment feel enjoyable and her incredible talent and eye for detail ensures an impeccable result. Her beautiful 3D nipple tattoos have made me feel like me again and restored my confidence, I am so thrilled with them, thank you so much Laura Jane.”

“It’s only the beginning of our journey but Laura’s place is warm, inviting , clean and she is beyond professional and makes you feel welcome and invited! Great conversation, lots of laughter and a painless process! She is beyond knowledgeable and has customer satisfaction in mind! She shows you her process along the way and consults with you at all times! Looking forward to round 2 – lol seriously she is booked up for a reason! So don’t delay and please go ahead as she will literally change your life! Thank you”