Whitmore Lake's Lovely Monkey Now Offers Breast Tattoos for Cancer Survivors

There's a new tattoo shop in town - and it's devoted to helping women who have overcome breast cancer. Lovely Monkey Tattoo in downtown Whitmore Lake, Michigan is not your average tattoo shop. Whimsical black and white images of celebrities (re-imagined as if they were tattooed) dot the bright yellow and teal walls. Tiffany glass light fixtures, an inviting leather couch and hardwood floors create a warm and personal atmosphere.

But the real appeal (and focus) of the shop is providing a service long needed in Michigan for women battling breast cancer. Lovely Monkey's artist Jamie Epsy Bollerud, tattoos realistic looking nipples and areolas on women who have undergone breast surgeries. Post Mastectomy, women are often left feeling less than beautiful, less than "normal," and "unfinished." Bollerud helps to restore women's confidence and self-esteem by restoring natural looking beauty to their breasts.

Owned and operated by Whitmore Lake residents Dana Forrester and James Trunko, the duo also owns the very successful, and award winning tattoo shop Lucky Monkey Tattoo in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After 15 years in the body art business, Forrester was tired of not being able to fulfill the magnitude of requests from women who sought tattoo artists to ink their post surgery breasts.

"We've been getting requests for this service since 2010 - and finally the right artist and opportunity to open a shop in Whitmore Lake came along," explains Forrester. "Jamie is the perfect artist to provide this service. In addition to tattooing for more than 8 years, she has a wonderful bedside manner, and provides her clients with lots of TLC" she adds. While insurance does not cover the tattoos, Forrester is working with a grant writer to get some of the costs sponsored by a nonprofit organization for women who can't afford it. "Our prices are actually pretty reasonable - and lower than the national average," she says.

Lovely Monkey Tattoo also offers traditional and realistic custom tattoos for women and men 18 years and older. "We have a fantastic artist Robert Casper who can tattoo amazing portraits, and pretty much anything you can imagine," says Forrester. "Our apprentice Bri Howard is also a very skilled artist."
Women interested in setting up a free consultation with Jamie Epsy Bollerud should call or email the shop at 734-333-5067 or artist@lovelymonkeyink.com.

More information on Lovely Monkey Tattoo is also available at lovelymonkeytattoo.com

Lovely Monkey Tattoo