Scar management training

24 JUNE 2026

Amy Ellerby, Breast Associate Practitioner and Coordinator, received funding from York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity to undertake specialist scar management training, further enhancing the care available to patients following breast reconstructive surgery.

Alongside this, Amy has also completed a micropigmentation tattooing course, enabling her to provide areola tattooing for women after reconstruction. The additional scar management training has strengthened her understanding of how several types of scars behave, and how they can be effectively treated to improve both appearance and patient confidence.

Amy said: “The course was really interesting, and I think it will work really well alongside the tattoo clinics. We already have a patient on the waiting list who has had tattoos but due to her scars, the pigment is not taking well. We are going to try microneedling to try softening the scars and after a few sessions, we can try again with the areola tattooing. I learnt about the different types of scars and how the microneedling triggers a healing response which stimulates collagen. Microneedling can also help introduce melanin back into the skin to improve the colour of a scar.”

Although the clinics are still in development, Amy is already working to establish a consultant referral programme. This will ensure patients are supported at every stage of their recovery. This process starts when patients attend a post-operative check-up with their surgeon. Their surgeon will assess scar healing alongside patient preference for appearance going forwards. The surgeon will highlight suitable patients are referred to Amy for further treatment, including scar management and tattooing.