Cork medical tattoo specialist: 'I hope to help people have a more positive end to their story'

A Cork woman is playing a vital role in helping members of the transgender community feel empowered, confident, and connected to their true selves.

Aislinn Horgan is a trained nurse who has worked extensively with cancer patients and survivors and now she’s offering gender affirming medical tattooing, respectfully servicing transgender clients and helping them on what can often be an unsupported part of their journey.

The mum-of-three won the STEM award at the recent Network West Cork Businesswoman of the Year awards, which follows her Creative Professional award last year from the same group.

She is constantly pushing boundaries to see how she can help others, and upskilling with the latest innovations in medical tattooing.

“Most recently, I’ve begun working with clients who have had gender-affirming top surgery and are left with visible scarring or changes in the appearance of the areola,” said Aislinn.

“In some cases, the areola may not have been grafted back at all, or it may have healed with scar tissue or uneven pigmentation. I offer realistic 3D areola and nipple tattooing to recreate a natural-looking result for those who want it. There are many options available depending on what feels right for the individual. 4

“Once the scars have matured, I can also provide scar revision treatments — including advanced medical-grade serums — which break down the scar tissue and heal from the inside, improving the appearance and healing of the scar tissue over time.

“Following this, I offer scar camouflage tattooing to further blend the scar with the surrounding skin, helping it look more discreet and natural,” said Aislinn.

But it’s not just the visible scars that Aislinn helps heal – she also helps her clients with psychological and emotional scars.

“I see clients who have taken years to get to the stage of gender affirming surgery and even longer to come and see me, and who have experienced a lot of trauma along the way. I can offer a feeling of reconnection to the person they are, and help on that final stage, providing a feeling of empowerment and self-confidence,” she said.

It’s really responsible work, but on the flipside, it’s also very rewarding.

“Clients feel safe in my space and because of the trust that’s built, many have shared deeply personal and sometimes heartbreaking parts of their journey with me, so it’s rewarding to know that I can make a positive impact on their lives, and hopefully help give a more positive end to their story,” she said.

Aislinn sees clients from all over the country who travel to her clinics in West Cork, Bishopstown, Galway and Dublin.

The former nurse also supports cancer patients and survivors.

Using an advanced permanent tattoo technique, she aims to create realistic-looking areola and nipples following mastectomy and reconstruction. This tattoo is often designed and tattooed on flat skin to create the illusion of a 3D nipple, and the areola, the colour around the nipple, is also restored.

“In the case of a single mastectomy, I match the new areola and nipple to the remaining breast and a double mastectomy can be matched to photos of the breast pre-surgery or completely new areolas can be designed,” she said.

Regardless of who she is working with, for the most part, they’ve been through a life-changing event, and Aislinn is hugely aware of her responsibility, and is committed to training and upskilling.

“People come to me who have burn scars, self-harm scars, surgical scars. I need to be at the top of my game as they don’t deserve any less,” she said.

She also offers treatments to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, using a specialised technique known as stretch mark revision — once again using medical grade serums, this treatment, also known as ISR, inkless stretchmark revision, helps to re-stimulate the skin’s natural healing response.

“There’s a whole narrative now about loving the body you’re in and that’s great, but some people hate their stretch marks so much that they didn’t wear shorts or go swimming during the recent good weather. I provide a space to help them feel more comfortable in their own skin by seeing permanent improvements in their scars or stretchmarks,” she said.

Originally from Carrigaline and living in Clogagh, near Clonakilty, she’s married to a second-level teacher and they’re parents to a 22-year-old, 17-year-old and 13-year-old, making it a busy household.

So what’s her motivation to work in such a demanding area?

“I’m very passionate about making a difference to people and using my knowledge and skills to help others. For sure, there are lots of easier jobs out there I could be doing, but I think it’s important for my children to see I’m putting everything I can into what I am passionate about.

“I also like that they can see that it’s possible to pivot as I’ve gone from working as a nurse, to the pharmaceutical sector, and even, many years ago, a small stint in Aer Lingus, to now this.

“At one stage, there was an element of self-doubt, I wondered if I could do what I’m doing, but I felt if I didn’t, then who would, and there are so many in need of these services.

“Often, I see clients apologising coming in, thinking they may be perceived as being vain, but they leave feeling completely invigorated and uplifted – and that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

• Email: byaislinnstudio@gmail.com.