SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Tattoos can serve a deeper purpose than simply self-expression. Some actually help people heal.

Breast cancer survivors will use them to cover up medical scars after a mastectomy.

Kim Innamorato never imagined she would be getting a tattoo until she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. 

"I’ve had three surgeries since last October," Innamorato said.

Doctors removed the lump in her breast, but they couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t be back.

"If you’re going to have one breast off, you might as well take the other one, you know?  The more I thought about it, the more I thought it would be better to just not have to worry," Innamorato said.

So, she opted for a double mastectomy and had breast reconstruction, but it took an emotional toll.  She lost her confidence and sense of self.

"Every morning after the shower, looking in the mirror and seeing the scars and just seeing a blank slate where there should be another part of your anatomy that’s not there anymore, it’s kind of nerve-racking," she said.

That’s when she found Holly Feneht, a paramedical tattoo artist who specializes in inking scar tissue.

"I feel like it’s art therapy. I don’t know. It’s just the best thing I could have done with my career," Feneht said.

She works out of her own private studio in Santa Clarita and aims to create a welcoming an inviting vibe. The name of her shop, The Gilded Lily comes from the phrase “to guild the lily”—adding beauty to something that’s already beautiful.

"It involves usually flowers, lace, butterflies…anything that’s inspiring. A lot of ladies sometimes even want to incorporate their family members," Feneht said.

"It transforms something that was very tragic into something beautiful," Innamorato said.

Sometimes it’s just covering up scars. Other times she actually recreates anatomy. 

"I just sort of started tattooing myself to practice, so I did at one point have almost a dozen nipples and areolas tattooed on my thigh," Feneht laughed.

She says for many women, this is their first tattoo.  

"The hardest person to talk to about it was my 90-year-old father," Innamorato said.

"When I told him what I was planning on doing, I think at first, he thought I was nuts, but he did reluctantly give his blessing, but he still doesn’t know I have a motorcycle, so 'Dad, I have a motorcycle,'" she laughed.

Clearly, Innamorato still holds on to her sense of humor.

"Reconstructions usually gives you the best boobs in your age group," she said.

Feneht says there are fewer than a handful of paramedical tattoo artists in Southern California. They can run anywhere from $200-$1,000 or more, depending on how elaborate they are and how much time is required.

There is also a national organization called P.INK that helps breast cancer survivors get these tattoos. They hold an annual event in October. 

Women submit their stories to be considered and six or seven artists will tattoo breast cancer survivors for free.

Innamorato hopes her story will inspire other breast cancer survivors to see the power a little body art can have in restoring that sense of self.

"I’ve probably flashed every coworker," she recalls.

Instead of letting cancer leave its mark on her…

"I felt very empowered, very strong," she said.

She’s making her mark on her own terms.

"I think it’s like a badge of honor really."