AISLINN Horgan always dreamt of having her own business, and having witnessed the impact of cancer on individuals and their families, she knew this was where she wanted to make a difference.
“I always wanted to set up a business where I could best use my strengths to have a direct and positive impact on people’s lives,” said Aislinn, a trained nurse.
“While I was nursing, I acquired extensive experience in patient care, especially in the areas of surgery and oncology. I noticed there was a lot of support and services for those diagnosed and going through treatment but a noticeable gap in the post treatment care.
“I particularly noticed that having had mastectomies and breast reconstruction, these ladies, and men, did not have all they lost restored to them and this was a daily visible reminder of the difficult journey they went through,” said the mum-of-three.
After nursing, Aislinn moved into the pharmaceutical industry, and it wasn’t until the first Covid lockdown of 2020 that she found the time and space to focus on how she could develop a business with the person at the core of everything she did.
“During this time, I developed my plan for my medical tattoo service, By Aislinn Micropigmentation Studio.
“I provide both medical and cosmetic micropigmentation, offering three core services: areola and 3D nipple restoration, eyebrow micropigmentation and MCA scar revision.
“Areola and 3D nipple restoration is an advanced permanent tattoo technique to create realistic looking areola and nipples following mastectomy or TOP surgery. This tattoo is designed and tattooed on flat skin to create the illusion of a 3D nipple, the colour around the nipple, the areola, 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 explained.
Laya healthcare have approved her as the first and only provider of this service for their members, and Aislinn is hopeful that the other health insurers will follow soon.
“Cancer sufferers can also avail of my eyebrow service at any point in their journey, and as a part of the pre chemo protocol for many oncologists, clients come to capture their brow shape prior to losing them during treatment.
“MCA Scar revision addresses scar tissue, I offer clients an effective means of scar reduction and skin texture improvement and provide significant improvement in stretch marks.”
To ensure access to as many as possible, she has clinics in Clonakilty, Bishopstown, Galway and Dublin, and in each location she works from a medical and/or cancer care clinic.
Not surprisingly for such specialised work, Aislinn has undertaken extensive training.
“I’ve trained with world class trainers in Dublin, UK, Slovakia, and Estonia. I also did a weekly live online class, for four months, with a trainer in Canada. I hope to travel back to the UK again soon to perfect my skills even further.
“Every evening, I practice drawing with paper and pencil for up to an hour and then move on to working on latex.
“My motivation is to empower my clients and support them in this final step in their breast cancer recovery journey. I want to help them reach that final step, provide that crucial sense of wholeness and empowerment and reclaim their sense of self and confidence to look proudly in the mirror again.”
One of the things she loves most about her work is the connection she has with clients: “I follow many of them through their cancer journey and I am truly grateful to be a positive part of that journey. I meet some at their most vulnerable stage when they have just received their diagnosis and I see firsthand how strong and resilient they become as they go through their treatment.
Originally from Carrigaline, Aislinn lives in Clogagh, near Clonakilty, with her teacher husband and their three children: Beibhinn (21), Sadbh (16) and Ciabhan (12). Running her own business, and a busy household, Aislinn came across Network West Cork and wondered if it could be for her.
“I tentatively attended some Network West Cork events during the summer of 2023 to see ‘what it was all about’.
“I didn’t know exactly if I needed to be a part of the organisation or how I would benefit from being a member.
“I thought the meetings would be stuffy and very much focused on exchanging business cards and seeing who there would benefit my business. I was thrilled to realise I was very wrong.
“I was warmly welcomed as a small business owner by a diverse network of inspiring like-minded women, showing honesty, support, learning, and mentorship. It was then that I knew I wanted to be surrounded by women who cheered me on and were genuinely happy to see me grow. I didn’t hesitate to become an official member.”
And she hasn’t looked back: “On a personal level, being part of Network Ireland offers a sense of belonging and empowerment, allowing me to connect with other women who understand and support my journey.
“The group of women in the West Cork branch have surrounded me with support and encouragement and have a genuine interest in each other’s businesses. From monthly networking events to workshops and mentoring programs, I can access valuable insights and advice from inspiring and successful women.”
What was it like to win the Creative Professional award?
“I am truly honoured and humbled. I think I was in shock for a few days after. I really feel this win is a testament to my passion and dedication. I am truly grateful to my clients that trust me to be a part of their story and allow me to help them feel whole and confident again, and ultimately I hope that the visibility gained by this award will reach those that don’t yet know how I can help them in the journey they are on.”
Aislinn now goes forward with other branch winners to the national Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year finals in September.
