Business Monday: New Kona tattoo artist from Hong Kong blends artistry with healing

For centuries, tattoos have been an artistic form of expression for humans, sometimes signifying a memory or milestone, and other times representing a new beginning and letting go of the past.

After 17 years in the business, tattoo artist Jayers Ko, a Hong Kong native who now calls Kona her home, has found a new meaning for her art form. She helps people who have undergone breast reconstruction surgery or a mastectomy by deftly creating areola and realistic nipple tattoos.

“A restorative tattoo, especially an areola tattoo, is completely different and is much more technical than tattoos I have done over my first 16 years as a tattoo artist,” Ko said. “Itʻs also extremely emotional and you have to approach clients differently. This is their opportunity to have some say over their body after going through so many traumatic changes. It can be incredibly healing.”

When she was pregnant with her daughter in 2021, Ko decided to specialize in providing tattoos for people affected by major surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She was ready to “slow down,” and her passion led her to Tanya Buxton, one of the world’s leading cosmetic, medical and traditional tattoo artists, who practices in London.

In 2024, Ko invested in three months of training with Buxton and has used her experience to specialize in areola-nipple tattooing for breast cancer survivors, people recovered from gender-affirming top surgeries, and those who had surgery after a breast injury.

Clients are encouraged to wait one to two years after their final procedure or cancer treatment to get tattooed, so their bodies and minds have time to recover after the often traumatic changes.

“About 90% of people who look in the mirror after their reconstructive tattoo will feel a sense of self and feel happy that they were able to have some say over their body after going through traumatic changes,” Ko said. “And some people need time to digest, which is why it is so important to wait that time for your physical and mental health to recover. Sometimes that’s hard to tell clients because they want to reclaim their bodies right away.”

Ko has also adeptly covered birthmarks or made them a focal point of elaborate designs, giving individuals newfound confidence in their bodies so that they can wear shorts or swimsuits for the first time without feeling ashamed.

“I have been tattooing birthmarks since I started, and I have learned a lot through the experience, mostly when it comes to the psychology behind wanting to cover a birthmark,” Ko said. “Even if a birthmark is not obvious to the public, it’s a curse to them and has affected their whole life. When they trust me to decorate the canvas of a birthmark or to hide it, I have seen that empowerment they feel afterward.”

Providing these niche services seemed an inevitable pathway for Ko, whose family members are medical professionals. Her dad is a surgeon, her mother was a nurse, and her younger brother is a doctor. Ko herself majored in veterinary science for two years in college before switching to psychology.

When she decided to pursue tattooing and began an apprenticeship in 2008, she knew her family would not be supportive since it was a male-dominated field and more socially unacceptable in Hong Kong. However, Ko could not help but be drawn to this passion where she could be creative and excel.

“I got my first tattoo in Thailand at 19, and everything about the experience was incredible,” she said. “I was amazed by what you could do with a needle and ink.”

Ko was attracted to the visually stunning nature of tattoos, and the history of it being a human ritual for thousands of years.

“Tattoos are a connection for all of us,” she said.

Ko spent five and a half years working under her mentor, Kenny Chin, in Hong Kong. Validation for her career choice came during her third year as an apprentice when her dad visited the tattoo shop.

“He was impressed with the hygiene of the shop’s practices and encouraged me to keep going,” Ko said. “He’s actually gotten a tattoo since then.”

In 2013, Ko opened Lovinkit Tattoo, a world-renowned tattoo studio, in the Sham Shui Po neighborhood of Hong Kong. Over the years, she has attended more than 40 tattoo conventions, had guest spots at events, and participated in art exhibitions across four continents.

She met her future husband, Olivier Server, a French freediving instructor, while in the Philippines. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many countries and activities were in lockdown, he moved to Hong Kong to be closer to Ko.

After travel restrictions were lifted, Ko and her husband visited Hawai‘i Island as avid free divers and fell in love with the island.

Due to the changing politics of Hong Kong under China’s authoritarian rule, the birth of their daughter and their new love for Hawaiʻi, Ko and Server decided to start the process of moving to the United States. After completing months of paperwork and the task of proving her skillset, Ko was granted a talent visa, and the family made Kona their permanent home as of January.

Ko tattoos at Kā’eo Hawaii Tattoo Shop & Creative Studio, which is a coworking space for a collective of tattoo artists and other creative entrepreneurs. She offers traditional tattooing as well as areola-nipple tattooing, which has become one of her greatest passions.

“There is a lack of awareness about the transformative potential of tattoos, and I’m glad to be part of this pioneering effort to usher in this new mindset,” Ko said. “Tattoos restore their dignity; they can dramatically change our outlook and improve our wellbeing.”

3D areola-nipple tattoos are ideal for individuals looking to reconstruct or enhance their nipples and areolas after various surgeries, including:

• Breast enlargements
• Breast reconstruction surgery
• Breast augmentation or reduction
• Cosmetic breast lift (mastopexy)
• Gender-affirming/top surgery
• Breast cancer surgery (lumpectomy)
• Burns/scarring
• Gynecomastia surgery (male breast reduction)

Whether reconstructing symmetry or improving visual appearance, Ko’s goal is to help craft a tattoo to reflect personal journeys of healing and transformation.

“These tattoos are not just about aesthetics—they are deeply empowering and transformative. They help rebuild self-confidence and support body positivity, allowing you to reclaim your body and feel at peace with who you are,” she said.

More information on reconstructive tattoos, her past work and a tattoo request form can be found on her website at jayersko.com. For inquiries and bookings, text 808-987-8113, or email jktattoohongkong@gmail.com.