Facial scars :(

[SilkRoad]

I was on the balcony last night, sitting down, and the flatmate knocked over a folded up metal screen which fell and cut me on the side of the face. It bled very little and hurt very little but it was deep. We went to emergency and after being there a few hours and various people looking at it they booked me in for a plastic surgeon to fix it up tomorrow. They take more trouble with women and scars, they said. (Bless the National Health Service...)

It looks like a small sword cut an inch long or a little more, down by my jawline/chin. I was very lucky that it was not worse - in the middle of my face, or bigger and jagged, or broken nose or damaged eye... I'm guessing there won't be an awful scar but there will be a scar nonetheless. It's just vanity but I am a bit upset. I'm not a bad looking girl, you know. At least where it is on my face, I can hope it will just add romantic character...or something... And a few friends told me that either they, or others, had similar damage to the face one way or another and it scarred almost not at all, especially when a plastic surgeon gave it attention. If I were a man, it would just look awesome and manly, but I'm not. :S

Anyone have any recommendations about lessening such scars - ie. I've heard vitamin E cream is good? Or just saying something to help me feel better!

 

[AphroditeGoneAwry]

Eh, fuck it. Vanity sucks. I'd wear it proudly if it were me.

 

[SilkRoad]

I do kind of like the fact that it looks like a sword cut. Romantic. I could still do without it though. But it's not massively disfiguring or anything.

 

[FDG]

I don't think any male will notice. We are notoriously lacking in detail-orientedness

 

[Red Herring]

It probably won't have any effect on your attractiveness in either direction. And if somebody has a romantic interest in you they will not only not mind but might actually associate it with you and love it for being a part of you.

Basically, it adds character and makes you even more unique.

 

[Philosorapteuse]

I'm told that oil of evening primrose and vitamin E are both good for scarring. I never tried on mine though.

 

[SilkRoad]

I don't think any male will notice. We are notoriously lacking in detail-orientedness

Haha. Good to hear. I think/hope it will either be not very noticeable at all, or just the "good story" kind of scar. I do have a funny collection of scars - especially the one on my thumb where a horse bit me!

It's weird how pretty much instantly, when I realised my eyes, nose etc were ok, I was like "oh nooooo I don't want a scar on my face." Didn't know I was so vain.

 

[Philosorapteuse]

It's weird how pretty much instantly, when I realised my eyes, nose etc were ok, I was like "oh nooooo I don't want a scar on my face." Didn't know I was so vain.

It is weird, isn't it. I never ever thought I'd be bothered about scarring, have always thought it's pretty cool. But I found I really wasn't happy when it happened. (And mine isn't even on my face.)

 

[SilkRoad]

It is weird, isn't it. I never ever thought I'd be bothered about scarring, have always thought it's pretty cool. But I found I really wasn't happy when it happened. (And mine isn't even on my face.)

The other scars I have are tiny and need to be pointed out (the horse bite one is occasionally worth pointing out for the story.) I did have one chicken pox scar on my face when younger - it was the only one which was really nasty and got slightly infected - but partly concealed by my eyebrow and I think it has now faded completely. I seem to be a person who heals up nicely anyway.

I also got a tetanus shot - might have had one in the past but certainly more than ten years ago - and antibiotics for several days just on the chance the thing that cut me could cause infection. (Though no sign of anything like that.) They do things thoroughly and that's nice. I didn't expect the hospital to take so much trouble really.

 

[Philosorapteuse]

Yeah. All hail the NHS.

 

[Vasilisa]

Tried Bio-oil, dear?

 

[SilkRoad]

Tried Bio-oil, dear?

Another friend just recommended that, and massaging the scar with it. I will try once it gets healing properly...

 

[CzeCze]

While scarring try silicicon sheets or gel. You can effect scarring while still in the red stage. Once white the scar will respond to different tactics. It may take over a year for your scar to finally "settle" Your dr may know of fillers, lasers, and peels that may help. So ask lots of questions. Also sewing now will probably help. Another factor is near your mouth there's lots of movement so that places stress on cut and it may heal in a way that is adds discmfort when speaking etc. talk to drs about that

Sorry to hear what happened! But you did luck out. And now you're getting it taken care of!

 

[Lexicon]

I recently had a pretty horrific infection that was misdiagnosed, and left me with a full thickness nonhealing facial wound that required surgical intervention to just heal at all. The plastic surgeon who did it is a fucking saint. The wound I had seriously looked worse than any gore makeup I ever used to create a zombie costume. I couldn't leave the house for awhile from feeling so sick and having to change gauze every hour or so before I finally saw my surgeon/she sent me to an infectious disease specialist to clear the infection, 1st. I was too ashamed to even tell my friends, for the longest time. This persisted for almost a year, in all.

She fixed it so there's now just a 4cm slash of a scar on my forehead, that lays flat and will eventually fade to nearly invisible. I had this done in april, and it's already looking remarkably better.

Her biggest tips to ensure the best possible healing and final scar results were to massage Aquaphor ointment on it at least once-ideally twice- a day for about 5min. Like really press, after the 1st month. It takes up to 2yrs for scar tissue to fully ''mature'' so you have all this time to massage it and keep the circulation up in that area and break down any bumpiness that may develop.

Also protect it from the sun. Apply at LEAST spf 30, 30 min before going out, 30min after that initial exposure, and about every 2h after. Religiously. She said the kind that looks like a chapstick tube is great for these scars, and I must agree. Scar tissue is very sensitive to UV and will remain red/pinkish longterm, and not fade, if you don't protect it.

Good luck, miss.

 

[CzeCze]

Ps yes what Lex said about massaging the scar, that's why silicon supposedly works. It the daily act of massaging the site. You need to do it during the healing/red stage vpbecause once it's white and settled it needs another tactic. The only thing you have to watch out for is if it starts the hypo pigment (turn white) or keloids but hypopigment is usually burns and unless you have keloids already don't need to worry.

Honestly, it's very likely your scar will be very routine and very manageable, plus it's small. Plus you're a J so you'll be a le to do all the maintenance stuff to lessen the scar. . So no need to worry!

 

[SilkRoad]

Thank you everyone - these sound like good suggestions and I will def get advice from the doctor, etc. [MENTION=5159]Lexicon[/MENTION] I'm glad you're healing up well after your ordeal. That's far worse than what I'm dealing with here. [MENTION=1009]CzeCze[/MENTION], thank you - I think it is far enough away from my mouth that the movements of my mouth won't affect it much (don't notice anything much now, in the bandaged-up stage), but I will ask.

 

[SilkRoad]

I didn't talk to my parents last night (they're in another country, different time zone etc) and am slightly dreading telling them... They always worry so much and get upset about things, and they will hate to think of their little girl with a scar on her face! I'll have to reassure them it doesn't seem to be a huge deal and that I've been well looked after.

 

[kyuuei]

Ive always found scars to be a source of pride.. I find them attractive on people, and I'm fond of my own. I don't know why you'd want to minimize it in the first place. But to each their own.

 

[Lexicon]

Thank you everyone - these sound like good suggestions and I will def get advice from the doctor, etc. [MENTION=5159]Lexicon[/MENTION] I'm glad you're healing up well after your ordeal. That's far worse than what I'm dealing with here. [MENTION=1009]CzeCze[/MENTION], thank you - I think it is far enough away from my mouth that the movements of my mouth won't affect it much (don't notice anything much now, in the bandaged-up stage), but I will ask.

Oh and here's the sunblock stick I really like for my scar.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/neutrogena-wet-skin-kids-sunblock-stick/ID=prod6102938-product
I protected it all day long at an amusement park, and the stick is tiny/you can take it with you anywhere.

I also use Physician's Formula brand tinted moisturizer, SPF 55, and their loose powder, SPF 30, on occasions where I'd like to make the scar less noticeable, and not have my face shiny in one spot since the powder works better for subsequent necessary sunblock reapplications. I still apply the stick stuff 1st, though. It's good additional moisture.

[MENTION=4939]kyuuei[/MENTION], I imagine your comment about wondering why anyone'd want to minimize it may be toward silkroad, but yeah, I tend to feel the same way, they add character. In my case I wanted to make sure it was not that noticeable longterm because I didn't want it to interfere with my acting aspirations or limit that in any way, since I'm passionate about that. So i suppose that can be a factor for some people, as well. Potential external limitations. Ideally they shouldn't exist, but eh, they can and do.

 

[SilkRoad]

I don't think I have ever worn foundation in my life. I have really good skin and don't wear much makeup anyway... I'll see how it goes but this might end up being an incentive.