People that will inspire you

[MTTA]

Just wanted to share with you some amazing people i think that are inspiring.

If you suffer from trauma scars, burns or any other facial disfigurement please check about them. Seeing their strenght gives me hope.

- Phyllida Swift

- Catrin Pugh

- Victoria Wright

Checkout this link:

youtube.com/watch?v=PWD12X0...(Not working as expected?)

I wish i could live near them.

[Shellsbutt]

I've seen that clip before online and they definitely are people I would like to know. I don't live in the UK and it doesn't seem as if there is a similar charity like Changing Faces here in the US. I also follow Adam Pearson, Katie Piper and Turia Pitt on instagram. It does help with my attitude about my face. One day at a time.

[MTTA in reply to Shellsbutt]

Turia and Michael... True love.

Changing Faces should extend to other countries. It has done wonderful things on UK but other countries must follow example. I believe seeing, knowing and talking with people suffering like us could play a major role in emotional healing.

[MTTA in reply to Shellsbutt]

What happened to you Shellsbutt?

[Shellsbutt in reply to MTTA]

Two years ago today actually, I had skin cancer removed from under my right eye. It was extensive enough that it required a skin graft. Basically looks like a raised, red and wrinkly circle that sits on top of the lower eyelid. I never thought I would struggle as much as I have with my "new" look. I don't consider myself to be a vain person and yet it's hard for me to accept at times. I know what you mean about relating to others with a facial difference. It's comforting to know we are not alone out there.

[MTTA in reply to Shellsbutt]

You’re not vain. You just want to look as you were . That’s not asking too much. Its like loosing our identity.

I want you to look at this lady that suffered much similar like you:

quietchi.blogspot.com/2010/...

How old are you? Do you have suportive family and friends?

[Shellsbutt in reply to MTTA]

Yes, it's hard when you acquire a facial difference as opposed to being born with one. You remember how you looked before. I am 47 years old and I have a husband who loves me and supports me. I am lucky. My family tell me they don't notice it and that it doesn't look bad. I think that's bs. You can't understand what it's like until it happens to you.

Thank you for the link, that's too funny. I came across her blog about a year and a half ago. I've even commented on some of her posts. Everybody is different as far as how a skin graft will take or how it will look years from now. Mine was tricky because it was under my eye. The skin is very thin-they took skin behind my ear. Several things happened that made it worse. An ocular plastic surgeon should have done the procedure. My skin surgeon told me I wouldn't need a graft but that's what he did and I had no choice in the matter. After care instructions were to apply aquaphor daily and massage the graft to break it down and soften it. After months of doing this, had a follow up appointment where he told me I had displaced my graft and made it raised and bumpy. I was given shots in my graft to try and flatten it to repair the damage.

I had a consult with a plastic surgeon last year who told me there was nothing to be done. So I've had to let it go and try to accept what I cannot change. Like you, I have tried the silicone scar sheets and gel. I've also used bio oil to see if the redness would fade. Only time will tell.

[MTTA in reply to Shellsbutt]

Hi Shell. I know how it seems such a bad luck to have been trough an initial trauma and get it worse by some poorly decisions. In my case was to trust my dermatologist who burned me with laser over my scars... I'm 3x worse than i initally was. In your case it was the aftercare instructions. I was too advised to massage (when i was stitched initially) but personally i think it was making it worse. I think massage should not be advised at least one month after trauma/surgery so the tissues involved can be partially healed. You must not feel guilty for it because you were only following directions. And it could be only an excuse from your doctor.

The silicone sheets maybe more appropriate to your case.

In that "Quietchiblog" i noticed that with the years go by the graft had turned smaller, merging with the periphereal skin and leveling up to some degree.

How much time are you applying silicone therapy?

I've heard bio-oil doesn't do anything to scars.

I was recommended to apply castor oil but i tought it was turning the scars even more red.

Have you considered fractional laser therapy? I should not advise anyone to get laser because i was burned by it, but the fact is that in raised tissue it seems to work well and to me it only happened because the doctor didn't set the laser well.