WOW! You look great! (Not that you ever didn't) It really is quite amazing how a scar changes from year to year. It just keeps getting better. Although it is a long process it does heal in time and eventually blends in quite well. I think your scar has healed exceptionally well since you first showed us your photo's of the graph. From that picture to this is really amazing! My scar from my BCC is doing quite well. It just turned five years old this October. I still, to this day, continue to massage it and use Scar Gel. I have learned some interesting tricks with make-up to hide it away. (It's on the left side of my nose close to my cheek) My biggest problem was how white it was. Which, of course, is how scars tend to be. My Plastic Surgeon friend had recommended that I have it professionally tattooed (who knew that they did that for facial scars?) but I did not want to go through anymore pain on my face. I found a way to use my everyday blush in a creative way. I think the more we accept our scars the happier we will be. And what I mean is accepting what is even though you see it everyday. Yes, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't see my scar, even without massaging it, using scar gel, or covering it with make-up, but I make sure that is doesn't consume my life like it once did. Thank you for this lovely up-date and glad things are going well. Haven't been on your blog in quite some time so it's nice to hear all is good! Be well! :D
Thank you! It's great to hear from people who have been through this and are doing well. And yes it is a relief to get to the point where it no longer consumes our thoughts the way it did at the beginning. I have heard of the tattoos for scars but I don't plan to try it either. I also use my blush in a creative way! And I put matte makeup on the scar prior to the blush. Nice to hear from you and thank you for the compliments and uplifting comments!
I'm now at one year out and my skin graft above my lip still looks horrible. Sunken, shiny, obvious. Yours look so good, almost unnoticeable in some pictures! Did the shiny texture go away with yours- or is it just makeup covering that? And how long did yours continue to improve for- the plastic surgeons say 12 months but to be honest I think I should give it 2 years before I get mine cut out. I want to give it the best shot at healing and then re-evaluate. Gosh, what a LONG, SLOW process. So emotionally draining to say the least! I wouldn't even care of it was anywhere but my face!!! All the best and happy New Year! Bel x
Thank you. It's still shiny. Matte makeup helps make it appear less shiny. To me it's still obvious. The plastic surgeon had me wait two years before doing a small revision one one side of the graft, which helped it look a little less sunken. Yes a very slow process. And being on the face...I know - I completely understand. I would have rather had it anywhere but my face also. Sorry you're going through it.
Hi. Thanks for sharing your story. I have a bad scar on my forehead from a traumatic accident. I'm a single 34 year old female, and it has been devastating to me. I know it's not my fault that this happened to me, but it has turned me into a sad reclusive person. I hardly leave my house anymore. It has changed my personality. It's only been 10 months and I've already had one scar revision surgery. My scar is actually getting worse with time (more stretched out and sunken in). Perhaps this is because it was a traumatic injury?. The forehead is a really bad spot for scarring. Sorry if this is depressing, I just wanted to vent :(
Anonymous, I know exactly how you are feeling. My injury (dog bite) which has resulted in a big skin graft above my lip has been devastating to me, to say the least. It has completely changed me & I only leave the house for doctors appointments now. This was 14 months ago and I can't believe the impact it has had on me. The only positive I can offer you is that maybe you are in a better position than me, as you could maybe grow a fringe/bangs? There is no hiding anything when its smack bang on top of your lip! Hang in there. Bel.
Bangs don't work with my hair and I live in a very Windy City. So I just wear a hat when I have to go out in public. It's devastating. My body image is destroyed and the emotional toll this has taken on me is making me psyically sick. I literally have no life anymore. I've spent the last 10 months obsessing over ways to minimize my scar but nothing has worked. I'm stuck with this for life. I need to figure out how to brave the world with a facial disfigurement but it is so hard. I can't think of a much more isolating way to suffer.
I'm really sorry to hear about your dog bite. Has any of the reconstruction worked? Do you have a husband/children to help you through this horrific fate? I have no one and am sad that I might be alone forever now.
Hello Quiet One, Thanks so much for this blog. We were searching for information for my father who has undergone the removal of a merkel cell carcinoma in the same exact spot as yours on his cheek. We had no experience with this type of cancer or surgery and it has been so helpful reading about your journey. Thank you for sharing such a personal story...and the photos are helpful to understand how healing can look. My father has only begun his journey. His surgery was last week and he saw the wound without the bandage for the first time today. Looking for some way to encourage him but perhaps only the words of others who have had to deal with this situation can soothe the soul. I will pass on your insightful blog.
Photos taken October 2015
The scar shows more in certain lighting
WOW! You look great! (Not that you ever didn't) It really is quite amazing how a scar changes from year to year. It just keeps getting better. Although it is a long process it does heal in time and eventually blends in quite well. I think your scar has healed exceptionally well since you first showed us your photo's of the graph. From that picture to this is really amazing! My scar from my BCC is doing quite well. It just turned five years old this October. I still, to this day, continue to massage it and use Scar Gel. I have learned some interesting tricks with make-up to hide it away. (It's on the left side of my nose close to my cheek) My biggest problem was how white it was. Which, of course, is how scars tend to be. My Plastic Surgeon friend had recommended that I have it professionally tattooed (who knew that they did that for facial scars?) but I did not want to go through anymore pain on my face. I found a way to use my everyday blush in a creative way. I think the more we accept our scars the happier we will be. And what I mean is accepting what is even though you see it everyday. Yes, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't see my scar, even without massaging it, using scar gel, or covering it with make-up, but I make sure that is doesn't consume my life like it once did. Thank you for this lovely up-date and glad things are going well. Haven't been on your blog in quite some time so it's nice to hear all is good! Be well! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's great to hear from people who have been through this and are doing well. And yes it is a relief to get to the point where it no longer consumes our thoughts the way it did at the beginning. I have heard of the tattoos for scars but I don't plan to try it either. I also use my blush in a creative way! And I put matte makeup on the scar prior to the blush. Nice to hear from you and thank you for the compliments and uplifting comments!
DeleteI'm now at one year out and my skin graft above my lip still looks horrible. Sunken, shiny, obvious. Yours look so good, almost unnoticeable in some pictures! Did the shiny texture go away with yours- or is it just makeup covering that? And how long did yours continue to improve for- the plastic surgeons say 12 months but to be honest I think I should give it 2 years before I get mine cut out. I want to give it the best shot at healing and then re-evaluate. Gosh, what a LONG, SLOW process. So emotionally draining to say the least! I wouldn't even care of it was anywhere but my face!!! All the best and happy New Year! Bel x
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's still shiny. Matte makeup helps make it appear less shiny. To me it's still obvious. The plastic surgeon had me wait two years before doing a small revision one one side of the graft, which helped it look a little less sunken. Yes a very slow process. And being on the face...I know - I completely understand. I would have rather had it anywhere but my face also. Sorry you're going through it.
ReplyDeleteHi. Thanks for sharing your story. I have a bad scar on my forehead from a traumatic accident. I'm a single 34 year old female, and it has been devastating to me. I know it's not my fault that this happened to me, but it has turned me into a sad reclusive person. I hardly leave my house anymore. It has changed my personality. It's only been 10 months and I've already had one scar revision surgery. My scar is actually getting worse with time (more stretched out and sunken in). Perhaps this is because it was a traumatic injury?. The forehead is a really bad spot for scarring. Sorry if this is depressing, I just wanted to vent :(
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I know exactly how you are feeling. My injury (dog bite) which has resulted in a big skin graft above my lip has been devastating to me, to say the least. It has completely changed me & I only leave the house for doctors appointments now. This was 14 months ago and I can't believe the impact it has had on me. The only positive I can offer you is that maybe you are in a better position than me, as you could maybe grow a fringe/bangs? There is no hiding anything when its smack bang on top of your lip! Hang in there. Bel.
DeleteBel,
ReplyDeleteBangs don't work with my hair and I live in a very Windy City. So I just wear a hat when I have to go out in public. It's devastating. My body image is destroyed and the emotional toll this has taken on me is making me psyically sick. I literally have no life anymore. I've spent the last 10 months obsessing over ways to minimize my scar but nothing has worked. I'm stuck with this for life. I need to figure out how to brave the world with a facial disfigurement but it is so hard. I can't think of a much more isolating way to suffer.
I'm really sorry to hear about your dog bite. Has any of the reconstruction worked? Do you have a husband/children to help you through this horrific fate? I have no one and am sad that I might be alone forever now.
Hello Quiet One,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this blog. We were searching for information for my father who has undergone the removal of a merkel cell carcinoma in the same exact spot as yours on his cheek. We had no experience with this type of cancer or surgery and it has been so helpful reading about your journey. Thank you for sharing such a personal story...and the photos are helpful to understand how healing can look. My father has only begun his journey. His surgery was last week and he saw the wound without the bandage for the first time today. Looking for some way to encourage him but perhaps only the words of others who have had to deal with this situation can soothe the soul. I will pass on your insightful blog.
I hope your father is doing well, and glad to know you found this helpful. Thank you so much for writing.
Delete