Embarrassing Scar

I have some kind of scar or birthmark or something at the top of my chest, and it's been there as long as I can remember. It's got a pink or red tone to it (how red seems to vary, not sure why) and kind of shaped like a little scoop has been taken out of the skin. In the past, people asked me if it were a hickey, which led me to try to keep it covered with clothing all the time since. I'd really like to wear whatever shirts I want no matter the neckline, but with this mark I don't feel free to do that. I've tried covering it up with concealer or other make-up, and that disguises the red, but the indentation is still obvious. . . just looks like someone tried to cover a hickey with concealer. *sweatdrops* Is there some type of product or surgical procedure that might help? Any estimation of cost or availability? I've had this problem all my life and would like to finally be rid of it, even if I had to save for it.

I have a scar on my stomach...from emergency surgery two years ago for a perforated ulcer. It starts about one inch above my navel and goes up about five inches. This being two years now..it's finally beginning to smooth out, tho has seemed to widen some...it's still very tender..it's about 1/2" wide...I have tried the Mederma topical gel..didn't work well for me..though you may want to try, it's an over the counter thing. I've had the best luck with pure vitamin E oil, I got it at GNC, it's pricey, 9.99, but it's not thick and sticky, and spreads easily, and is well absorbed.

I'm sure I've not been much help, but wanted you to know you're not alone in the way you feel. I am lucky tho in the fact that mines not visible unless I'm in a bathing suit, which at first was very, very hard for me. I'd worked so hard to get my abs in shape, then the surgery that left such a visible scar. But with time I've worked past it, and now when I feel weirded out about baring it, I just stop and think...if not for that surgery I'd not be alive today.

I wish you the best...if you find something that works for you, please let me know. You might want to consider some of the over the counter options, trial and error...what works for some doesn't always work for everyone. You may also want to keep as an option seeing a dermatologist as a first step in seeking professional help; and what info/options they might offer.

Gotta get to work now. Hang in there!!

How bout an attractive tattoo to cover it! Might be sexy! Is that possible for you? Tattoos, if you pick the right one can be very attractive!!!

Well, for my case I dunno if that would be an option. It would hurt a lot to have one done on the shallow skin where my scar is, and I think the way it's indented might cause some problems or limitations to what could be done, too? *wonders*

I have a bit of experience with scars as my daughter was in a very bad boat accident three years ago and has a huge scar across one knee and bad scarring on her ankle (on the outside) on her other leg. She is very sensitive about them (people here in Florida constantly ask her if it is a shark bite) and she has undergone multiple surgical procedures to make them less glaring.

The ankle scar was kind of interesting in that it started out as a skin graft since a big chunk of skin and muscle was missing. When the graft healed there was a "divit" that was about five inches long and maybe 3/4" across which was kind of indented. Once it was completely healed the plastic surgeon pulled one side up so then the divit was smaller. After that one healed he pulled the other side down to meet it. So the divit itself was then gone but they needed to fill in the indentation that was still left so they used what they called a dermal fat transfer. They sucked some fat out of her abdomen (she had them do extra in a liposuction procedure) and transferred it into the scar to plump it out. It worked pretty well but she might need it one more time since they don't know the exact amount of fat to put in because some of it will be absorbed. The recovery was very simple too. I know this is long but that might work for you. Consult a plastic surgeon. Hers has all been covered by insurance too.

The other thing to consider is laser surgery. Again, consult a plastic surgeon. We went to see one here in Florida who wasn't too hopeful but he did say that they are constantly making improvements in what they can do.

She is planning a tatoo on her ankle when she turns 18. That might work out pretty well. The knee will have at least one more revision in December of this year before she decides what to do there. Maybe a zipper tatoo???

I am NOT a fan of tatoos but in this kind of circumstance I think they may have some merit.

I am NOT a fan of tatoos but in this kind of circumstance I think they may have some merit.

------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm sure this is a bit off topic...however the more I think about it...the more bugged I become over this statement. I happen to have three tatoos...all tastefully done...regret none of them...put lots of thought into each of them before I ever did it. 'in this kind of circumstance I think they may have some merit' ??? One word comes to mind
hypocritical. If your daughter wanted the tatoo NOT to cover a scar you'd not approve? What's that imply by your way of thinking about the rest of us who have them simply because we wanted them for whatever reasons?

Mylissa,
I am merely stating my opinion, as I have every right to do. As a baby boomer I guess I am a member of the "establishment" and the "establishment" in general doesn't approve of tattoos. That is neither right or wrong, it just the way it is right now. It doesn't mean that there isn't a paradigm shift taking place right now and that the next generation's "establishment" won't think tattoos represent bikers and trailer trash. But that is what they represent to a majority of my generation and I don't know how much that perception can be changed by the more general acceptance of "tattoos as fashion" that seems to prevail among younger people.

I am not judging those who have tattoos, but I do not like them for many reasons. I am sure you don't want to hear my whole long winded diatribe but I will tell you this. I didn

*Smiles* Good enough....now that I have been able to see a bit further into where your thoughts/feelings/opinions come from...I agree with many of the points you have made, not that I believe the same; but that in that they seem to hold true. The way things are in this world doesn't necessarily make them right...people prejudged, tossed into a stereotyped bunch because of certain choices they have made for whatever reasons.

The fact that you are open to discussion on the subject...and that you seem to a point to see both sides of the issue is a good thing. I appreciate you taking the time to elaborate.

Good luck to you and your daughter with the scar/tatoo thing. I hope whatever she chooses that it turns out well for her.

Thank you. I still get the heebie jeebies thinking about tattoos but to each his own. I was considering getting permanent make up until my husband reminded me that permanent wasn't something I might like in a few years. I tend to get bored easily.

Kuroneko, my advice is to consult a plastic surgeon to get an estimate. If it is a simple procedure you may be surprised at how little it costs. I had a similar blemish on my face that bothered me for many years. As a guy I was able to grow a beard and hide it but last fall I finally decided to go see a plastic surgeon about it. He told me he could remove the blemish right then and there in the office! He numbed my face and it didn't hurt a bit. It only took about twenty minutes. I now have a thin, practically invisible line instead of an ugly blemish. It cost me $200 US and it was one of the the best things I've ever done for myself. I put off going to a plastic surgeon for years thinking that it would mean I'm vain or thinking that it was too small to bother about. It turns out that this is one of the most common procedures. I suggest you give a plastic surgeon a visit.

I'm a baby boomer with a master's in admin and I have a tattoo. It's on the back of my head underneath my hair. I got it to celebrate completing chemotherapy. My husband shaved his head when I was bald and he also has a tattoo on his head which he got for the same reason.

I'm in line to get another as part of the reconstruction process.

All tattoos are not created equal.

try these tip for ur scars they work wonders for me
use cocoa butter everymorning and night and whenever it gets dry and also vitamin e oil u can get that at ur local drug store it really works well i recently burned my self on a motorcyle(not bad) but i hav been using both and they work well

I know a lot of people who have an unwritten policy that they will not hire anyone with a visable tatoo (or even multiple visable piercings). Doesn't mean that it is right (or even strictly legal but who would know) but it is a fact of life. Until baby boomers are out of positions of power and setting corporate style, I don't expect that to change a whole lot. As I stated in my much earlier post, I think there is a paradigm shift occurring but it will take a generation to become complete.

Most employers don't care if you have a small nosestud or a small tattoo on your arm.

If you are heavily tattooed or pierced that is different. You would then need to cover your tattoos with clothes as you suggested, and take out excessive amount of jewelry.