I posted quite recently about a self-injury to self-love transformation through scarification, and Ron Garza sent in this story about the customer pictured in this entry.
After filming for Discovery Channel in Canada last year, and working and speaking with the plastic surgeon on the show, I discussed ideas with him for scar cover-ups done the same way tattoo cover-up custom designs are done on a larger scale. He thought it was a great idea and suggested we consult with local surgeons in our area and see about going in after surgeries and making the surgery scar into a design, decided upon by the patient and myself before the whole surgery. I thought it was a great idea, and it only reinforced my idea that this was totally possible.
I started playing with it, doing a few small removals in different designs to cover surface piercing scars and that healed amazing. Well… then at the scar class that Gillstrap and myself taught Erik Dakota, Gillstrap and myself all collaborated and removed a huge brand that was deep on this student’s sternum. While it takes much more work to get even and consistent it showed me it can be done. Yes, it’s true — it is a complete pain in the ass but I have been pretty stoked on the results.
This piece was done as a reclamation of self-piece and a way of covering over the self-injurious past scars with a healthier new beginning. Originally a phoenix was requested but when we started drawing the design on, with all the old scars a koi just seemed to fit much better with the scales in the direction of her scars. I actually removed some of the old scars to get things level and tried to create a level scar in a field of uneven scar tissue. As you see in the drawing, some scales were also going to be removal for a spotted koi look, but some of the scars’ roots were just to deep to do all at once, so we got the outline done. I’m quite pleased with the results thus far. I’m sure when we add some grey wash to the piece it will give the entire piece more depth and really take the emphasis off the old scars.
Next week we begin the other arm — I’m stoked!
Comments
145 responses to “Self-Injury Scar Cover-Up Procedure”
I’m not sure what to make on the story, but I like the koi.
I do wonder though, why does this not have a title?
I’m not sure what to make on the story, but I like the koi.
I do wonder though, why does this not have a title?
I’m not sure what to make on the story, but I like the koi.
I do wonder though, why does this not have a title?
I’m not sure what to make on the story, but I like the koi.
I do wonder though, why does this not have a title?
I’m not sure what to make on the story, but I like the koi.
I do wonder though, why does this not have a title?
i like the idea of taking something that is painful and making it into something beautiful, particularly in this case where the medium is the same for the most part – scars become scars.
i like the idea of taking something that is painful and making it into something beautiful, particularly in this case where the medium is the same for the most part – scars become scars.
i like the idea of taking something that is painful and making it into something beautiful, particularly in this case where the medium is the same for the most part – scars become scars.
i like the idea of taking something that is painful and making it into something beautiful, particularly in this case where the medium is the same for the most part – scars become scars.
i like the idea of taking something that is painful and making it into something beautiful, particularly in this case where the medium is the same for the most part – scars become scars.
YAY juno!
YAY juno!
YAY juno!
YAY juno!
YAY juno!
beautiful scar and really interesting story
beautiful scar and really interesting story
beautiful scar and really interesting story
beautiful scar and really interesting story
beautiful scar and really interesting story
beautiful
beautiful
beautiful
beautiful
beautiful
I used to self injure but I haven’t hurt myself in almost two years. I got a tattoo on my left forearm to cover up my scars and to remind me not to hurt myself again.
The koi is beautiful. I really like how the scar looks.
I used to self injure but I haven’t hurt myself in almost two years. I got a tattoo on my left forearm to cover up my scars and to remind me not to hurt myself again.
The koi is beautiful. I really like how the scar looks.
I used to self injure but I haven’t hurt myself in almost two years. I got a tattoo on my left forearm to cover up my scars and to remind me not to hurt myself again.
The koi is beautiful. I really like how the scar looks.
I used to self injure but I haven’t hurt myself in almost two years. I got a tattoo on my left forearm to cover up my scars and to remind me not to hurt myself again.
The koi is beautiful. I really like how the scar looks.
I used to self injure but I haven’t hurt myself in almost two years. I got a tattoo on my left forearm to cover up my scars and to remind me not to hurt myself again.
The koi is beautiful. I really like how the scar looks.
i love it
i love it
i love it
i love it
i love it
This is totally awesome.
This is totally awesome.
This is totally awesome.
This is totally awesome.
This is totally awesome.
This brought tears to my eyes.
As a recovering self-injurer, it’s wonderful to see other people who have made it through, it gives me hope for my own future.
Not to mention that’s just beautiful. I’m glad their have turned something that they may have felt ashamed of into something so gorgeous.
This brought tears to my eyes.
As a recovering self-injurer, it’s wonderful to see other people who have made it through, it gives me hope for my own future.
Not to mention that’s just beautiful. I’m glad their have turned something that they may have felt ashamed of into something so gorgeous.
This brought tears to my eyes.
As a recovering self-injurer, it’s wonderful to see other people who have made it through, it gives me hope for my own future.
Not to mention that’s just beautiful. I’m glad their have turned something that they may have felt ashamed of into something so gorgeous.
This brought tears to my eyes.
As a recovering self-injurer, it’s wonderful to see other people who have made it through, it gives me hope for my own future.
Not to mention that’s just beautiful. I’m glad their have turned something that they may have felt ashamed of into something so gorgeous.
This brought tears to my eyes.
As a recovering self-injurer, it’s wonderful to see other people who have made it through, it gives me hope for my own future.
Not to mention that’s just beautiful. I’m glad their have turned something that they may have felt ashamed of into something so gorgeous.
I kinda was dissapointed seeing as it wasn’t a tattoo of the red and blue outline – but good idea nonetheless 🙂
I kinda was dissapointed seeing as it wasn’t a tattoo of the red and blue outline – but good idea nonetheless 🙂
I kinda was dissapointed seeing as it wasn’t a tattoo of the red and blue outline – but good idea nonetheless 🙂
I kinda was dissapointed seeing as it wasn’t a tattoo of the red and blue outline – but good idea nonetheless 🙂
I kinda was dissapointed seeing as it wasn’t a tattoo of the red and blue outline – but good idea nonetheless 🙂