Scars as Fashion
 

So it's common in today's society for bemishes such as scars or wrinkles or sun spots to be looked down upon as ugly I however find scars to be quite an attractive feature on people,obviously this is subject to the type and placing of scars as well as..festy-ness..

Anyway I'd be interested to hear everyone's opinions on scars:

Do you find them attractive/unattractive?
Any specific scars you like or dislike? ( Feel free to be graphic)


Also I'd like to see if anyone can give me some insight on a scarification procedure i'm interested in seeing if I can have, it would involve a fairly straight line scar being etched down from my forehead over my eyelid and down to my chin on one side of my face.

Logic dictates this would be a stupid idea and dangerous, but I'd like to know other people's thoughts on this, how dangerous they think it might be, if they know of any person or place that would perform such a procedure

I want to get this particular scarification done, because I used to have a scar on the left side of my face that almst exactly matches the one I described, unfortunately it's since faded away and I would like to have it "re-applied" 'cause I thought it looked cool, it made me feel sexy and it'd work well with an eye patch.

Watch this vid for some scenes of the scarification procedure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNoc--S1f5s

Personally, I think the whole scarification thing is abhorrent. You're going to grow old one day, look at your scar and realize what a total imbecile you were to have had that done.

I mean we, as a subculture, pay more particular attention to the corpse pallor of our skin than anything else, so in my opinion, that scarification thing is anything but beautiful.

Cutting over your eyelid to produce a scar purely for reasons of fashion/taste is quite possibly the most mindlessly stupid idea I have ever come across. Sorry, that's just my opinion. Not because of how it would look, since you clearly don't have a problem with that, having already had this scar. But the risk involved to make the scar deep enough to stay is very great.

Why would you want to basically try and blind yourself? The skin of the eyelid is very delicate, and not all that thick. The scar would fade there quite quickly if not very deep ( which it wouldn't be because you won't be able to cut very far without serious eye damage ). I cannot imagine you will find any form of professional who would do this for you, and letting anyone else do it ( including yourself ) is so foolish it doesn't even bear thinking about.

Please don't do it.

I don't really give a toss about scars either way. Yes, some do look " cool " because of their placement but they are accidents, usually very painful ones, and most people aren't happy about them being where they are. I know a guy who has had to have heart surgery, and has a massive linear scar down his chest which he absolutely hates. I do not find them repulsive , on others or myself.

I do not think promoting scarification in such a way is a good idea, as some may see it as a way of glorifying self mutilation for the wrong reasons, such as self harm to relieve emotional distress.

I have a scar I gave myself (let's overlook that part, shall we?) on my boob that I LOVE.

I got a very deep scar on my left arm from an accident when I was a wee lad. People like to poke it, I really don't care. Its just there.

Hmm... Scarification. Nope, not for me. Now tattoos and piercings, HELL YES!

Scars themselves? I think that one should be proud of their scars, even self-made ones. I have quite a few scars that never faded away, and they remind me that just like any other event in my life, they too have made me who I am. I wear them proudly. If they fade, they fade and that is the end of that.

Yes but...deliberately getting a scar that will be going over the eyelid ? Come on..

I don't think he wants his eyelid scared. He just wants to look like Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat.

Have at it, dude. Good luck to ya.

To each their own, some may like and fantasize about self-made battlescars.

I think the "cool" factor in a scar is HOW you got it. Like, if you got one fighting off ninjas, that's friggin' cool. If you went home one day, got a blade, and started going at it...not as cool.

Scarification it beautiful. I love scars and all other flaws that are deemed as "ugly".

How can you say scarification is abhorrent? Why tell someone that an aesthetic they desire is ugly? It isn't....just different.
Some people hate their scars, true. But not everyone is the same, it just depends on how you define beauty.

Plus, a scarification artist would not cut over someone's eyelid, they know aswell as we do that it's stupid.

Man, if you love your scar and it makes you feel attractive, go for it. You know why you did it and that's the most important thing.

Are you sure?

I didn't say it was abhorrent. I do not think it is. I just don't care either way how scars look. He obviously likes the position of it since he has had that scar before. If he likes it then fair do's.

I also did not say it would look ugly, I simply meant that doing it that close to the eye was stupid and dangerous. He said " over my eyelid " and I took that to mean that the eyelid would in some way be scarred. He did not specify so you do not know either.

I was also referring to the post by valerius.

I thought he meant scarring his eyelid too, I just mentioned that a scarification artist wouldn't do it.

I have a scar of an X on my boob that I like. I however dislike the many scars on my shoulders.

Scars can look alright, giving yourself scars for fashion is distasteful to me though.

I have a diamond-shaped keloid on my hand of which I'm not too fond. I usually wear a glove to cover it up.

Like Mon Coeur Noir said, most people agree that the coolness of a scar is derived from how one receives that scar, not from the aesthetics of the thing itself. Sub-Zero got his from Mortal Kombat- that's awesome. Were I to pay a substantial amount of money in order to create the illusion of cognate badass-ness on my part, I'd feel like a poseur.

I am very ashamed of my scars.. self-inflicted, and some of them very nasty..

Scars that are not self-inflicted are cool. Why? Because they have a story behind them.
I would indeed like a scar from the forehead through the eye (without blinding my eye), but I would be cheating if I made someone do a procedure for that, and I'm sure as hell not going to get into hazards just to see if I get it.
I have a scar on the back of my ear all the way to the back of my neck. Everyone asks me how I got it, most people honestly suggest brain surgery and I'm pretty sure quite a number of morons believe in all seriousness that I had too much brain so they had to take some out (real thing many people have told me!!) because of course, that's just how the brain works, right?

Scars that are self inflicted have stories, too. Though I am not proud of them, I see them as my battle scars.

I have thin, wiry scars from my cat scratching me. Everyone asks me how I got the one on my chest, I guess they want some dramatic tale of how I nearly escaped death with one long scar as a memento. They look disappointed when I tell them my cat did NOT want to go in that room.

I have a few self inflicted ones from about 2 years ago (it was purely out of curiosity though -_-)

I dont really go out of the way to hide them, because why should I? They're a part of me now, weather I like that or not.

Does anyone have any advice on fading them though?

There is a great product called Bio oil. It is wonderful stuff. Smells nice as well. I used it on my stretchmarks ( which were the size of China and deeper than the Marianas trench ) and they have completely faded/turned white. If you can't get that, then get the usual stuff sold for reducing stretchmarks. Works a treat.

I have some of those too, including a nasty one on my knee. It really kills me to have to disappoint people with such a lame story.

I have a really 'nice' one over my eyebrow that I've been told looks like I got a beer bottle cracked on my head. What it really is, is from where my eyebrow piercing got infected and had to be taken out.

Which is apparently uncool. (Eye roll)

EDIT: Honeythorn, I want that Bio oil stuff!

Self inflicted scars are the worst. I don't cut anymore but It's very embarassing to have an armful of scars, especially in a professional job setting. It sort of proclaims to the world, "I have issues!" even though I don't anymore.

My SI scars serve as a reminder of what I went through and why I don't do it anymore. They're a bit hard to explain to others, though. I have a ton of other scars from fights, biking, rock climbing, and some totally random incidents. Every scar has a story. I'm not ashamed of any of my scars except for on small raised scar over my heart. Lovely ex-boyfriend story that I won't get into. Scarification can be beautiful as art, but faux battle wounds are sort of sad IMHO. Tribal designs are cool but painful.

Thank you! I shall take a trip to my local chemist tomorrow ^_^

And I know what you mean suture. People tend to judge you straight away after seeing them, even if theyre years old -_-

I do undestand what people are saying about self inflicted replications of battle , however I just feel cheated by life that THAT particular scar had faded, course the story was more umorous than amazing as to how i got it.

I realised from the start the eyelid thing was completely insane and it was unikely that there would be any surgeon insane enough to do it (even though there probably is) but you gotta throw your ideas out there.

It's been interesting to see people's different opinions on this topic and I was glad to see I'm not the only scar lover, oo-wee! I do love my back as well, pale and pulled tightly over big big spinal discs, and criss crossed with scars, stretch marks (which looked quite scarlike but are since fading D=) and I also think the scars maybe fading, then all Ill have is that bruise on my lower back that hasn't disappeared after 2 years....>_>

Apparently, you look like Tom Cruise. Anyone else notice this? Ever think that the fading of that scar means that it really wasn't as important as you'd like it to be? It's gone and your face is "perfect". To put the scar back means that you WILL have a big ass scar all across your face.

The scars that's faded from view on my body, I consider myself lucky for. But that's just me.

You realise after that comment i'm going to have to go and drown myself in some sort of liquid...I'm not a big fan of Tom Cruise....>_>

A perfect face, hmmm, Heh as silly as it sonds, I found that quite profound and it's kind of redesigning the image of myself with the scar in my head, although i must admit the scarification video someone posted area got me all excited.

Kontan you realise how chaismatic and persuasive you can be so easily, why I think I'll just have to marry you, right here, right now...

Still part of me really does want to have at lats somthing scarified onto me or whoknows, maybe I'll just get lucky when i'm walking down the street and through some series of unexpected events, my body gets all slashed up by a bunch of flying swords....

I'm not thinkin' you look too much like Tom Cruse. ANYHOW. Do whatever makes you happy.

All of this scar talk makes me think of something stupid my ex used to say all the damned time.

Rule # 1: Chicks dig scars.
Rule # 2: See Rule # 1.

I fell down a hill once and got cut up pretty good. Now my leg has scars on it and I think it looks good...also my cat scratches my arm all the time so I've gotten some scars and people always ask if they're from cutting myself...-_-
My scars are all from stupid things too like the one on my forehead when I got hit with a golf club....I do have some from surguries and some from cutting though...

I have some scars on my left arm from where the rabbit has used me as a launch pad .

I must admit... for me, scars are an emotional or sexual turn on depending on context. Such as, if I see a girl my age with scars on her arms or any other typical self-mutilation spot, I get this immediate "oh, you poor confused girl, how could you do such a thing to your pretty little arm?!" thought process. This leads in turn, to more romantic pursuits with said girl.
I've tried to shake it throughout the years, but this broken-hearted-attraction to self-mutilation (which has been reinforced over time) has become perversed into something that has been a catalyst for arousal. I won't get into that though.
Scarification as a form of body modification is alright by me, and I see it along the lines of tattoos and piercings. However, self-inflicted scars that are meant to look as if one has survived some sort of conflict or encounter tend to rub me the wrong way. But to each his own.

I still think scarification is abhorrent. But do whatever makes you happy.

I used to have some fo those.. mostly from my *evil* Netherland Dwarf.
My lop wouldn't bother with kicking; he would just bite a chunk out of my neck.








*debates whether or not to post pics of my scars*

I've got almost no scars, except for one on my thigh where I accidentally punctured the flesh with a steel tipped mechanical pencil whilst trying to draw in an elderly Volkswagen golf that had no suspension. Not my wisest moment.
Also my BCG/mandatory ID chip/ that immuno-jab that went really icky after I got it (choose favourite description) and my single, sole chicken pox scar.

Boyfriend has two that I left him, accidentally. One on his wrist, where I bit him when we were tussling, and one on his back where I scratched him when we were tussling in a rather different way.

I have a little scar on my right little finger where Justin accidentally stabbed me with a knife.

I have about 20 scars, but most of them are only a centimeter or two long...that sounds like alot...-_-

I don't really care for scars, I prefer a more pristine, immaculate look. But that is just personal preference. I don't mind them per say, they have a unique quality and show tales of ones overall individual experience, so I don't think they are anything that should be hidden.

Keep in mind that anything on your face will change with time...and wrinkles eventually. So you may not be able to control it's evolution. With some things natural distortion can be interesting, with others it may look very stupid if it evolves in a way which you don't want it to. Your skin starts changing a lot before it even wrinkles and this begins in your mid-20's as your body growing and stops making the abundance of collagen and elastin.

Also do your research, if you develop keloids (which any scar CAN, especially the larger ones) then you may not only have a severely messed up face for life but difficulty with your eyes, nose, even mouth and ears forever.

I agree ApothoKeri. I rather dislike the few scars I have. I have a slightly bad one from a fall when I was a kid. It covers my entire knee. I just think scars ruin the beautiful white awesomeness that is my skin :D

Are they raised scars?

Many things to say on this one.

First of all, that scarification, scary shit, but I'd be more impressed if you did it yourself.

The scar over the eyelid thing IS possible WITHOUT blinding yourself. What you have to do is painful as shit though. You have to make the incision, let it heal slightly, and cut it open again, and repeat over and over and over, eventually it will leave a permanent (sort of) scar. I learned this from picking at all the injuries I've recieved. Scars do look cool, but only the ones that have good stories. Sometimes they make people look tragic. This one girl in my Sociology class last summer, absolutely gorgeous girl, and she had a good two inch long scar on her cheek, and it made her seem even prettier simply because of the tragic beauty of it all.

As for me, I have countless scars. Both eyebrows (a door and a glass table respectively) Countless on my arms, ( a few self inflicted, turns out cutting doesn't work if you're a masochist with a bloodfetish ^_^)
A bunch on my triceps and back from some particularly rough sex. The best one is the one you can't see. I have a scar going from the temple in front of my right ear up my head and around down behind my right ear. I got that when I broke my skull in a skateboarding accident and they had to cut open the skin and drain the blood because I was experiencing subdural hemotoma (sp). They then screwed a titanium plate on the broken skull and stapled (you think I'm kidding but I'm not) the skin back. Then just last summer I shaved my head (heaven knows why) and everyone got a lovely view of it.

Ugh...for some time I used my left forearm and inner thighs as a cutting board, and as such, I have a number of scars in different states of recovery. Some are still pinkish, others pure white and raised.

The healing process intrigues me.

I'm going to try to sound as non-cliched and lame as possible in saying this, so I suppose the best way to do so is to be completely honest.

I think scars are beautiful, whether self-inflicted or otherwise. They are external marks that reflect your history, your state of mind and being at a particular moment in time.

They're all we have left when our memories fail us, which they inevitably will.

Tattoos are just ink embedded in scar tissue. I like to think of my scars as self-made tattoos, with just as much a meaning to who I was as a person when I felt compelled to hurt myself in such a way.

They reflect the past, but that is invariably sill a part of who I am, and to deny that, to feel ashamed of my past, is a denial of my present.

my scars remind me that the past is real :p

Scars: I find some scars to be fascinating and aesthetically pleasing. They usually have a story behind them which gives you more insight into the person who owns the scar and in a way, binds you closer to them. I think it's proof of our life experiences and should not be look down upon as much as they are.

Scarification: While I personally could never bring myself to purposefully go in and have someone cut me in rad designs, I do respect a person's desire to have them. Some of them look way cool while others, (while the owner may like them) I think are just stupid looking. But that's their choice. My navy guy wants a scar very similar to the one the starter of this thread wants. He's so handsome without it, and if it wasn't for the fact that he's in the navy, I'm quite sure would already have it. I personally think it's stupid for him, but it's what he wants and so I respect that. I don't think he's stupid for wanting it done- I think it would look stupid on him.
Either way-I'll like him no matter what he does to himself. I think time has proven that already.


If a person wants to be scarred, then they have the right to do it without judgement from others. Granted, this goes against our human nature, but just as we have our reasons for disliking it, so do they have their reasons for wanting it. And to hell with anyone who thinks they can just pass judgement on something like that. We don't like being scrutinized ourselves, so why do it to someone else just because it's something we don't fancy ourselves? We can't all get along. That's why there's variety in the world. Instead, of just saying it's stupid, try to understand if there's a deeper reason besides it "looking cool." Saying you want something because it "looks cool" is just easier to spit out than a dissertation on exactly why you like/want it.


(And at this point, I realise that I may have wandered off track a bit, but the points are in there.)

i actrualy have a scarright above my left eye. I used to think it was so ugly. I think it kind of looks cool now, not sure why. I also have a sad story behind it, too.

But the scar thing, I'm not too sure about. It'd probably be kind of neat, but like the rest have said, the position isn't real clear. To each is own.

I was going to say something to the same effect, but you beat me to it.

I saw someone do this..

http://my.opera.com/Cois/blog/show.dml/1102626

Now, I don't particularly care for scars. (I have this thing where if I see wounds, I want to try and fix them.) But that is actually pretty good.

I'm not sure TBH. They're like paler than my skin tone and I can just about feel them when i run my fingers over them ;p

It's only really during the summer that they bother me much. I tan easily but they remain pale as fuck :|

That just seems like and infection waiting to happen.




I think ornamental scarification can be amazingly beautiful (not to mention bad ass) but I prefer traditional tribal styles (the ones where everything is done in dots or small dashes) over things that look like someone was branded (if you want to look branded then just get branded) and honestly I think it is a bit silly to recreate a past scar but hey if it makes you happy go for it.