Tuesday August 12th, 2008 @ 4:19 PM
I have a 7 month old cautery brand on my forearm, down by my wrist. It has healed to the point where it has all turned white.
Except for a few random purple splotches. Sometimes they’re really evident, sometimes they’re almost gone. They are also not open wounds, or raised up - they’re flush with the rest of the scar.
My best guess is that blood pooled underneath the scar?
I’m going to see my artist ASAP, in two weeks, to see what he thinks, but I just wanted to get another opinion.
I have a five-year-old cautery brand on MY forearm, funnily enough, and it looked exactly the same for awhile during the healing! By the time it was a 12-18 months old, it had pretty much all settled down into the same colour of white scarring. I’m really not sure why it healed so unevenly - like you, there was no rhyme or reason to it, just the odd splotch of high-coloured scar tissue amidst the rest of the white scar tissue - but if I had to guess, I’d say yours will probably settle down over time, too. Seven months is really not long enough to assume that your scar will look like that forever, it’s pretty early days yet! 
+5 / 5 votes 
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Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | 1 Comment
Thursday July 31st, 2008 @ 10:34 PM
I’ve looked around and haven’t been able to really find any info on this but are there differences in the appearance of scars from different methods of scarification?
I’d like to get 3 bars (1/8th inch wide, each) scarred across the bridge of my nose and I’d like to know if different methods produce (or can potentially produce) different scars.
For example: Could/would flesh removal leave indented scarring as opposed to flat or raised scarring?
The face tends to be very resilient to heavy scarring, depending on your skin type and the method of scarification used. All of the facial skin removals that I have done have healed indented rather than raised. If you are looking for an indented scar, removal is likely a good route to take to achieve your desired result.
Keep in mind that the healed result of a scarification piece can be difficult to guarantee under any circumstances. Your practitioner may use an experienced method with a high-chance result expectation, but the method that the client uses for aftercare and healing variables will also affect the finished and healed result.
+10 / 10 votes
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Posted by Russ Foxx | Permalink | 1 Comment
Wednesday July 30th, 2008 @ 10:40 PM
I’ve had my heart set on getting a fairly large branding on my back. It will mainly be on my spine. This may be a silly question, but I suppose it’s better to ask than not. Is there a chance such a branding might affect my spine in any way?
Other than the standard risks of branding- not really. You MAY have mobility issues depending on placement and how the brand heals, but there’s no danger in damaging the spine if you go to a professional.
+5 / 5 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | Comments
Friday July 25th, 2008 @ 11:39 AM
Is there anyone out there that may know how to self cut the bladder muscle or the urinary sphincter that would force the recepinent to have to wear a collection device 24/7 or some kind of protectiojn 24/7. I know that there are some people here that have done uretral re-routs. I am hoping someone can help me with this. thank you, spankey
The safest way to achieve this is with a urethral stint. The stint is basically a hollow tube with a textured outside that your bladders sphincter will grab onto and not be able to close around.
+1 / 15 votes 
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Posted by Sean Philips | Permalink | 1 Comment
Thursday July 24th, 2008 @ 3:02 AM
I am pretty experienced with piercings and tattoos and some suspension, but I’m kind of new to scarification..I was wondering, why is it that when people get scarification day, they hope for keliods? Or are happy when it does result in keloids? And c’mooon..please don’t give me a crab-apple kind of answer because I’m new and want answers but wherever else I look, I can’t figure out exactly why..all I have is a few ideas. Thank you BME, you rock
But what if we reeeeeeally want to give you crab-apple answers? Crab-Apples are delicious and nutritious! I miss my old Crab-Apple tree!
The reality is those who want raised scars hope for keloidal scarring because when it keloids, it raises a lot more then average/normal scar tissue.
However although there are MANY people who want really raised scars, there are just as many who want subtle/flat scars.
When a scar keloids its more visual and able to be seen. Where as when it doesn’t keloid the lines can be very thin and without a close up inspection, many people won’t know its there.
Although depending on the certain scarification that is done, keloid scarring can be more problematic than helpful. Case in point awhile back on ModBlog the documentation of the individual who had 3 scars on his chest/ab region and it keloided out of control and needed to be removed,etc.
Hence why anyone who is looking into scarification should really grasp the understanding of keloid scarring, hypertrophic scarring,etc. As well as how such scars will impact the region that is about to receive the scarification project, and if any complications could potentially arise from it.
+2 / 8 votes 
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 2 Comments
Wednesday June 25th, 2008 @ 3:28 AM
Since I discover BME a few years ago I’ve been in love with the idea of a scarification piece, however I have pasty white skin that bruises easily but doesn’t hold scars very long. Even scars from burns don’t last very long. In fact the only scars on my body are a few stretch marks and a very small one on my nose. Is there a particular method of scarring that is better suited to those of us who glow in the dark? Thank you for your time.
As a pasty white chick who notoriously doesn’t scar and has experimented with (and endured) several attempts at scarification (including electrocautery branding, simple cutting, and flesh removal) with practically no scarring to show for it, my advice is this: if you KNOW you don’t scar much, personally, I wouldn’t bother wasting my time with scarification, unless you’re really just into the process and not so much the end result. Successful scarification has far more to do with the wearer’s genetics than the artist’s techniques, IMHO.
+10 / 12 votes
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Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | 3 Comments
Friday May 30th, 2008 @ 6:41 PM
I am one of those people who gets piercings and tattoos to releave stress, but recently money has been tight, and I have been unable to get to a decent piercing parlor. I am too afraid of the negative consequences of piercing myself, and i have turned to cutting. although this may sound more destructive, in reality, my cuts are shallow, harmless, and nearly painless. I do it for the calming adrenaline rush, not for suicidal reasons, and it has done me a world of good.
my problem is that although the crowd here on BME is tolerant and understanding, my immediate family and friends… arnt. I am afraid that if (or when) they see the scars, they will assume the worst, that I am suicidal and unstable.
basically I was wondering if anyone has dealt with a similar situation, and what the outcome was.
There is a variety of things I could get into about cutting/self-harm etc. etc. However, I’m not here to lecture anyone about their choices, unless the things they are doing are clearly putting themselves in danger. Then, I’m happy to lecture.
Perhaps I can offer an alternative that might “do the trick”, but probably runs the risk of leaving scars:
Play piercing
This could very well give you the adrenaline rush and the stress-relief you seek, without leaving too many noticeable marks (although, be aware that bruising can occur with play piercing). I know that money is part of the reason you’ve turned to cutting, and I realize that play piercing needles aren’t free. However, you might be able to save a bit of money and invest in a box of play piercing needles that could last you quite a while.
There are a variety of sources for play piercing needles, but BME Shop is of course a great option.
The comment forum is available for anyone who wants to give a more direct answer to the question that was asked.
+2 / 4 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 5 Comments
Monday May 12th, 2008 @ 9:15 AM
Filed under: Other
hey just a quick one, is it poss to have my frenum cut without getting a lisp or speech impedement?
Possible is a sticky wicket.
Yes. It’s possible. It’s also possible to get your tongue split with no affects to your speech- but it’s also possible that you’ll thound like thith. There’s really no way to guarantee it 100%.
is it probable?
Again- yes. It’s probable that you’re speech will totally unaffected by having the lingual frenulum cut. Ankyloglossia (being “tongue tied”) is common enough that performing a frenotomy (though unpopular in some circles) is a medically approved option that carries with it the hope of untethered movement of the tongue and improved speech.
+4 / 6 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 3 Comments
Saturday May 3rd, 2008 @ 8:16 AM
I’m considering having my navel removed but as it’s a major mod I want some advice. I have a sort of inny-outy belly button meaning it sticks out a little and then folds back in, the way the two inner pieces of skin rub together it leaves raw skin which gets infected. So this modification is for both practical and aesthetic. I wondered if anyone here had had their navel removed, how they had it done, where, and how much it costs.
Thanks
Charlie
I’d strongly advise you to speak to a plastic surgeon, since you’re basically asking for a mini-abdominoplasty. Any surgery to the abdominal wall like that is pretty significant and not something I would personally trust a cutter to do, especially since actual, medically-trained and recognised surgeons do thing like that all the time. If you live anywhere near any major metropolitan area in the world, you should be able to find a plastic surgeon who could easily do this for you, but the price will vary and you’ll want to have a consultation with the doctor to explain what you’re after and get their input on the matter. And good luck!
+22 / 32 votes
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Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | 3 Comments
Monday April 28th, 2008 @ 12:52 PM
About a year ago I got a scarification in between my shoulder blades. It was a fairly fine design and it healed too well and too quickly. I didn’t get any keloid. I’m just curious if it’s even possible to cut wider and deeper around the scar that’s already there (in essence, cut out the scar tissue that is there) in hopes that a wider deeper cut will create the desired keloid.
It’s very likely that you can have the piece reworked. You’ll want to find someone with an “above average” skill-set as far as scarification goes- so do your research and find someone at the top of the game.
+10 / 10 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 2 Comments
