Positive recovery post - SH free and looking forward! Scar revision too.

[explorer-luce]

Hi guys!

Used to post here quite a lot as an annoying little teen. Now I'm quite old (well, no longer teen) and over two years SH free!!! I'm not going to pretend life's hunky dory, because it's not, and I still have my personal demons to deal with, but I've found new strategies of doing (or sometimes not doing) this.

So anyway, I've been left with some fairly nasty scarring on my forearm, which I cover up. Nobody sees these scars and it's not really an issue, as nobody really knows at uni. I have however been offered two forms of a skin graft, as as way hopefully moving on even more, which I'm pretty certain I am going to accept. The first of these is just a straight forward skin graft, but the other, which I think I will be having is a more experimental procedure, the brand name for which is Integra which is essentially a spray-on skin graft, which leaves less obvious scarring.

So I was just wondering if anyone had even heard of Integra (because I certainly hadn't!!!) or had any input on my situation. Obviously at 20 (eurgh, so old!) I am totally emancipated from my parent's control over my medical treatment, however I still feel they should know what is going on... so my final issue is that they are blissfully unaware of the torment in my head, in deciding whether to op for the op or not.

Anyway, hope we're all well and staying strong!!
Love x

[singxsilently]

Haha I'm still a teen... XD
Anyways, no, I haven't heard of Integra... but, I'm glad things are going better for you :)

[Cedrus]

I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experience =] its nice to hear that you have moved on and recovered enough for professionals to help you cover up the scars.

I've had split skin grafts (for burns) which have healed quite well. But you have to remember also with normal skin grafts they take the skin from the donor site - I'm sure they have told you about this!

What does the Integra version consist on? I'm intrigued to know how they 'spray on' skin? lol, I must have interpreted it wrong!

Take care and good luck with your future.

[surviver15]

I'm so glad things are going well for you. :)

[explorer-luce]

I've actually now opted to go for a form of dermabrasion, but basically with the Integra (but possibly also the dermabrasion) they use the skin cells and some how obtain particles from them so that rather than a full sheet of skin being put on, it's a very thin layer of skin cells, so the end result is far better.

I think they might use something similar with the dermabrasion, which is what I'm hopefully going to have in a couple of months time!

[Revival]

Luce just wanted to say I remember you from the queendom days and have wondered how you're going; I'm so happy to hear that you're doing well :)

[risenfromperdition]

*jumps on* proud of you miss luceeeeee :)