Airport Security and Scars....

[happygolucky]

So, the last time I traveled via plane was way back pre-paranoid Airport Security, and also pre-self harm.
Now, I have arms laced with raised, red scars.. you know the kind, hypertrophic or whatever. And I mean like hundreds.

Will this be an issue getting through airport security???? ANY SIers who travel frequently, have you ever been stopped/questioned/detained?

The thing that concerns me most are those new body scanners, that see *everything*... I'm not sure what exactly the "normal" process for travelers are these days, last I heard it was random selection of who went through a body scanner?
Especially because of this recent article: http://articles.ktuu.com/2011-03-08/tsa-agent_28670413
Which basically states a woman with a scar from a mastectomy was pulled aside, because the scar appeared as a "dark anomaly" on the scanner, and then she had to go through a pat down.

I'm going to be going on a school trip to another country... and I really don't want to end up pulled aside and questioned about my SI scars in front of my teacher and fellow students

Thanks in advance for any help/info/knowledge on this!!

[88shelz]

i wouldnt worry about it too much. i have never been pulled aside and asked about scars anytime travelling. and have never been through a body scanner. alot of airports dont use them yet.

[Gone.]

They usually only put you through the body scanner if you bleep when going through the security barrier. As long as you make sure you have nothing metal on you then you should be fine. I've never been through the machines myself but I do appreciate that it is a worry, as I feel it too. However, I've travelled a good many times and haven't been pulled aside once so I wouldn't bother yourself about it. You'll probably only have the body scanners present one way anyway.

Try not to worry and enjoy your trip away :)

[happygolucky]

Here is an update on my trip thus far; you guys were right, there wasn't a body scanner. However, I was asked to remove my hoodie.... Obviously, I couldn't. So I had to refuse 3 dif people, in front of both classmates and my dad. =/ then this nice lady did the body pat-publicly.
Thank god for her, bc the two men demanding I take off my hoodie were very insistent, and the lady immediately just said, ok don't worry, I'll head over there. It was still very humiliating, and who knows what my poor father thinks of it.
So future advice; wear long sleeves!!! It never even occurred to me I'd have to remove my hoodie :'( I feel so horrible right now.

[apix]

hug!
That's so annoying about being asked to remove your hoodie. typical!
But ya didnt have to so :)
I know its not easy to keep it covered up 24/7 esp in summer.
sweat patches?? Been there.
Not fun but that's how it is.
I'm apix btw, if ya wanna PM me whenever you can do. :)
take care

[Leo Pard]

Yeh, you always have to take off your jumper/hoodie/wht ever the hell you want to call it.