People who are born with or develop disfigurement or scarring often have to navigate uncomfortable situations during their daily routines. People can stare and ask awkward questions that leave those with a different set of circumstances feeling anxious and embarrassed.

Disfigurements may be the result of genetic conditions or may have been acquired as a result of an injury or accident. Sometimes, those accidents that resulted in injury were not the fault of the injured person and may have been the result of negligence on the part of a business or healthcare provider. In these cases, injury lawyers are there to help the injured person seek justice against the negligent party and recover the cost of medical bills and lost wages.


Scarring and Disfigurement Cases

Personal injury attorneys work tirelessly on behalf of their clients to fight against medical malpractice and against medical device and pharmaceutical companies that create defective products and drugs. The Eichholz Law Firm is offering a free consultation for those who may have suffered scarring or disfigurement as a result of an accident or negligence.

If you suffered scarring or disfigurement as a result of an accident or negligence, you might be able to file a claim against those responsible for your pain and suffering.


Causes of Scarring and Disfigurement

There are many possible causes of scarring and disfigurement. While these causes may vary, they fall into two main categories: congenital and acquired.

Congenital means present at birth; people with scarring and disfigurement due to congenital causes were born with these differences.

People with scarring and disfigurement due to acquired causes may have developed a disease or been involved in an accident that resulted in scarring, a scar or disfiguring injury.

Congenital causes include:

  • Birthmarks
  • Medical conditions that involve disfigurement of the skull and face
  • Apert’s syndrome — the premature fusion of skull bones
  • Neurofibromatosis — a genetic disorder that can cause bone deformities, an enlarged head, and learning disabilities
  • cleft lip and palate
  • Skin conditions
  • Eczema
  • Vitiligo – a disease that causes the loss of skin color in patches

Acquired causes include:

  • Medical conditions that result in disfigurement
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Facial paralysis
  • Development of skin conditions
  • Traumatic injury
  • Burns and scarring

Whether a person’s disfigurement is caused by genetics or an accident, it may have a long-term impact on their self-esteem and self-confidence, especially if they’re never given the tools to help cope with their differences.


Coping with Disfigurement

It’s not always easy for people with facial disfigurements or other disfigurements to move through life. People can be cruel, intentionally or not, and dealing with stares, whispers, and other negative behaviors from strangers can be emotionally draining, even traumatizing. Children who are born with a disfigured face may develop psychological problems because of bullying at school. It may affect their self-esteem, their self-worth, and their self-confidence.

Many stereotypes surround disfigurement that can make interactions uncomfortable for many people who suffered a scar or disfigurement. Staring and inappropriate questions are just some of the things people with disfigurements have to deal with. They might not know what to say in response to strangers’ unwanted questions, or feel embarrassed and self-conscious—even alone and isolated—because of these negative interactions.

Stereotypes about people with disfigurements have been portrayed in movies and other media that perpetuate negative ideas that aren’t based in fact. The idea that people with disfigurements may have damaged personalities as a result or the trope that only attractive people can be successful suggests that people with disfigurements cannot be successful. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. People with facial and other disfigurements can live happy, successful, and fulfilling lives.

Healthcare providers offer suggestions for people with disfigurements to use when they find themselves in stressful situations. Exuding self-confidence through strong body language is one thing the National Health System (NHS) in the United Kingdom suggests. Maintain eye contact, speak in a confident tone, use your face and hands to express yourself, stand tall and keep your shoulders down.

The NHS also suggest people deal with awkward staring by staring back, smiling and holding their gaze long enough for them to realize that they’re doing is uncomfortable and inappropriate. Practicing specific social skills before heading out into the world can also help people feel more confident in social situations. People often ask common questions, and having a brief but clear answer to those questions can be helpful.


Is Surgery an Option for Facial Disfigurement, Breast Disfigurement, Scarring?

Many people with scarring or disfigurements consider surgery as a way to help reduce the appearance or severity of the disfigurement. While surgery cannot “fix” everything, it may be an option for some people to help reduce the conspicuousness of the disfigurement and improve functioning.

Facial Disfigurement
The most common causes of facial disfigurement include birth-related disfigurements, such as cleft lip, birthmarks, and craniofacial condition. Other common causes include physical injuries, like burns, accidents, car crash injuries, scarring, and dog bites; and health and skin conditions, such as eczema, acne, or vitiligo.

Depending on the type of facial disfigurement, surgery may be used to improve function or correct the disfigurement. For example, surgery can be used to repair a cleft lip when a child is about 3 to 6 months old

Breast Surgery
Breast disfigurements are often the result of genetics, but sometimes things like breast cancers and catastrophic injuries can cause disfigurements. People with breast disfigurements may opt to have breast surgery to correct any deformities. Some common deformities of the breast include breast asymmetry and tubular breast deformity.

Scar Revision Surgery
Scar revision is surgery to improve or reduce the appearance of scars. It can also restore function and correct skin disfigurements caused by an injury or previous surgery.

Scar tissue forms as the skin heals following an injury. The amount of scarring that occurs depends on the size, depth, and location of the injury, the person’s age, and skin characteristics.

People who are born with or develop disfigurement or scarring often have to navigate uncomfortable situations during their daily routines. People can stare and ask awkward questions that leave those with a different set of circumstances feeling anxious and embarrassed.

Disfigurements may be the result of genetic conditions or may have been acquired as a result of an injury or accident. Sometimes, those accidents that resulted in injury were not the fault of the injured person and may have been the result of negligence on the part of a business or healthcare provider. In these cases, injury lawyers are there to help the injured person seek justice against the negligent party and recover the cost of medical bills and lost wages.
Scarring and Disfigurement Cases
Personal injury attorneys work tirelessly on behalf of their clients to fight against medical malpractice and against medical device and pharmaceutical companies that create defective products and drugs. The Eichholz Law Firm is offering a free consultation for those who may have suffered scarring or disfigurement as a result of an accident or negligence.

If you suffered scarring or disfigurement as a result of an accident or negligence, you might be able to file a claim against those responsible for your pain and suffering.
Causes of Scarring and Disfigurement
There are many possible causes of scarring and disfigurement. While these causes may vary, they fall into two main categories: congenital and acquired.

Congenital means present at birth; people with scarring and disfigurement due to congenital causes were born with these differences.

People with scarring and disfigurement due to acquired causes may have developed a disease or been involved in an accident that resulted in scarring, a scar or disfiguring injury.

Congenital causes include:

  • Birthmarks
  • Medical conditions that involve disfigurement of the skull and face
  • Apert’s syndrome — the premature fusion of skull bones
  • Neurofibromatosis — a genetic disorder that can cause bone deformities, an enlarged head, and learning disabilities
  • cleft lip and palate
  • Skin conditions
  • Eczema
  • Vitiligo – a disease that causes the loss of skin color in patches

Acquired causes include:

  • Medical conditions that result in disfigurement
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Facial paralysis
  • Development of skin conditions
  • Traumatic injury
  • Burns and scarring

Whether a person’s disfigurement is caused by genetics or an accident, it may have a long-term impact on their self-esteem and self-confidence, especially if they’re never given the tools to help cope with their differences.
Coping with Disfigurement
It’s not always easy for people with facial disfigurements or other disfigurements to move through life. People can be cruel, intentionally or not, and dealing with stares, whispers, and other negative behaviors from strangers can be emotionally draining, even traumatizing. Children who are born with a disfigured face may develop psychological problems because of bullying at school. It may affect their self-esteem, their self-worth, and their self-confidence.

Many stereotypes surround disfigurement that can make interactions uncomfortable for many people who suffered a scar or disfigurement. Staring and inappropriate questions are just some of the things people with disfigurements have to deal with. They might not know what to say in response to strangers’ unwanted questions, or feel embarrassed and self-conscious—even alone and isolated—because of these negative interactions.

Stereotypes about people with disfigurements have been portrayed in movies and other media that perpetuate negative ideas that aren’t based in fact. The idea that people with disfigurements may have damaged personalities as a result or the trope that only attractive people can be successful suggests that people with disfigurements cannot be successful. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. People with facial and other disfigurements can live happy, successful, and fulfilling lives.

Healthcare providers offer suggestions for people with disfigurements to use when they find themselves in stressful situations. Exuding self-confidence through strong body language is one thing the National Health System (NHS) in the United Kingdom suggests. Maintain eye contact, speak in a confident tone, use your face and hands to express yourself, stand tall and keep your shoulders down.

The NHS also suggest people deal with awkward staring by staring back, smiling and holding their gaze long enough for them to realize that they’re doing is uncomfortable and inappropriate. Practicing specific social skills before heading out into the world can also help people feel more confident in social situations. People often ask common questions, and having a brief but clear answer to those questions can be helpful.
Is Surgery an Option for Facial Disfigurement, Breast Disfigurement, Scarring?
Many people with scarring or disfigurements consider surgery as a way to help reduce the appearance or severity of the disfigurement. While surgery cannot “fix” everything, it may be an option for some people to help reduce the conspicuousness of the disfigurement and improve functioning.

Facial Disfigurement
The most common causes of facial disfigurement include birth-related disfigurements, such as cleft lip, birthmarks, and craniofacial condition. Other common causes include physical injuries, like burns, accidents, car crash injuries, scarring, and dog bites; and health and skin conditions, such as eczema, acne, or vitiligo.

Depending on the type of facial disfigurement, surgery may be used to improve function or correct the disfigurement. For example, surgery can be used to repair a cleft lip when a child is about 3 to 6 months old

Breast Surgery
Breast disfigurements are often the result of genetics, but sometimes things like breast cancers and catastrophic injuries can cause disfigurements. People with breast disfigurements may opt to have breast surgery to correct any deformities. Some common deformities of the breast include breast asymmetry and tubular breast deformity.

Scar Revision Surgery
Scar revision is surgery to improve or reduce the appearance of scars. It can also restore function and correct skin disfigurements caused by an injury or previous surgery.

Scar tissue forms as the skin heals following an injury. The amount of scarring that occurs depends on the size, depth, and location of the injury, the person’s age, and skin characteristics.

  1. Nursing Times. “Coping With Disfigurement 1: Causes and effects“, Nursing Times, https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/public-health/coping-with-disfigurement-1-causes-and-effects/993378.article?search=https%3a%2f%2fwww.nursingtimes.net%2fsearcharticles%3fqsearch%3d1%26keywords%3dcoping+with+disfigurement. Accessed on Nov. 4, 2018.
  2. Mayo Clinic. ““Neurofibromatosis“, Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/neurofibromatosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350490. Accessed on Nov. 4, 2018.
  3. BBC. “Inside Out“, BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/northeast/series7/facial_disfig.shtml. Accessed on Nov. 4, 2018.
  4. NHS. “Handling reactions to facial disfigurement“, NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/handling-reactions-to-facial-disfigurement/. Accessed on Nov. 4, 2018.
  5. Medline Plus. “Scar Revision“, Medline Plus, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002991.htm. Accessed on Nov. 4, 2018.
  6. Kids Health. “Cleft Lip and Palate“, Kids Health, https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/cleft-lip-palate.html. Accessed on Nov. 4, 2018.

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