Citation

Parkhouse N, de Vere Hunt IJ. BMJ Case Rep. 2018; 2018: bcr-2017-222490.

Affiliation

Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bcr-2017-222490

PMID

29563126

Abstract

This report discusses in detail the case of a patient who underwent a scar revision procedure to have her characteristic self-harm scars altered. A detailed insight into the patient's perspective was gained through semistructured interviews conducted at 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. The interviews found that an equally if not more conspicuous scar that was distinct from those created from self-harm had a pronounced psychological benefit for the patient. This article calls for more active management of the psychological sequelae of self-harm scars, with the need to facilitate access to surgical treatment in certain cases.

© BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Language: en

Keywords

plastic and reconstructive surgery; psychiatry