I'm paranoid about top surgery scars (should I ever decide to get hormones and surgery). I am constantly thinking about ways to hide them (ie. tattoos). I already have a huge scar down my back from scoliosis surgery I had two years ago. And, well, I was thinking, if I ever wanted my ovaries gone, and definitely top surgery. And me being paranoid about height and getting limb lengthening surgery, I'd have to worry about those scars as well (even though I probably won't be getting that surgery, it's still something on my mind) Well okay this is more of a rant than a question. Can anyone else relate?

I remember bringing this up on an old thread so that might have been one of yours, I don't know. But you could look into something called "scar camouflage"... search it on Google Images. That is an option. Looks weird when you get a tan, though.

I didnt really get any scars.. or at last its not to be seen.

surgery leaves scars.  full stop.   have to get used to it.
I have scars on leg and face from old accident, and from repairs to that over last two years,  and from boob job, orchie-hernia, undescended testicle removal, big csection scar from SRS, scars from burns and cuts in male work life.

some have faded but most are visible.

partners are only interested that the skin is warm and smells good.   you don't know what scars future partners will have.  so don't worry.

I just watched prog of GG who always wore thick tights and refused to let husband touch them cos of old scar on back of leg but she had lovely legs and husband was delighted to see them and be able to touch them once she had been told to forget the scars as being unimportant.

I have many scars, and while I was still being very bothered about them and trying to hide them with the way in which I stood or dressed a lot of peoPle noticEd. now I view my body as a canvas which reflects all of my experiences and my life and having scars no longer bothers me, and only one person has picked up on them in the last year - I was still nervous at that point - dispite having a job as a waiter where they are on show all the time.

It's also worth mentioning that how the cuts are cared for as they are healing makes a lot of difference. My scar from an oppration on the palm of my hand is barely visible, as is the one on my little finger where I sliced of an area of skin. However those which weren't as bad and I was less concerned about and treated less scared worse. My worst scar I left for two weeks before bothering to close it up, and you can tell.

I'd suggest looking after any cuts well and making sure they are closed up well (ie making sure stitching doesn't get taken out too early, and seeing a dr if it does), using vitimin e oil on the scars (this mainly softened them for me and thus made them more comfortable, but might have taken out some colour) and just being confident.

Getting your ovaries out shouldn't be that huge of a deal in terms of scarring. I'm pretty sure they can do it with tiny little incisions, or if you get a full hysterectomy they can do most of it through the vagina.

As for other scars, I love Bio Oil. It works better than vitamin E in my experience, though I think it has vitamin E in it. I don't have any surgery-sized scars, but I do have some pretty decent self-injury marks. They're faded to skintone now and mostly flattened out. If I'd actually used it more than a couple times a week I'm sure it would have been even better. Anyway. It's $10 on Amazon and smells lovely. At the worst, it'll be no worse than massaging your scars with any other oil, and it's the massaging that's really good for them.

My partner doesn't mind my scars in the slightest. Where they came from saddens him a little, but as far as marks on my skin, most any decent partner shouldn't care too much. They're mostly all on my forearm, in the summer the ones on my leg show too, and honestly, no one notices. Are you afraid that someone will judge you for having scars? Most everyone has scars. 

thanks for the encouraging advice everyone, i'm a little more confident now

@ Epi, no, i just have terrible height dysphoria (5'4) and I have a lot of fantasies about being three inches taller. It bothers me also because even my sister is taller than me. Actually, everyone in my family is taller than me, even my friends and... I'm ranting again  I apologize

I'm gonna out myself as a total weirdo here, but I think most scars are beautiful, or at least intriguing. Gives a person character, shows that they've seen some stuff (even if its just been hospital beds and such).

I hope that doesn't sound rude, I always get the inkling that it makes me sound like even more of a sadistic ass than I really am.

N.Chaos in a way I can see where you're coming from. I suppose each scar has their own story.

Quote from: N.Chaos on December 19, 2011, 01:07:15 AM
I'm gonna out myself as a total weirdo here, but I think most scars are beautiful, or at least intriguing. Gives a person character, shows that they've seen some stuff (even if its just been hospital beds and such).

I hope that doesn't sound rude, I always get the inkling that it makes me sound like even more of a sadistic ass than I really am.

Sokay, I dig scars too.

OP was about the unavoidable scars from top surgery not from the scars that show FtMs cut themselves the same way GGs do.   there is a difference. 

Quote from: lilacwoman on December 19, 2011, 02:11:29 AM
OP was about the unavoidable scars from top surgery not from the scars that show FtMs cut themselves the same way GGs do.   there is a difference.

A scar is a scar.  Whether from SI, an accident or surgery.  And ways of dealing/hiding/coming to terms with those scars are pretty much the same in each case.

There are things you can do to reduce the visibility of scars like some of the others have said.  I'm using mederma on mine and it seems to help somewhat, mostly to soften them though.  The scars don't bother me as much as I thought they might. 

Quote from: lilacwoman on December 19, 2011, 02:11:29 AM
OP was about the unavoidable scars from top surgery not from the scars that show FtMs cut themselves the same way GGs do.   there is a difference.

Seriously?  It's not just people AFAB that self-harm.  And Cody mentioned scars from other surgeries as well, including a non-trans related one.  Like Adam said, a scar is a scar. 

Quote from: lilacwoman on December 19, 2011, 02:11:29 AM
OP was about the unavoidable scars from top surgery not from the scars that show FtMs cut themselves the same way GGs do.   there is a difference.

Really? Self harm has absolutely nothing to do with sex or gender.

Quote from: lilacwoman on December 19, 2011, 02:11:29 AM
OP was about the unavoidable scars from top surgery not from the scars that show FtMs cut themselves the same way GGs do.   there is a difference.

Wut. That doesn't make a ton of sense.

Anyway, I also would like to find some way to make it not totally obvious that I've had top surgery. I'm not discounting that preference.

I have two friends who are cutters. One's a hetero cismale, one's a lesbian cisfemale. I don't think their cutting relates at all to their gender status.

Also, I just want to make it clear that my saying I dig scars isn't a value judgement on any behaviors that produce scars, for or against.