Scars and suchlike
Aug. 7th, 2003 07:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dennyVarious people asked, so, here they are...
ObDisclaimer: Behind the cut are pictures of the scars I've acquired recently, including the skin graft and the skin graft donor site. Don't click through unless you want to see that kind of picture.
The scar down the front of my leg, from the original operation to fix the bone damage. The little dots each side are from the staples that held it closed, rather than stitches. They felt odd coming out :)
The inner calf, the result of the second operation, to fix complications from the first. They had to go in on both sides... this one they managed to sew up again a few days later (the third operation).
This is what a skin graft looks like, apparently. Outer aspect of calf, also a result of the second operation, but they couldn't sew this one back up - hence the graft (fourth operation).
This is where they took the skin from my thigh to use on my calf. This bit hurt more than all the rest put together and multiplied by 10, during the first week after it was done. Some small bits of it have healed up now, but it seems to be slow going...
ObDisclaimer: Behind the cut are pictures of the scars I've acquired recently, including the skin graft and the skin graft donor site. Don't click through unless you want to see that kind of picture.
The scar down the front of my leg, from the original operation to fix the bone damage. The little dots each side are from the staples that held it closed, rather than stitches. They felt odd coming out :)
The inner calf, the result of the second operation, to fix complications from the first. They had to go in on both sides... this one they managed to sew up again a few days later (the third operation).
This is what a skin graft looks like, apparently. Outer aspect of calf, also a result of the second operation, but they couldn't sew this one back up - hence the graft (fourth operation).
This is where they took the skin from my thigh to use on my calf. This bit hurt more than all the rest put together and multiplied by 10, during the first week after it was done. Some small bits of it have healed up now, but it seems to be slow going...
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(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-07 12:48 pm (UTC)I'm incredibly impressed with how the leg itself has turned out, I seem to remember it having been more lumpy than that before? ;)
obCuriosity - did they put any kind of bone cement in to make the bone grow through faster, or just the metal bits on their own? (Guess what they made me read about today :/ )
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-07 01:59 pm (UTC)They didn't put any growth stimulants etc in there, just the metalwork. I think there was some concern about the knee trying to grow out in directions it shouldn't, due to general surface abrasion of the bone, which problem a growth stimulant would presumably exacerbate.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-07 02:44 pm (UTC)Although the knee is probably why they didn't use it, I hadn't thought of that. Bits might come off and travel round or something and that would then Suck Mightily.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-07 12:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-07 01:36 pm (UTC)Skin graft sites are a bitch, I had a partial thickness graft taken from under my right arm 11 yrs ago and it was the most evil painful nasty thing I have ever had in my history of 43 anaesthetics...
Hope the skin continues to heal ok and I definately reiterate my nivea advice for keeping those scars supple and whatnot.
Very cool pictures tho in a 'glad that didn't happen to me' and 'ouch mate' kinda way.
Natalya
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-07 02:54 pm (UTC)i feel less bad about my 3inch scar now.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-07 06:20 pm (UTC)for some reason I thought the skin used in a skin graft would be, I dunno, thicker than that. But most of the skin grafts I've seen have been facial reconstructive surgery types rather than closing gaping wound types. Will it get less transparent/thicker?
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-08 06:25 am (UTC)They told me that it will fill in to some extent over time, but will probably never be 'normal' again.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-08 06:49 pm (UTC)ouch
Natalya
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-09 07:01 am (UTC)Makes sense, definately. Are you sick of people going 'oooh, transparent leg!' yet?
I am not sure how I'd feel about having a transparent bit. I'd probably quite like it but I'm wrong int he head that way. So long as you and yours don't find it squicky s'all good, I guess, and very impressive that it's all still in one piece :)
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-09 11:24 am (UTC)I'm getting used to it, and find it quite amusing now... although I'm still a bit miffed that my days of looking good in stockings are over!
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-12 12:33 pm (UTC)You could have twice that damage and still look fantastic in stockings! ;)
Not at all...
Date: 2003-08-12 09:25 am (UTC)Impressive repair by the way. Hope you're on the mend at great speed!
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-12 12:32 pm (UTC)From my perspective they are quite incredible, and my apologies if this sounds a little weird, but I would love to touch them, especially the skin graft...it's quite beautiful in its own unique way :)
Scars completely fascinate me (as well as the other things they do to me ^_~)...and these are amongst the most impressive I've ever seen, owned by anyone I know.
They symbolise an ability to endure...
Be proud of them...they speak volumes about who you are :) x
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-12 12:34 pm (UTC)