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woman with self-harm scars wraps her arms around herself

Self-Harm Scars | Self-Injury Scar

Scar Treatments/Self-Harm Scars | Self-Injury Scar

Providing a network of psychological and physical support

Scarring from self-harm or self-injury is a sensitive and complex condition. At The London Scar Clinic we have comprehensive care in place to support both the mental and physical impact that scarring can cause.

Supporting patients who have self-harm scars is one of our most requested treatments. We are proud of the clinical support network we have in place to support a range of scar types which are the result of self-harm.

doctor supports the patient during the consultation

The London Scar Clinic is the only centre of its kind in the country. We have a team of clinical experts who are acclaimed for their expansive, sensitive understanding and treatment of self-injury scars. Our team of specialists is made up of counsellors, dermatologists, medical tattooists, together with plastic, reconstructive and laser surgeons. We are all dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of every patient we see.

We don’t believe in treating just scars. Instead, we also treat the person behind a scar, to help our patients gain maximum benefit from their individual treatment plans and their very personal skin-healing journey.

Our team works within a multi-disciplinary environment to ensure every patient has a unique treatment pathway. Working as a team, we are able to support our patients throughout their journey. At The London Scar Clinic, our aim is to improve the physical appearance and functionality of the scarring, and also to provide and signpost to psychological support where needed.

Our team of specialists understand that a scar can have significant impact on our patients’ quality of life in ways which are personal to them. No matter the size, appearance or location of a scar, we treat each case individually, working with our patients to achieve the best possible outcomes.

doctor holds the patient's hand supportively while writing the treatment plan for their recovery

There are many different types of scars which will require different specialist treatment. It will take time, commitment and patience and it is likely you will need a course of treatments to get the best results. Your initial meeting with your consultant will be in-depth, to allow plenty of time to go through the various treatment options in detail which might include any one, or any combination of, the following:

  • Our resident counsellor is available throughout your treatment journey and can work with you if you feel you might benefit from any psychological or emotional support to help you with any feelings you might have related to your scars.
  • Laser treatments to improve the appearance of the scarring by encouraging the skin to renew collagen, which can help improve the texture of your scar so that it is a closer match to the surrounding skin.
  • Skin grafting where healthy skin is placed on the damaged tissue to change what patients often feel is the stigmatising appearance of their self-harm scars. Whilst you might be left with an additional scar from the graft, many patients feel happier to take away the constant reminder of the original scarring.
  • Medical Tattooing where small amounts of natural pigment is implanted to the skin to conceal a scar by colour-matching with the surrounding skin. The results can last for 1-5 years before a colour boost may be needed.
  • Scar Camouflage uses highly pigmented products which are exactly matched to your skin colour by our expert, who will show you how to apply the product to mask the appearance of your scars.

We would like to reassure you that we work within a highly confidential and safe environment. We encourage mutual openness and honesty to enable you to share everything you would like to talk about.

Treatment Overview

  • A comprehensive programme of physical and psychological support
  • A range of treatments available including counselling, laser treatments, skin grafting, medical tattooing and skin camouflage
  • Your unique treatment pathway tailored to your specific needs
  • A multi-disciplinary approach made up of a team of expert clinicians
  • A thorough consultation with a specialist scar consultant to determine the best treatment options

Testimonials

"Mrs Rae Denman did an incredible job with medical tattooing a scar that had troubled me for some time. After being told by many that nothing could be done, Rae was confident she could help and it was a pleasant experience overall. Highly recommend."

"Dr Ioannis Goutos is kind and attentive. My scars are less noticeable and it shows in before & after pictures. Thank you for your treatment! Clinic overall is lovely and well organised."

"I am very grateful for the support I received. I’d had quite a bit of trauma in my life, which resulted in some self -harm. I was really nervous about getting in touch. Amber called me back and was very caring and knowledgeable. I didn’t have to go into too much detail about my past, it was more about working out if I might need any counselling support as I went through my treatment now. I was really impressed by the level of care. Thank you for your kindness and all your care."

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woman with self-harm scars wraps her arms around herself

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