A mark tells a story. Not only one, but ours. A story with the most different beginnings, but with the same result: a scar. But now, I am looking for a different end. An end that can start to alert others about our marks and help girls that didn’t accept them already to see other point of view. A scar is not an amount of stitches or only a physical thing, it is part of us, it is us.
Therefore, that is our starting point. 30 girls were interviewed and showed that scar has much more meanings that the ones we find in a dictionary. “Scar is your story recorded on your skin” pointed out Larissa Guiselini. Laís Lima had a different view “Scar is a mark that life gives us to remember ourselves of possible lessons”, Gabriela Salinas excited “I see as something I can tell my kids, for them to know about my adventures”, Carolina Marconi alerted “Scars are to remember that our lives get out of the axis, but we need to keep moving on”, Marília Beck satirized “It is an esthetic silliness”, Denise Carvalho underlined “Scar is a part of our lives. No one lives intact” and Bárbara Perrupato demystified “Scars are super normal”. Other descriptions as a strength or fight symbol, painful moment, request for help, charming and love proof also were mentioned. They believe that we all carry our own marks, some of them may be external and most of them internal and this idea made Caroline Sá stated “No one has the same scars as you, as well as there is no one like you”.
Scars of Graziela Pedace (appendicitis surgery) and Marília Beck (oil burn)
The meaning of a scar is directly related to the story behind it. For Larissa Guiseline, who chose to do a surgery of silicone prosthesis, it is a dream come true. Graziela Pedace, on the other hand, had to do an appendicitis surgery, so she commented that having a scar made she understands how unexpected things happen to us and also how people who cares always stay by our side when we need it. Beatriz Santoro, who had her back ripped after trying to cross under a train, exposed “Every time I see/feel/remember my scar I think about that day and I realize we have to be more responsible with our attitudes”. We also have Cristiane Santos, who sees her mark as a love proof of her mom, once she adopted her and, when she had this problem, she made everything to keep her alive. Denise Carvalho, who did a surgery on both legs credited the scar as the reason for her to walk “normally” today, so she exhibited as a good thing. As there are so many reasons for having a scar, Clara Borges added “Everyone can live similar situations or even the same as mine, so I see my scar as a stage of my life that was overcome”.
Scars of Cristiane Santos (surgery to stop reflux) and Clara Borges (surgery after breaking the clavicle)
However, not all the interviewers agreed with her. Luiza Eltz unburned “It makes me feel ugly, it affects my self-esteem, it doesn’t make me a fighter or someone with a story” and lamented that she tried to whiten them with a laser treatment, but it got darker “After that, I am even more disappointed”, Stefanye Alvez also unveiled “I am still ashamed, although I knew I shouldn’t.” she illustrated that spent all her life without using necklines, so for her, it is strange to use it now “I feel naked”, Raissa Camargo also have this feeling, once her scar is big and made her belly “crooked”, Laís Lima reported not to be ashamed, but to be a little bit bother, because it is “ugly”, the same happened to Amanda Rosa, who didn’t show it, not for being ashamed, but for doesn’t know how to answer people’s questions, Tamiris Oliveira explained “I am only ashamed during the psoriasis crises”, although she already hided them, because people didn’t understand her disease and thought it was contagious. Julia Pires was indignant “It isn’t right to hide something that belongs to you, that is part of you. No one has to say anything, they don’t know the story behind it” and Bia Matera re-iterated “Your body is no one else’s business”.
Scars of Gabriela Salinas (knee cut) and Laís Lima (knocked down by an Uber driver)
Some of the girls, reported to heard some bad comments about their scars “wow, it is big, isn’t it? Make a tattoo to hide it” or “Have you already used an ointment to reduce this scar” which made Beatriz Vasconcelos used a higher pantie of bikinis to hide it, for example. Stefanye Alves reminded the most about hearing “poor you” and now replied “I don’t need anyone to feel sorry for me”. Bia Matera heard sarcastic things “Have you tried to kill yourself?”, so she hid her scar to avoid it. An interview that prefers not to be identified, but called GG, reported that people invented a fake history about her chin scar which made people stare at her on the corridor, but she reinforced “I am very lucky, because I found amazing doctors and friends’ support that encouraged me to continue with my treatment”. Amanda Rosa’s family and close friends suggested her some answers “say it is a tattoo” or “say you swan with sharks and he bit you”. Luiza Eltz got out of her chest “Some comments are harmless, but hurt”. There were girls that never heard those things, just people asking what happened and even some who reported good observations “Once, someone told me that scars were sexy” narrated Débora Lima or Isabela Gomes’ friends and family who nicknamed her scar as “rebelliousness mark”.
Scars of Bia Matera (who mutilate herself) and Tamiris Oliveira (psoriasis)
Consequently, much of these girls were ashamed when were younger, but overcome it now. Beatriz Vasconcelos justified that, because a part of her and people who surround her understood what a scar means, Cristiane Santos had a special motivation “I overcome my shame thinking about how my mom fought for me to be alive”. Larissa Bomfim, who used to use makeup to hide it clarified that, over time, you notice that there is no reason to worry about something that is part of you, which you have a story together. The overcome process is not that easy. Natalia Milani commented that to have a scar for her means to overcome “I could have died (when she kicked her head on the ground), but I didn’t even have sequels and neither problems during my recovery”, Marília Beck appreciated “Maybe I wouldn’t value my life as much as I do if the accident hadn’t happened”, Luciana Marques understand that the overcome depends on time and the freedom she has after the surgery. Tamiris Oliveira was rational “I started to think that my marks would only get better if I accepted them and today they are part of me”.
Scars of Natalia Milani (fist surgery) and Luciana Marques (column surgery)
For some girls, the process was even tougher. Marcella Pazeto assumed to have used “Cicatricure” to reduce her scar, Luciana Marques want to erase her scar with a tattoo “that represents that whole year I stayed bedridden and in a wheelchair” and Amanda Rosa did a plastic surgery to mellow some of the scars and pretend to repeat the procedure on others, but “there is no hurry”. In contrast, Caroline Sá had the opportunity to remove her scar when her godfather offered her a plastic surgery, but she didn’t want it, as she justified “I wouldn’t submit myself to a surgical procedure for something that never bothered me”. Overcome sometimes it is a process that depends on others help. Denise Carvalho needed it and today she does therapy to recover her perception of her own body, once, when she was a kid, she didn’t have this medical supervision and internalized it. Bia Matera and Laís Lima want to make a tattoo above their scars “I don’t want to cover my scar, just make art with it” guaranteed Laís.
Scars of Marcella Pazeto (ankle operation) and Denise Carvalho (femur operation)
There were also interviewed who affirmed to never had had ashamed. Gabriela Salinas said “I always had it, so I didn’t care”, which Natasha Wicham continued “so, I see as part of my body”, Bruna Define had a different incentive “I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t had them” and Camila Alvarenga agreed “I know sometimes to remember can hurt, however it is over and what is left is only a scar”. For not being ashamed, Caroline Sá never tried to hide her scar on her hand “not even with bracelets or watch”. For Larissa Guiselini, the excuse is very simple “Scar is a symbol of battle, achievement and victory. You don’t need to be ashamed, but proud”. Natasha Wicham had a beautiful point of view saying that her scar is very nice and Larissa Bomfim confessed that most of the times, she forgets she has it. Larissa Guiselini, the only girl who did a surgery for esthetic reasons, affirmed that would definitely do another one “If it would make me happier, I don’t see any problem”.
Scars of Camila Alvarenga (surgery) and Caroline Sá (iron burn)
Scars tell more about ourselves. Even when it is a result of a difficult period of our life, with physical and psychological suffer, it is gone. It makes you a survivor. GG declared “I look at myself in the mirror every day and I remember how difficult to me was to get out of my bed and face terrible pressures during High School, to overcome bullying, anorexia and depression. I see myself as a victory, who has a mark to remember my fights”, for this reason, she emphasized the importance of carry our scar as a trophy. Bárbara Perrupato had a different opinion “It is very important to accept yourself as you are, but scars can be very personal and it is okay to hide them if you don’t want to share this piece of your story” which converged to Carolina Marconi’s idea “Don’t be afraid to show your scar. You are beautiful and the scar is part of your beauty”. Bruna Define had an interesting appointment that if someone says something about your scar, remember: It doesn’t make you better or worse than anyone. Being different from others is not a bad thing, it is unique.
Scars of Carolina Marconi (knocked down by a friend) and Larissa Bomfim (knee surgery)
There are much more things that our eyes are able to see. A scar may scare, because it is visible, consequently people ask about it and know about this moment of our life. However, not all the marks are exposed on our bodies. Denise Carvalho provoked “The internal scars are the ones we are more afraid to show, but the ones that people need to share the most”. Carolina Marconi saw her external scar as the beginning to feel like talking about what is on the inside of her. From the same principle, Isabela Gomes recommended girls to look for a doctor’s orientation or maybe do an esthetic procedure if it helps “but to make you feel better! People will always find something they don’t like to talk about” and she highlighted that we are constantly influenced by esthetic patterns, but they don’t say who we are “Even that people think I am ugly or pretty, I don’t summarize myself on those adjectives. I am a huge universe” so Isabela questioned “Why would I emphasize the one thing that bothers me?”. Denise Carvalho finished that to live is a process we have to learn: To be hurt and learn to heal it.