Is there a doctor in the house please?

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Sat, 2003-08-30 20:46

Is there a doctor in the house please? Actually if I can be really pernickety a plastic surgeon would be better but I suppose that's asking too much.

I've been doing some reasearch on Keloid scarring, I have a disfigured character. I'm not sure whether keloid can affect faces, or is it just something that happens to the tougher skin of torso and limbs? I also need to know if further surgery can improve it, or would it take too much grafting I haven't got the information I need and would love to pick someone in the knows brains. I did find out though, that keloid scarring is more likely to affect african skin, isn't that wierd?

Also an idea struck me. I believe we have a whole hell of a lot of members now. How about doing a role call of occupations and specialist interests .. in fact, anything that people consider themselves really 'up' on from architecture to the art of Zen and everything in between.

Only add your name if you are prepared to help people out with their research then when the list is nearing the bottom people can copy and paste it into a document.

Maybe it's something we could update every few months. Would this be okay editors?

Mon, 2003-09-01 14:14

hovis

Hi Sooz Just dropped by and was intrigued by your headline!!! Then I read on and funnily enough I can throw some light on your query. I actually get keloid scarring myself - not to the extent some people do - and you're dead right it does affect african skin more but, here's the anomaly, I'm anglo-celtic and quite freckly!!!!! however I guess like most people there's some african genes lurking (we're all from lake Tanganika anyway!! LOL) I've got it from old op scars and from accidental cat fights and it can occur anywhere on the skin. Facial keloid scarring is a definite yes as some african tribes use that for facial branding to show status, beauty etc., I think Seal the musician has it....might be wrong. But it's just an overreaction to healing really, the skin inflames to heal itself and gets carried away. I think you can get laser and plastic surgery techniques now to reduce the effect - nb this is more from my nursing background than personal here!!! There's bound to be more precise info on the web but hope this helps. Are you working on a novel???? Judex

Mon, 2003-09-01 17:01

Sooz

Thanks Jude. Yep that helps thank you. And yes, I've just started another novel that's the third this month. I'm bloody good at starting novels I'll leave you to finish the sentence :-) My female character is disfigured and I wanted something that only changed part of her face, maybe pulled one eye down a bit. But if keloid scarring to the face can be helped with lazer treatment, then why hasn't she had it done? I think I might go with a burn instead. Thanks again. Sooz.

Mon, 2003-09-01 17:03

Flash

What about 'Bells Palsy'?

Tue, 2003-09-02 13:05

Sooz

Thanks Flash, but no good, it has to be something inflicted rather than a defect.

Tue, 2003-09-02 17:06

hovis

Snap Sooz - I've got loads of intro chaps going cheap!!!! At least you've got completed masterpieces under your belt!!!! Anyway what about a large birthmark or something - oh sorry has to be inflicted - well a badly broken jaw/eye socket would leave a face disfigured - and I don't think it would matter too much why someone hadn't had laser treatment - i doubt it's available on the nhs!!!!!!!! Good luck with it!

Tue, 2003-09-02 21:11

neil_the_auditor

I'd misread your first post, Sooz, and I thought your "disfigured character" was referrring to yourself! What a relief! This writing stuff gets hard when you move out of familiar territory, doesn't it? I decided to write a story featuring a Japanese student who meets a vampire in Manchester... I could handle the Manchester end but spent ages research Japanese family life and education system not to mention trawling gothic sites with red writing on purple background for the vampire stuff - and ended up getting rid of the whole thing!

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