Dog attacks happen more often than you would believe they do.
The worrying NHS Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) for UK hospital admissions due to being ‘Bitten or hit by a dog’ reveal that 7,987 persons needed hospital treatment for dog attack injuries between April 2017 and March 2018. Children under the age of 10 have the largest chance of sustaining injuries from a dog attack, and they are especially susceptible to bites on the face and neck.
It is time to start mending on the inside and the outside.
Any damage sustained as a result of a dog attack is surprising and upsetting, but after the acute anguish has subsided and the wounds have healed, it is time to address the mental and physical scars left behind. Each person’s story is unique and inspiring in its own way, and they all have a common goal of rising to the obstacles that a potentially life-altering disability may bring. The use of skin camouflage throughout the healing process may be really beneficial.
One day, the whole planet was altered.
When Finleigh-Anna was attacked by a dog when she was nine years old, she was a vibrant young girl who enjoyed a variety of sports, including swimming, gymnastics, and cheerleading. The dog was not even of a breed that is often associated with possessing aggressive tendencies. A number of bites were administered to Finleigh-Anna’s face, namely on the right side. Mom Ros relayed the following story to us: “I remember looking at her face and thinking, what on earth are they (the Doctors) going to do with that?” She suffered a dog bite that was so severe that it opened up a large hole in her face. I questioned the doctors about whether or not the nerve damage was going to be permanent and whether or not she would be able to smile again. The response made me feel like I was about to throw up……at this point, we really don’t know… My whole universe collapsed, and I felt like a shattered shard of glass.
Finleigh-Anna was sent to a specialized facility where she had surgery; the side of her face required 29 stitches. After the procedure, she was discharged.
That first glance you give yourself in the mirror and a significant grin
Due to the increased likelihood of infection after a dog bite, Finleigh-Anna was had to remain in the hospital for an additional two days in order to get intravenous antibiotics. It was necessary for Finleigh-Anna to confront that first sight in the mirror before heading home. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to see, but her mother Ros was there with her, and she told her, “I wish it never happened, Mam.” Ros knew that everything she said to her daughter after that would have an effect on her for the rest of her life, so she chose her words carefully. While the dressings were being removed, Ros remained steadfastly behind her, and the two of them stared in the mirror together. Ros said, “I wish the same thing had never happened to you, Finleigh, but it has, and we have to get on with it like we always do. Your mom will help you sort it out just like she always does.”
That was enough for Finleigh, who smiled crookedly despite the swelling and pain that had developed on her face. Ros felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude when she caught a glimpse of that grin, not the least of which was the fact that it confirmed that her nerves were holding up.
She smiled crookedly despite the swelling and pain that covered Finleigh-Anna’s face.
Taking on the world while displaying a discernible contrast
After being released from the hospital, Finleigh-Anna resumed her regular schedule at school the very next day. Ros was certain that she needed to go back to her normal routine as quickly as possible, but she was apprehensive about what she should answer to others who inquired about what had transpired. Ros, ever pragmatic and forthright, advised her that all she needed to do was tell them that she had been bitten by a dog but that she was OK now and that she appreciated their concern. How are you doing? She was instructing her daughter, who was nine years old at the time, to take the focus of the discussion away from herself.
Because scars don’t’mature’ for 12 to 18 months, doctors won’t know how Finleigh-Anna’s scars will look for the rest of her life until after that time period has passed. By massaging oil into the scars on many occasions each day, they did all in their power to make the scars seem as good as possible and maximized any improvement in their appearance. In addition, Ros made arrangements for Finleigh-Anna to undergo ultrasound therapy, which is known to assist in the breakdown of scar tissue.
Skin Camouflage Services is happy to have Finleigh-Anna as a client.
In August of 2017, Finleigh-Anna and her mother Ros made their first visit to see Vanessa, which was just nine months after the assault. Finleigh-Anna felt self-conscious about her scars, but she didn’t allow that stop her from telling Vanessa that she was a cheerleader; she did it with a lot of pride. When she was cheerleading, she covered her scars with a lot of make-up, but in other situations, she didn’t bother to try to hide her scars with makeup at all. Finleigh-Anna recounts it in her own words;
I was furious and felt bad about how I seemed. I really didn’t feel like going to school that day. I had a sense of awkwardness. I was concerned that other people would make fun of me. What do you think most people would think? What do you think others would say?
Finleigh-Anna was quite enthusiastic about her visit for skin camouflage, and she expressed the belief that she would be interested in using it in the future when she is older. She was excited to get her hands dirty with a real-life application of skin camouflage so that she could see how the colors were combined and spread.
Getting the colors right
Because Vanessa produced a color match, it is just necessary to apply it to the damaged parts of her cheek; in contrast to traditional “makeup,” there is no need for a “all over” application. In order to make a covert application suitable for a little girl, a mixture of three colors was used. The skin camouflage was given a little application of finishing powder so that it would stay waterproof and unaffected by smudges. Ros stated that when Finleigh-Anna was cold, her scars became a dark red color and seemed raw and furious. This made the wounds appear more pronounced. Vanessa stated that this is extremely common, but that the color changes she had mentioned would be concealed by the skin camouflage cosmetics she had specified.
It is possible to swim while wearing skin camouflage.
Once applied, skin camouflage is long-lasting and waterproof, and it can survive swimming and the majority of other activities (even cheerleading!) for up to 24 hours. However, it is recommended that skin camouflage products be removed from the face before going to bed.
Before and after: skin camouflage for a dog bite attack Skin camouflage for a dog bite attack
Another significant grin to use
The skin camouflage that Vanessa suggested and applied left both Finleigh-Anna and her mother feeling extremely content and happy. Ros remembered that…
…I will never forget how (Finleigh-Anna) smiled and looked at me as she looked at herself in the mirror. It is something that I will never forget.
Finleigh-Anna was eager to get started on her journey of learning how to do things on her own. Finleigh-Anna was taught by Vanessa how to apply skin camouflage to her scars over the course of two further sessions. Vanessa mentioned the following:
I will never forget the moment when Vanessa showed me how to apply make-up after she had spent a significant amount of time selecting colors that were a perfect match for my complexion. After we had done, I turned to look at myself in the mirror. I did not have any scars. Because I knew others couldn’t see my scars, I felt a lot more secure and I didn’t have any feelings of self-consciousness. I was extremely pleased.
Finleigh-Anna learned how to apply skin camouflage to her scars from Vanessa, who also demonstrated the process.
After almost three years have passedFinleigh-Anna’s cheerleading is going very well, and the grin that Ros was so concerned about is looking better than it has in a long time. This summer, Finleigh-Anna, Ros, and Vanessa are going to get together to discuss how Finleigh-Anna is doing and whether or not she needs to make any adjustments to the regimen she follows to hide her complexion now that she is older.
We are thankful to Finleigh-Anna and Ros for sharing their experience with us. It is really gratifying to learn that skin camouflage has been able to have such a positive impact on the healing of this courageous young woman.