Disfigurement
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Disfigurement is the state of having one's appearance, especially that of one's face, deeply and persistently harmed by a medical condition, such as wounds (accidental or intentional), disease, or a birth defect.
Disfigurement, whether caused by a benign or malignant condition, often leads to severe psychosocial problems such as negative body image, depression, difficulties in one's social, sexual, and professional life, prejudice, and intolerance.
Physical disfiguration has also been adopted by many cultures throughout human history for cosmetic, religious or judicial purposes.
During the Byzantine Empire, the emperor was considered God's viceregent on Earth, and as such the physical wholeness of his person was an essential complement the perfection of Heaven. For this reason, many deposed emperors were blinded or had their noses cut off by their successors, as these permanent disfigurements disqualified them from ever reclaiming the throne.
A case of voluntary disfigurement is that of St. Aebbe the Younger and the nuns of Coldingham Monastery in Scotland. When the monastery was attacked by Vikings and they feared being raped, she and the nuns cut off their own noses and upper lips. In revenge, the Vikings burned down the building with the nuns inside. This is said to be the origin of the phrase "cutting off the nose to spite the face".
Conditions that can cause disfigurement include:
- amputation
- smallpox
- cancer
- neurofibromatosis
- Proteus syndrome
- argyria
- cleft lip
- burns
- eczema
- paralysis
- birthmarks
- cataracts
- vitiligo
- severe acne
- severe strabismus
Plastic surgery or reconstructive surgery is available in many cases to disfigured people. Some health insurance companies and government health care systems cover plastic surgery for these problems when they do not cover plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes.
The term "disfigurement" is sometimes used pejoratively to describe the results of intentional body modification.
See also
- Face transplant -- an experimental treatment for severe facial disfigurement
- Dermatology
External links
- Changing Faces (http://www.changingfaces.co.uk/) - a British organization for people with facial disfigurements
- Let's Face It (http://www.faceit.org/) - an American organization for people with facial disfigurements