Over one million adults and children in the UK have significant disfigurements to their face or body from many causes. You may have been born with a condition that affects the way you look (like a cleft lip, birthmark or craniofacial condition). You may have developed a skin condition like vitiligo, acne or eczema. You may have scars and irregular features following treatment for cancer or other illnesses or following a fire, an attack, animal bite or car accident. The disfigurement may also be present on another part of your body such as your hands or legs.

Modern reconstructive surgery and medical treatments can be effective in making some disfigurements much less noticeable but a disfigurement can rarely be removed completely. Some scarring, asymmetry or complexion change usually remains.

Living with a face or body which is visibly different is not always easy. You may feel uncomfortable in social situations and be finding it hard to deal with the seemingly constant staring, comments and questions from other people. You might feel isolated or believe that you have little chance of leading a successful life. It can be hard to feel good about yourself when looks seem to count for so much.

Changing Faces has extensive experience in supporting adults who have disfigurements. We can offer you advice on handling different social situations as well as helping you develop your self-esteem and gain in self-confidence.