Learn how to prepare for surgery and enhance your recovery to reduce anxiety around the changes to your body after surgical scarring.
Introduction Meet Charlotte Ryan—better known online as @justcharlieryan—a woman who has turned one of life’s messiest, most traumatic health battles into a story of grit, humour, and undeniable strength. In this powerful and unfiltered account, Charlotte takes us through the wild rollercoaster of her IBD journey, from being misdiagnosed and brushed off by the […]
IBD Wild Ride & Loving Life After Stoma Surgery Read More »
When you think “double hip replacement,” you probably don’t picture a 30-something mom who can out-squat you and still cracks a Zorro joke about her surgery scar. But that’s exactly who Vanja Medlin is. Known online as @bionic_hips_fitness, Vanja’s journey is one of resilience, humour, and raw honesty. From surviving war as a child to
How To Reclaim Your 30’s After A Double Hip Replacement Read More »
Meet Rachel Carthy—known online as @ibdjourney—a fierce, funny, and refreshingly honest woman who’s walked the rollercoaster path of Crohn’s disease, multiple surgeries to living with a stoma. In this raw and real account, Rachel opens up about everything from her teenage diagnosis and brutal flare-ups, to navigating double stomas, permanent surgery, and becoming a mum
Living with a Stoma: From Crohn’s to Motherhood Read More »
Meet Katie — a fierce and fabulous 24-year-old from Selkirk, a small town in the Scottish Borders with a big heart and even bigger resilience. In 2024, Katie underwent life-changing surgery that left her with a urostomy and a set of scars she never asked for — but has since learned to see with pride.
Living with a Urostomy: Katie’s Journey to Body Acceptance Read More »
This week in our hero blog series, we’re covering the story of a close friend of the Scarred and Fabulous community, Izzy, and her journey of embracing scars. Izzy went through a hellish year, experiencing one accident after another, resulting in mental trauma residing much longer than the injuries. It was only after the fourth
Izzy’s Journey: Embracing Her Scars and Overcoming Trauma Read More »
Padma Lakshmi, the Emmy-nominated host of Top Chef, is a beacon of self-acceptance. At 14, she survived a severe car accident that shattered her right arm and hip, leaving a prominent seven-inch scar on her arm. While she physically healed, the emotional impact of the scar lingered, challenging her confidence – especially in an industry
Scar to Strength: Padma Lakshmi’s Journey to Self-Acceptance Read More »
Scars are more than just physical marks – they represent a journey of healing, resilience, and transformation. Whatever the medical procedure, these scars can carry deep emotional significance. While they are a natural part of the body’s recovery process, many women have concerns about how their scars will heal, how to care for them, and
Surgical Scars: Your Questions Answered Read More »
Having anxiety before surgery is completely natural—after all, it’s not something anyone looks forward to! Regardless of how many times you’ve experienced it, it rarely becomes any easier. As a child, my parents would avoid telling me about an upcoming surgery until the night before. Even though this was the last possible moment, it
How to Reduce Anxiety Before Surgery: A Women’s Guide Read More »
At Scarred & Fabulous, I celebrate the resilience of incredible women who transform surgical trauma into self-love and strength. Faith’s journey is a shining example of this transformation, and I’m so proud of the progress she has made. At 22, Faith faced a life-threatening medical emergency that left her navigating both physical and emotional scars.
Faith’s Story: How I Overcame Surgical Trauma & Found Self-Love Read More »
