Disfigurement - Definition and Overview

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.

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

Example Usage of Disfigurement