{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/66558f0cf52ca500118fdaeb/6850338f68b0c25e383b09c9?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Joanne's Story:  Cleft Nose, Cosmetic Surgery & Finding Her Confidence","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/66558f0cf52ca500118fdaeb/1750086267589-42fc5bfc-d309-421b-ad7a-9fb5a8a8edca.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p><br></p><p>In this episode of The Scars, Joanne shares her story.</p><p><br></p><p>She's undergone multiple surgeries to work on the appearance of her cleft nose.</p><p><br></p><p>Joanne shares her experiences with bullying, the impact of social media, and her evolving relationship with her scars.</p><p><br></p><p>She's also found a purpose through education to change the way other people see those with a visible difference in the media.</p><p><br></p><p>Through her journey, she learns to embrace her visible differences and finds confidence in her identity, ultimately redefining her perception of beauty and self-worth.</p><p><br></p><p>*Warning Joanne talks in detail about major facial surgery*</p><p><br></p><h3><br></h3><h3>Takeaways</h3><p><br></p><p>Scars can be a powerful reminder of personal journeys.</p><p>Surgeries can impact self-image and identity significantly.</p><p>Bullying can have lasting effects on confidence and mental health.</p><p>Social media can amplify feelings of insecurity and vulnerability.</p><p>Community support is crucial in navigating challenges related to visible differences.</p><p>Beauty standards can be restrictive and harmful.</p><p>Finding pride in one's scars can lead to empowerment.</p><p>Education and representation in media can help normalise visible differences.</p><p>It's important to prioritise self-worth over societal expectations.</p><p>Learning to love the way you look can take time</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3>Chapters</h3><p><br></p><p>1:03 What a cleft nose actually is</p><p>4:09 The rib-graft surgery explained</p><p>7:36 High-school bullying &amp; anxiety</p><p>17:14 Choosing <em>no more surgery</em></p><p>23:52 Joanne’s master’s research on representation</p><p>25:41 Final message: appearances aren’t everything</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3>Resources &amp; support</h3><p><br></p><ul><li><a href=\"https://www.changingfaces.org.uk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Changing Faces</a> – UK charity for visible difference</li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li><a href=\"https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cleft-lip-and-palate/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">NHS page on cleft conditions</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Joanne is<a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/_joannabelle/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> _joannabelle</a>&nbsp; on IG</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3>About <em>The Scars</em></h3><p><br></p><p><em>The Scars</em> is a space for conversations about resilience, acceptance, and overcoming life’s obstacles. The show aims to empower listeners to find strength and beauty in their differences while building a supportive and understanding community.</p><p><br></p><p>If you want to share the story of your scars you can contact me at<a href=\"https://open.acast.com/networks/659e6585ff049800151ba6da/shows/66558f0cf52ca500118fdaeb/episodes/suzi@storypublishing.co.uk%C2%A0%C2%A0\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> suzi@storypublishing.co.uk&nbsp;&nbsp;</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/the_scars_podcast/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Scars podcast</a> is also on Instagram come find me there.</p><p><br></p><p>For support there are lots of organisations out there including The Scar Free Foundation<a href=\"https://scarfree.org.uk/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> https://scarfree.org.uk/</a> and Changing Faces<a href=\"https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> https://www.changingfaces.org.uk/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Sound design by my hugely talented friend<a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mickycurling/?hl=en\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> Micky Curling</a> and my beautiful illustrations are by<a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/nicholacowderyillustrations/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> Nichola Cowdery</a></p>","author_name":"Story Publishing"}