Asphalt tattoo?

[CycleFish]

I can comiserate with the other cyclists who have lovely asphalt tattoos and want to pass along info. I recently obtained, as I have a fair amount of it stuck in my face from a cycling accident in September 2010.

I was cut off by a minivan which flew past me on the road only to turn right in front of me, causing an unavoidable collision. I hit the van, flew over witht he bike and landed on the other side, which then broke my acromion (scapular side) and separated my A/C joint. I also has a lot of road rash, some of which required stitches.

At first, the road rash was the least of my concerns...until my ortho. told me that the lacerations looked abnormal and reccomended that I see someone about it. So I did. And yup, the reason why my face was and still is black is because I have asphalt lodged in there. It's along my chin, left cheek and cheekbone. The cheekbone is where I got stitches. It looks like an inch long black tear-drop. (Apparently, some gangs also create this same cut once they hurt someone- interesting)

Anyway, the plastic surgeon I saw told me that the asphalt would not come out on its own, unlike glass, and that it needs to be surgically removed. I'm having surgery on March 10th for it. It's very noticeable and I'm tired people thinking I have mascara all over my face, only to be told its asphalt and then feel bad for trying to rub it off. (haha) They'll be re-cutting my "tear drop", pulling out the asphalt, and removing the skin via dermabrasion where the road rash that didn't require stitches was until they can get to the layer where the asphalt is and get it out.

I'm not sure if anyone else has gone through this, but wanted to pass this along. I honestly thought the dark marks were dried blood under my skin, so it was all news to me. I also have lots of asphalt in my broken shoulder. But i have no plans to remove it from there. I'm proud of it. But my face, ehh- different story.

I'd be happy to tell anyone else who may be in this situation more about my surgery experience once its over. Yay for general anesthesia and bad drivers!

[Eden]

I think the teardrop gang tatoo means you've *killed* someone..... good reason to get the scar off

[Laguna]

Whew..good luck on the surgery. One word: Lortab.

[OakLeaf]

lol that's one meaning - other people get teardrops because they're mourning someone. Either way, not really where you want an involuntary tattoo! Hope the surgery goes well.

[kimikaw]

CycleFish: Good luck with the surgery!

Oak leaf: your story sounds exactly like mine! I have a couple of asphalt tattoos - one on my knee, one on my elbow - from a fall on my bike on a crushed asphalt road when I was 9. Like you, I am 51 (or will be on St Pat's Day.). Guess the wounds weren't cleaned out well, and the black rock just healed under the skin.

[Chile Pepper]

Wow, CycleFish, that sounds horrible! Good luck with the surgery--and thanks for the info. The asphalt under the skin sounds like what I have in my leg. It was just too deep (and too painful) for the nurses to clean it out any more than they did. But it's my leg, and above my skirt line even, so it only shows when I'm wearing a bathing suit. I would definitely want to do something about it if it was on my face. Hope it all goes well for you.