When Elliot Costello and a group of other people visited Cambodia, he had an encounter with a young girl named Thea.
Little did Elliot know that this encounter would have an impact so profound on him that it would help start a movement whose goal is to end sexual abuse against children.
Namely, Thea always had nail polish on her tiny nails. One day, as she and Elliot chatted, she asked to paint one of his nails. He agreed and was happy to speak to the chatty girl, but he then learned that she was once a victim of sexual abuse.
“As she painted one of my nails, I assured her I would always keep it that way to remember her, and by extension, her suffering,” Elliot said.
This motivated Elliot to try and make positive change among men so that less and less children fall victims of sexual abuse.
That is when he came up with the movement called #PolishedMan where men put nail polish on one of their nails. That one nail represents the one in five children who will be victims of sexual violence.
Polished Man works towards ending sexual violence against children. According to the organization, “being a Polished Man means challenging violent behavior and language, both locally and globally.”
Elliot believes that since men are responsible for 96% of this type of violence against children globally, they should be catalyst for change if we are ever to see an end to the abuse of innocent children.
The goal with the painted nail isn’t just to remind people of the number of children who are abused every single day, but to serve as a conversation starter about this reality, leading to new ideas about prevention. He also hopes that people will start donating to “support educational programs and resources for child survivors of abuse,” as per APlus.
We hope that more men, including celebrities
A Tattoo Artist Uses Her Magic Touch to Ink a “New Permanent Eye” for a Man After Tragedy
For most people, tattoos are a form of self-expression. But for one man, ink became a life-changing solution after a devastating accident left him without an eye. Instead of opting for a traditional glass prosthetic, he took a different path—one that led him to a skilled tattoo artist with the ability to create hyperrealistic tattoos.
A Tragic Accident That Changed Everything
Pavel, a young man with a bright future, suffered a horrific car accident that left him with severe facial injuries. His nose was nearly destroyed, and his right eye was beyond repair. Reconstructing his face would require a series of complex medical procedures, but one of the biggest challenges was how to deal with his missing eye.
Doctors initially explored the possibility of saving what was left of his damaged eye. However, the risk of infection spreading to his healthy eye was too high. The safest option was to remove it entirely.
Pavel accepted the decision with courage, saying:
“I don’t hold on to things that don’t work. It’s better to get rid of something potentially dangerous than to risk losing my other eye too.”
But once the procedure was done, he was left with an important question—how should he replace his missing eye?
From Surgery to Art: A Unique Solution Emerges
Traditionally, people in Pavel’s situation turn to glass prosthetic eyes. But he wanted something different—something that wouldn’t require daily removal or ongoing adjustments.
That’s when doctors introduced him to a highly skilled tattoo artist specializing in hyperrealistic medical tattoos. She had already made a name for herself by helping burn victims, breast cancer survivors, and alopecia patients reclaim their confidence through tattoo artistry.
However, this project was different. She wasn’t just restoring eyebrows or camouflaging scars—she was about to create the illusion of a realistic eye on a flat surface.
This would become one of the most challenging tattoos of her career.
The Artist’s Preparation: A Year of Meticulous Planning
A hyperrealistic tattoo isn’t something that happens overnight. The artist dedicated a full year to studying and preparing for this groundbreaking piece.
Her process included:
- Analyzing old photos of Pavel to match his original eye color and shape.
- Developing a custom pigment palette that could replicate the natural shading of an eye, ensuring the sclera (the white part) didn’t look unnaturally bright.
- Practicing on artificial skin to simulate the texture of scar tissue and skin grafts, testing how ink would blend.
- Consulting with doctors to ensure that tattooing wouldn’t interfere with his healing process.
- Sketching and refining designs over and over again to get the illusion of depth just right.
While the artist prepared, Pavel adjusted to his new face. He remained patient, even joking:
“While you’re practicing, I’ll get used to my new nose!”
Despite the curiosity of strangers, his friends and family stood by him, treating him no differently. Their support gave him the strength to embrace the journey ahead.
The Big Day: Creating a Realistic Eye with Ink
After months of preparation, the day finally arrived. Pavel stepped into the tattoo studio, knowing this was a permanent transformation.
The artist carefully mapped out the placement of the eye tattoo, ensuring that it:
- Aligned naturally with his facial structure.
- Considered the shadows and highlights needed to create depth.
- Worked with the texture of his skin grafts and scars, ensuring the ink settled correctly.
The first outlines were drawn, and within a few hours, the shape of an eye began to emerge. When the artist handed Pavel a mirror, he smiled and said:
“Wow! It actually looks like something!”
There was still work to be done—adding highlights, refining details, and perfecting the illusion—but the transformation had begun.
The Power of Medical Tattoos: A Growing Trend
Pavel’s story isn’t just a remarkable example of tattoo artistry—it’s part of a growing movement where tattoos serve medical and emotional purposes.
Some of the most impactful medical tattoo techniques include:
- Scar camouflage tattoos, which help burn victims and surgery patients feel more comfortable in their skin.
- 3D nipple tattoos, which help breast cancer survivors reclaim their bodies after mastectomies.
- Eyebrow tattoos, providing a solution for alopecia patients and chemotherapy survivors.
- Skin pigmentation correction, helping people with vitiligo and birthmarks achieve a more even skin tone.
The use of hyperrealistic tattoos in medical recovery is revolutionizing self-confidence, showing that tattoos are not just about self-expression—they’re about self-restoration.
More Than Ink: How Tattoos Can Heal Beyond the Surface
Pavel’s journey highlights an important truth—tattoos have the power to change lives.
Beyond their visual appeal, medical tattoos help individuals regain control over their bodies after trauma. Studies show that people who undergo these procedures experience:
- Increased self-esteem
- A renewed sense of identity
- Emotional healing after a traumatic experience
For many, these tattoos shift the focus from loss to empowerment, allowing them to move forward with confidence.
Conclusion: A Story of Strength, Art, and Transformation
Pavel’s story is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the transformative power of art.
With the help of a brilliant tattoo artist, he didn’t just replace his missing eye—he reclaimed his confidence.
His journey serves as a powerful reminder that true beauty isn’t about perfection—it’s about embracing what makes you unique and finding strength in the face of adversity.
In the world of medical tattoos, artists aren’t just creating inked designs—they’re restoring hope, identity, and dignity.
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