Although the fillers used in the procedure are expensive, Rivkin worked with the companies that supplied them, and got the companies to agree to donate them, so that he would be able to offer his services free of charge for those in need. A single treatment typically improves the scars long term.
“We don’t have to ask anybody for money and that’s what I really love,” Borth says. “We’re solely out here to offer a service for people who need it, for people who want to move on, or people in the process of healing and offer them hope, offer them possibilities, offer them confidence again.”
While Borth was Rivkin’s first client for this type of procedure, which is now advertised on his website, these days he’s helping more and more people.
“I’ve seen a bunch of people for this now and they’re very happy that this is something that can be done,” he tells PEOPLE, adding that in addition to being able to fill divots, there are two other types of scars he can help treat.
“Basically what I’m trying to do is make the scars less noticeable. The way that we can do that is if the scars are raised, I can make them more flat with injections of steroids, and if the scars are discolored, if they’re red, I can make them less red with lasers,” he says. “The problem is if the scars are just flat white scars, there’s not that much I can do.”
Although Borth admits that opening up about her story is “difficult,” part of breaking the stigma means not allowing yourself to “stay shamed into silence.”
“What’s made this choice easier is I can’t ask a 13-year-old girl to step into her fear if I can’t do it myself,” she says. “So I’m asking everybody, if you are suffering in silence to show up and answer the call to courage because you are worth it, and you are worth being brave.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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