Despite the phrase “chicks dig scars”, most of us actually don’t like our own scars and birth marks. Being really difficult things to erase sometimes, often the best way to take back control of your body image is by incorporating your marks into something positive, something that you chose yourself.

Tattoo artists are incredibly talented and creative people who can often relish the extra challenge of working with a scar or a birthmark to create something truly unique. To celebrate the world’s best tattoo artists, we compiled this list of beautiful, funny and downright genius ways that tattoos have transformed old wounds and marks, and healed some of the mental scars that came with them.

Scroll down below to check them out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

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