About Scarchange
Changing Scars | Changing Lives
Meet RuthAnn
BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD, CSP, HCPC
Hi, I’m Dr RuthAnn Fanstone, a physiotherapist and internationally recognised expert in scar rehabilitation.
I’ve been a physiotherapist for over 30 years and have specialised in burns and scar rehabilitation for nearly three decades. During that time, I’ve treated thousands of scars of many different types and complexities, working with people following burns, surgery and trauma in the UK and internationally.
I’ve led and developed scar and rehabilitation services, contributed to research and education, trained healthcare professionals internationally and worked alongside specialists from many different disciplines. This breadth of experience helps me look at a scar from different perspectives - understanding not only the scar itself, but the problems it may be causing and the different options that may help.
The strapline I chose for Scarchange - “Changing scars, changing lives” isn’t just a phrase. It reflects what I’ve seen throughout my career: scars can change, and changing them can make a difference far beyond the scar itself. And it expresses my hope for every person with a scar - that they have the opportunity to achieve the best possible outcome.
Alongside treating patients, I’ve worked in and led physiotherapy teams in specialist NHS burns and plastic surgery services, helped pioneer The London Scar Clinic, and developed the burn rehabilitation model for the Katie Piper Foundation.
My work has taken me to 16 countries and across many different areas of scar care — from major burn injuries and complex rehabilitation to smaller scars following surgery or trauma. I’ve worked alongside specialists from many different disciplines, visited and learned from leading burn and scar centres internationally, and contributed to the development of scar rehabilitation services, treatments and education in the UK and around the world.
Research has also been an important part of my career. My PhD investigated burn scar contractures, and I hold an MSc in Health Services Management. I’ve published research on scars and rehabilitation, developed and delivered specialist education for healthcare professionals, and regularly speak at national and international conferences. I hold a senior editorial role with Scars, Burns & Healing and serve on boards and committees of burns and scar-related professional organisations in the UK and internationally.
My experience is also drawn on in medico-legal work, where I act as an expert witness providing independent opinion on scars and scar rehabilitation.
All of this feeds back into my clinical work. It allows me to bring together extensive clinical experience, research and the expertise of different professions to understand a scar in depth, the impact it is having on the person, what can be changed and the best approach to achieving that. I also work within a wide network of specialists, so where other expertise may help, I can recommend or work alongside colleagues to address both the physical and psychosocial needs of people with scars.
I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Ruthann for many years. She is a true leader in burn rehabilitation and scar management, her knowledge, expertise, and skill are second to none. What truly sets her apart is her passion for burn care and for her patients. For Ruthann, this work is not just a job, it is her vocation. She embodies the same vision and values we hold at The Katie Piper Foundation, and I am deeply grateful for the time that both myself and our beneficiaries have had to learn from her and receive her care.
In the burn community, Ruthann is a guiding light and a beacon of hope. She is always professional, ethical, and committed to the highest standards. Through my work, I often meet people whose lives have been transformed by her. I know from personal experience that you never forget your physio, and I know many patients who feel exactly that way about Ruthann.
Katie Piper OBE
My patients have been my greatest teachers. Working with and listening to people with scars has taught me things that research and clinical experience alone cannot - how differently scars can affect people, what matters to them, and what works and what doesn’t. Their hope for change has made me persistent in looking for solutions, exploring possibilities and finding ways forward when the answers are not obvious.
Patients are at the centre of everything I do. My experience across different settings and healthcare systems has shown me not only what can make a difference for an individual, but also where services, knowledge and systems can do better. My background in service design, development and systems thinking, together with my commitment to improving outcomes for all people living with scars, has naturally led my work beyond individual patient care into education, research, service development and collaboration with professionals and organisations.
Direct clinical care remains at the heart of my work, but I also want what I learn through that work to travel further - helping to improve scar outcomes beyond the patients I am able to treat myself.
My approach to patient care . . .
Expert care
My work focuses on scars. I bring nearly three decades of specialist experience together with research, evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning and knowledge of the latest developments in scar treatment. I understand how scars form and behave, the different treatment approaches available, and the evidence behind them. I’ll explain what I find, what I think may help and why.
Compassionate care
A scar can affect far more than the skin. It can affect how you feel about yourself, your emotions and many aspects of everyday life. I genuinely care about the impact your scar is having on you and what you hope might change. I’ll do my best to understand what you need, share my professional perspective and work with you to find solutions that are right for you.
Courageous care
Not every scar problem is straightforward. I’m willing to take on difficult questions, look beyond the obvious and explore different possibilities when the answers aren’t clear. I’ll be honest about what I think can and cannot be achieved, without overpromising, overtreating or undertreating. Where there is potential for change, I believe in taking action — including exploring approaches that may not yet have been tried, always guided by evidence and continual reassessment.
Comprehensive care
Scars can have far-reaching effects, and sometimes the best care requires more than one kind of expertise. I look at the whole picture and, where needed, draw on my network of trusted specialists so that the different physical and psychosocial aspects of your scar can be addressed. Together, we can consider the options and find the best way forward.