What is ''restorative art'' ?
Restorative art involves returning a deceased body to a lifelike state. This may range from basic tasks like washing, dressing, and applying hair and makeup, to more intricate procedures such as reconstructing facial features.
Restorative Art
Restorative art occurs in a mortuary and is typically carried out by a restorative artist. The restoration required can range from correcting discoloration and minor imperfections to performing post-mortem reconstructive surgery, such as facial restoration, for those who have died due to accidents, certain illnesses, or other tragic situations causing significant trauma and disfigurement to their body and features.
​
Families are sometimes mistakenly told by personnel that their loved one is not in a suitable state for visiting. Generally, these individuals are not equipped to assess whether a body can be reconstructed and restored for visitation purposes. They may not realize that a trained professional might be capable of restoring the person to a state that allows families to visit.
Restoring the body to a viewable condition is often preferred over sealing the coffin without a final look at your loved one. Being able to visit one last time brings extra comfort to family and friends, allowing them to see their loved one and offer a personal farewell. "Seeing is believing" plays a crucial role in initiating a positive journey through grief.
Facial Restoration
Sometimes, families face the profoundly difficult situation of losing a loved one due to an accident or another tragic event.
Facial restoration or reconstruction is the process of restoring a person's physical facial features to an identifiable and more acceptable state following an accident, injury, or illness that caused disfigurement. This process allows bereaved families to say goodbye to their loved ones in person, rather than through a closed coffin. Facial restoration supports the notion that "seeing is believing" and dispels doubts about whether a loved one has truly passed away. This, in turn, aids the family in beginning the five stages of grief and moving toward acceptance in their transition to a new reality.