Types of Body Modification

There are all sorts of different types of body modification ranging from the simplistic and commonly accepted body building and hair dye to the more permanent such as tattoos to the more hardcore such as scarification and implants.

Basically, anything that you do to your body to alter the way that it naturally appears is a body modification, so that will include body building, hair dye, and plastic surgery.

Although the more "punk" or alternative means of altering one's body is also a body modification which can include tattoos piercings, scarification, various implants, ear shaping, etc.

Below, I've gone over the more alternative body modifications, yet they are the more common of the different modifications, so you won't see neck stretching or foot binding on the list although they are two of the more primitive body modifications on the list.  

Tattoos and piercings are probably one of the more common body modification that you will encounter. It has taken years, but to some extreme both of these modifications are being more and more accepted among today's adults and seniors.

Although, both tattoos and piercings are two of the more primitive body modifications from our tribal pasts, it fell out of popularity to some extent as civilization modernized and, well, civilized. It has now reached a very popular time, but that does not mean that everyone accepts them. 

Tattoos are a permanent body modification, which is why you should carefully think out your tattoos before going to the tattoo shop, because the removal process is more painful and more expensive than actually getting the tattoo, and we all cannot afford tattoo removal.

There are so many different tattoo designs and patterns that you can have tattooed, but if you are thinking about a tattoo, you may want to find a design or create your own that has symbolism to you, versus a random pattern on the wall of the tattoo shop. 

Piercings, on the other hand, are more temporary, and when you're tired of it, you can take it out and let the hole close. Now, that does not mean that you will not have a scar or impression left behind, but the actually piercing will no longer be there.

The difference lies with stretching. When you stretch a piercing there will be a point of no return, which is generally different for everyone, and after that point you're piercing will typically only shrink so much and never go back to normal. So, if you decide to stretch a piercing, you want to make sure that you make every stretch as though it will never go back to normal. 

Scarification is a body modification that is slowly gaining more popularity, but it is not nearly as popular as tattoos. More adults accept tattoos than they do scarification; many adults find that those who purposely cut or burn themselves for a scar have some mental instability.

Scarification, like tattooing and piercing, is another triabl body modification that was used as a rite of passage and marking a point in a person's life, whether a hunt, marriage, or just coming of age.

There are different types of scarifications which include:

• Ash rubbing
• Branding
• Cutting
• Chemical scarification
• Dremel scarification
• Injection scarification
• Tattoo gun scarification
• Skin removal

Depending on the actual implant, will determine the procedure and the extent of the body modification. There are typically five different implants, some of which are not exactly legal everywhere, but in general these are the five that are available.

• Eye Implants: Eye implants are actually illegal in most countries, and if you want to have an eyeball jewelry implant, you're going ot have to travel to
• Magnetic Implants: Basically a magnet is placed under the skin so that the other half of hte magnet can be attached to the outside of the skin.
• Microdermal Implants: Similar to a transdermal implant, but smaller. They are also known as surface anchors and are an alternative to the surface piercing.
• Subdermal Implants: This implant is pretty much 3D body art with a piece of teflon or silicone material is placed under the skin.
• Transdermal Implants: This implant is not legal in all areas as it is seen as more complex than a piercing and typically requires anesthetics, which is there non-practioners can cause a legal concern. Basically, a labret type stud with a flat back is pocketed into the tissues with part of hte jewelry on the outside.

Ok, I had to add tongue splitting. Who thinks of hardcore body modifications and doesn't think of tongue splitting? Ha.

Basically, it is what it is. The person typically starts with a tongue piercing, and slowly stretches the size of the barbell until there is just a small sliver of tissue on the tongue. A knife is typically used to cut the last piece.

There are other methods of splitting a tongue, but that is the more commonly used one.

The only cool thing about a split tongue is that with training, you can train both sides to move independently. 

You may encounter the following modifications as well:

• Amputations
• Corseting or waist training
• Ear cropping
• Elf ears
• Various adult hardcore modifcations to which I'm not going to list as the list is pretty extensive.

But for the most part, anything you do that alters your natural body can be considered a body modification, and yes that includes having male infants circumsized after birth.