Body modification 145554 225740455 2008-07-15T04:36:09Z Thispainisxtc 7458493 /* Types of body modification */ {{Refimprove|date=August 2006}} {{Cleanup|date=March 2008}} '''Body modification''' (or '''body alteration''') is the permanent or semi-permanent deliberate altering of the [[human anatomy|human body]] for non-medical reasons, such as; sexual enhancement, a rite of passage, aesthetic reasons, denoting affiliation, trust and loyalty, religious reasons, mystical affiliations, shock value, and self-expression.<ref>http://www.essortment.com/all/whatisbodymod_pdv.htm</ref>. It can range from the socially acceptable decoration (e.g., [[earring|pierced ear]]s in many societies) to the religiously mandated (e.g., [[circumcision]] in a number of cultures), and everywhere in between. [[Body art]] is a modification of any part of the human body for artistic or aesthetic reasons. == Types of body modification == *[[Anal stretching]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Anal_Stretching Anal Stretching - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Body piercing]] - permanent placement of jewelry through an artificial [[fistula]]; sometimes further modified by [[stretching (piercing)|stretching]] *[[Branding persons|Branding]] - controlled [[burn (injury)|burn]]ing or [[cauterization|cauterizing]] of tissue to encourage intentional scarring *[[Breast implant]]s - Insertion of silicone bags filled with silicone gel or saline solution into the breasts to increase their size *[[Breast ironing]] - Pressing (sometimes with a heated object) the breasts of a pubescent female to prevent their growth. *[[Dermal anchoring]] similar to transdermal implants <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Dermal_anchoring Dermal Anchoring - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Corneal tattooing|Eyeball tattooing]] - Injection of a pigment into the [[cornea]]. *[[Ear piercing]] - the most common type of body modification *[[Ear shaping]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Ear_Shaping Ear Shaping - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> (which includes [[Ear cropping]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Ear_Cropping Ear Cropping - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, [[Ear pointing]] or "elfing" <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Ear_Pointing Ear Pointing - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>) *[[Extraocular implant]] (eyeball jewelry) - The implantation of jewelry in the outer layer of the [[eye]]. *[[Female genital cutting]] - removal of the [[labia minora]] or the [[clitoris|clitoral hood]] *[[Frenectomy]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Genital_Frenectomy Genital Frenectomy - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Genital beading]] - also known as ''[[Pearling (body modification)|pearling]]'' *[[Genital bisection]] - splitting of both the underside and the top of the penis, including [[Genital inversion]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Inversion Inversion - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Male circumcision]] - removal of the [[foreskin]], sometimes also the [[frenulum]]--conversely some men choose to take up [[foreskin restoration]]. *[[Meatotomy]] - splitting of the underside of the [[glans penis]] *[[Meatotomy|Headsplitting]] - splitting of both the underside and the top of the glans penis *[[Microdermal implants]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Microdermal Microdermal - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Nipple removal]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Nipple_Removal Nipple Removal - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Nipple splitting]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Nipple_Splitting Nipple Splitting - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *'''Nullification''' involves the voluntary removal of body parts. Body parts that are removed by those practicing body nullification are for example [[Finger]]s, [[Penis]] ([[penectomy]]), [[Testicle]]s ([[castration]]), [[Clitoris]], [[Labia (genitalia)|Labia]] or [[Nipple]]s. Sometimes people who desire a nullification may be diagnosed with [[body integrity identity disorder]] or [[apotemnophilia]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slweekly.com/index.cfm?do=article.details&id=1CA812CA-2BF4-55D0-F1F09D9BE9B80EB9 |title=Underground|publisher=[[Salt Lake City Weekly]]|author=Jamie Gadette}} </ref> *[[Scarification]] - cutting or removal of dermis with the intent to encourage intentional [[scar]]ring or [[keloid]]ing *[[Scrotal implants]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Scrotal_Implant Scrotal Implant - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Silicone injection]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Silicone_Injection Silicone Injection - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Subdermal implant]] - implantation of an object that resides entirely below the dermis, including [[Horn implants]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Horn_Implant Horn Implant - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Subincision]] - splitting of the underside of the penis, also called urethrotomy *[[Surface Piercing]] - A surface piercing is a piercing where the entrance and exit holes are pierced through the same flat area of skin. *[[Tattoo]]ing - the mechanical placement of [[ink]] in the [[dermis]] *[[Lingual frenectomy]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Tongue_Frenectomy Tongue Frenectomy - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Tongue splitting]] - bisection of the [[tongue]] similar to a [[snake]]'s *[[Tooth filing]] <ref>[http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Tooth_Filing Tooth Filing - BME Encyclopedia<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> *[[Transdermal implant]] - [[implant]]ation of an object below the dermis, but which exits the skin at one or more points *[[Trepanation]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://cgi.bmezine.com/cgi-bin/glossary.exe?search=nullification|author=Shannon Larratt|publisher=[[BMEzine]]|title=nullification, the voluntary removal of body parts|accessdate=2007-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=ModCon: The Secret World Of Extreme Body Modification|author=Shannon Larratt|publisher=BMEbooks|isbn=0973008008|date=March 18, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=What is TOO Extreme for Body Modification?|author=Adam Callen |publisher=Ezine Articles|url=http://ezinearticles.org/?What-is-TOO-Extreme-for-Body-Modification?&id=98231|accessdate=2007-08-29}}</ref> Body modifications occurring as the end result of long term activities or practices *[[Corset]]ry or [[tightlacing]] - binding of the [[waist]] and shaping of the [[torso]] *[[Artificial skull deformation|Cranial binding]] - modification of the shape of [[infant]]s' heads, now extremely rare *[[Foot binding]] - [[Physical compression|compression]] of the [[Foot|feet]] to modify them for aesthetic reasons *Non-surgical [[wikt:elongation|elongation]] of organs by prolonged stretching using weights or spacing devices. Some cultural traditions prescribe for or encourage members of one sex (or both) to have one organ stretched till permanent re-dimensioning has occurred, such as: **The 'giraffe-like' stretched necks (sometimes also other organs) of women among the Burmese [[Kayan (Myanmar)|Kayan]] tribe, the result of wearing brass coils around them. This compresses the collarbone and upper ribs but is not medically dangerous. It is a myth that removing the rings will cause the neck to 'flop'; Padaung women remove them regularly for cleaning etc. **[[Lip plate|Stretched lip piercings]] - achieved by inserting ever larger plates, such as those made of clay used by some Amazonian tribes. ==Controversy== [[Image:Modern primitive.jpg|thumb|200px|The head of a man with conspicuous tattoos and other body modifications]] Some sources of controversy stem from the notion of attempting to artificially beautify the natural form of the body, often leading to charges of disfigurement and mutilation. Extreme forms of Body Modification are occasionally viewed as symptomatic of [[body dysmorphic disorder]], other [[mental illness]]es, or as an expression of unchecked vanity<ref>http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Freak_-_Made_freaks/id/5063697</ref>. Unlicensed surgery {i.e. the [[plastic surgery]] field} performed outside of a medical environment can often be life-threatening, and is illegal in most countries and states<ref><ref>http://www.bmezine.com/impfaq.txt</ref>. "Disfigurement" (a subjective term) and "mutilation" (regardless of any appreciation this always applies objectively whenever a bodily function is gravely diminished or lost, as with castration) are terms used by opponents of body modification to describe certain types of modifications, especially non-consensual ones. Those terms are used fairly uncontroversially to describe the victims of [[torture]], who have endured damage to [[ear]]s, eyes, [[foot|feet]], [[genitalia]], [[hand]]s, [[nose]]s, [[teeth]], and/or [[tongue]]s, including [[amputation]], [[burn (injury)|burning]], [[flagellation]], [[piercing]], [[skinning]], and [[breaking wheel|wheeling]]{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. "[[Genital mutilation]]" is also used somewhat more controversially to describe certain kinds of socially prescribed modifications to the [[genitals]], such as circumcision, [[female circumcision]], [[castration]], and surgeries performed to conform the genitals of individuals with [[intersex]] conditions to those of typical males or females{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. Breast implants are also a part of this controversy, mainly for their known health risks and documented complications. Some women experience breast pain, breast hardness, and numbness in the nipple; sometimes, these conditions persist the rest of the patient's life. Due to these complications and documented ruptures post-surgery, the FDA has approved breast implants only for women over 22 years old. [http://www.breastimplantinfo.org/what_know/before_you_get.html] ==Individuals known for extensive body modification== * [[Pete Burns]] * [[Elaine Davidson]] * [[The Enigma]] * [[Lolo Ferrari]] * [[Julia Gnuse]] ("The Illustrated Lady") * [[Cindy Jackson]] * [[Michael Jackson]] * [[Katzen]] ("Cat woman") * [[Tom Leppard]] * [[The Lizardman|Eric Sprague]] * [[The Scary Guy]] * [[Lucky Diamond Rich]] * [[Hao Lulu]] * [[Horace Ridler|Horace Ridler ("The Great Omi")]] * [[Stalking Cat]] ("Cat man") * [[Stelarc]] * [[Jocelyn Wildenstein]] * [[Pauly Unstoppable]] == See also == * [[Apotemnophilia]] * [[Attraction to disability]] * [[Blood ritual]] * [[BME (website)|BME]], a large website devoted to body modification * [[Fakir Musafar]], the ''grandfather of body modification'' * [[Full body tattoo]] * [[Suspension (body modification)]] * [[Transhumanism]] ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.bodymod.org The Official Body Modification Organization] * [http://www.view-of-africa.net Pictures of scarification in Africa] - Features by Jean-Michel Clajot, Belgian photographer * [http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Ear_Piercing_Stud Body Modification E-Zine Encyclopedia entry showing various inappropriate uses of ear piercing instruments] * [http://www.bmezine.com/news/pubring/20050131.html Body Modification E-Zine article on the Studex System 75] *[http://www.uscobm.com/ Church of Body Modification] *[http://www.thescaryguy.com The Scary Guy's Website] *[http://www.breastimplantinfo.org Breast Implant Info.org] a website containing unbiased information on breast implant benefits and risks created by the non-profit organization, the National Research Center for Women and Families [[Category:Body modification|*]] [[da:Kropsforandring]] [[de:Body-Modification]] [[es:Modificación corporal]] [[fr:Modification corporelle]] [[ja:身体改造]] [[pl:Modyfikacja ciała]] [[ru:Модификации тела]] [[simple:Body modification]] [[fi:Kehonmuokkaus]] [[sv:Deformation (fysiologi)]]