Types of Body Modification

It can also be referred to body alteration. It is called that way since the change is permanent. Take an example of circumcision or ear piercing. It is lifetime and you can not change it. Those are good examples of body modification methods. They are not done due to any bodily complications. They are done out of will. One can do it so as to fit in a particular class of people, as a religious passage of rite or to identify one’s self with a particular group of people. Plastic surgery is also an example of body modification.

The alteration is done by the learned, society, and also the primitive. This is because it involves some of the compulsory things like circumcision in some communities. If done be a skilled an experienced person, body alteration can make you look good and give you a desired look.

There are different methods of body modifications.

1) Body piercing

Various parts of the body can be pierced for several reasons. Parts of the body such as ear lobes can be pierced and stretched, to give one the desired look. Ear piercing is the most popular of all and is used by very many people.

b) Pearling. It is done on the genital parts for beauty or sexual pleasures.

c) Neck rings. The people who do this type of body modification are those that want to have a stretched neck.

d) Surface piercing is also carried out and is done on the flat part of the skin.

2) Surgical

This alteration is made by doctors or professionals to change or make changes to a particular part of someone’s body. Examples are:

a) Implants of the breast which are done to change the size and shape of ones breasts. Silicon gel is used to do this. It helps one get the desire they want.

b) Sub-dermal implants which are done to change a part that is under the skin.

c) Removal is where by a part of the body is completely eliminated. This includes hair cutting or removal, circumcision whereby the fore skin is partially or completely removed. We also female genital cutting for the women whereby the labia minor is eliminated. Nipple splitting and nipple removal are done, etc.

Others may include:

• Scarification

It is artistic and scars are used to get the desired look. They are formed by creating scars on the body and letting them heal. People say that the process is more painful than tattooing.

• Body suspension

Which is done using piercings on the human body then one is suspended. This is done using hooks that look like fish hooks.

• Branding

It is referred as the most painful of all types of body modification. An iron rod is heated and placed on, ones skin to create burns that destroy the nerves .The healing could take even years.

• Tongue splitting

It is one of the newest where by the tongue is cut in two equal parts.

• Tattooing which is the most common of all body alteration methods.

Black Light Tattooing

So the PSVI tattoos that I talked about are years away from becoming a legal and widely available form of body modification, and even when they are I am betting they won't be everyone's cup of tea. So how else might we get a really techie (okay Geeky) tattoo? How about black light tattoos?

One of the main considerations when getting tattooed is whether or not it is visible and if it is going to affect your job. I don't have a tattoo, but I would like one. However, I am pretty much limited to having it hidden some place on my back because of my job. So maybe a black light tattoo is the answer? A lot of people actually incorporate UV ink into regular tattoos, but some get designs using only this specialized ink which only becomes visible under a black light. When used on it's own, it only appears as a feint scar on the skin until you are under a black light. At that time it glows white or purple depending on the ink. That might be pretty cool, although it does require that you spend a lot of time in clubs or have your own black lights at home for it to be worthwhile!

UV tattoo in is not FDA approved, but then neither are any tattoo inks so it's sort of a moot point. People have reported some skin irritation and other complaints, but these cannot be linked directly to the ink itself. These could be a reaction to the tattoo process itself, other inks used, lotions used during healing and various other factors. As with all body modification, the best advice is just think carefully and do your research before leaping head first into it!

Animated Tattoos

Tattooing is perhaps one of the oldest and most widey accepted forms of body modification. The practice is considered totally safe these days thanks to modern technology. Tattooing is carried out using a sterile tatoo machine which has remained true to it's origina incarnations invented in the 1800's. The only changes have been in safety and sterilization. The actual process of tattooing has not really changed very much – until that is, the recent launch of animated tattoos!

That's right – you did not misread it – ANIMATED TATTOOS.

This new generation of body art is exactly what you imagine. A moving image implanted under the skin. The tattoos are officialy named Programmable Subcutaneous Visible Implant (PSVI) and is constructed of a modified lcd screen and magnetic power source. The technology which we see every day in digital watches TV screens has been modified to allow a single colour anmated image to be shown through the skin. While the implant is pretty permanent, it is possible to reprogram the image if the wearer requires a change of design. The tattoo needs to be recharged every twelve hours by way of a special charger with a regualr plug on one end and a magnetic connector on the other which links to the one under the skin. It is not necessary to actually plug something into the body.

The procedure is not actually legal as it has not been fully tested for medical safety. However, the inventors say they hae carried out the process over 60 times. They would not reveal the cost, but say it's in line with a high end flat screen television and that if you can find them – and you check out – they will happily perform the procedure.

So what do you think? Would you have an animated tattoo?

In similar news, I saw a video of a guy getting the supposed first animated tattoo last summer, but his was a QR code on his chest which when scanned revealed a cartoon on your cell phone. Sorry dude, but these PSVI implants make your animated art look weak!