Body modification is an act where one deliberately modifies his/her body parts for aesthetic reason. There are tribes in some parts of the world who have been following the practice of body piercing and inking for thousands of years due to cultural norms. But, art lovers, out of compulsion, get their bodies etched in highly creative art to express themselves.
However, in some cases, individuals get so mush obsessed with body modification that they go far beyond the conventional methods which not only cost them a lot of money but also life. The most familiar and tragic case of is of Dennis Avner, went through multiple body modifications procedures to look like a cat, and later committed suicide.
There are many others with bizarre and disturbing examples of extreme tattooing, body piercing, and surgical implantation that will send chills down your spine. Take a look at few of them which mental health experts refer to as a result of body dysmorphic disorder.
Ear arm
Image Source : News.AsianTown.Net
Meet Stelios Arcadious, the man who searched for a surgeon to implant a third ear on his arm. The ear was grown from cells in lab and then implanted on his forearm. As this wasn’t odd enough, he has plans to integrate a Bluetooth connected microphone with his third ear.
Tongue split
Image Source : GirlWorld.Info
Tongue modification includes splitting or forking of tongue. It’s one of the freakiest body modification in which the tongue is cut centrally from the tip. What makes it weird is the fact that it enables you to flick two parts of the tongue in opposite direction at the same time.
Non-surgically stretch earlobes
Image Source : Abcnews.Go.Com
There are many examples of this form of body modification, but Kala Kaiwi has pushed it a little too far. He went for the largest non-surgically made stretch earlobes. These stretches measure 109 mm in diameter, which clearly means that you can slip a beer can through it effortlessly. There is hardly a body part that Kala has left unmodified; nostril piercing, studs on his entire face, silicon horns, tattooed eyebrows are few examples that top the list. Anyway, he holds the Guinness World Record for the largest non-surgically stretched earlobes.
Bagel head
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An episode of “Taboo” on National Geographic revealed a unique and somewhat weird trend of body modification in Japan. They call it ‘Bagel Head’ that is achieved by injecting saline into the forehead. The saline is pumped until a large welt is formed. This welt is shaped by pressing fingers on it. Normal level of saline injection is around 400 cc.
Eyeball tattoo
Image Source : Independent.Co.Uk
Jason Barnum, 39, was sentenced for attempted murder. He had ornate tattoos on head and face, even on teeth. But the most bizarre modification was his eyeball that was tattooed jet black. The court even debated over the association of his criminal tendency and body modifications.
Eyeball jewelry
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A 25-years-old lady, Lucy Luckayanko, got a platinum heart implanted in her eyeball. So, now she has become the first woman in New York with a tiny little heart shining inside her eye. She had gone through a surgery performed by Dr. Emil Chynn for $3,000. The implant can be removed for $1,000 any time at will.
Tooth filing
Image Source : I.DailyMail.Co.Uk
If you visit places such as Bali and Sudan, teeth filing is one of the hottest trends that you’ll notice. Teeth are filed into sharpened fangs. That’s a part of their cultural practice within the tribe. However, it has also been adopted by people in many other parts of the world as a way of enhancing their looks. In case of Dennis Avner, his teeth were filed to make them look like cat canines.
It’s not easy to figure out the motivation of individuals behind such extreme body modifications. Mental health experts have reasons to explain what drives people to make such modifications to their perfect bodies nature has bestowed them with. Some use it to express their individuality, others do it to grab attention, while some consider it a sign of anti-social or rebellious tendencies.
