A new, extreme form of body worshipping is attracting more and more fans: body modification.   This latest trend involves creating scars, grinding down teeth or using silicone or other implants under the skin to create different effects. Doctors have already issued warnings about the health hazards involved.

 

Belly button piercings or conspicuous tattoos no longer have the shock factor that they used to have.  They’ve been around a long time and as a result they are now far more socially acceptable.  So for those who want to stand out, more extreme measures are required and so-called "body modifiers" (also known as ‘BodMod’) are in the in-thing.  Loosely translated, this involves someone changing his or her own body with a scalpel and/or scissors" to achieve a radical look – a so new trend for self-mutilation is born.

 

Creating scars, polished teeth and horns – are these just variants of self-beautification?

These new forms of body alteration are many and varied.  For example, some carve tattoos into the skin with the scars as much a part of the effect as the design.  Others opt for cutting different body parts such as the tongue or genitals.  More extreme still is to implant metal or silicone under the skin to create different effects, such as horns.  For many, achieving the most radical look is the goal.

 

Is "body modification" just another expression of individuality?

 

Body modifiers are already facing rejection, fear and prejudice from many parts of society, mainly because self-mutilation is often associated with drug crime and gangs. But for those who do it, it’s another way to be seen as an individual and apart from the crowd. For them, the body is a blank canvas and a medium for art and the changes make it more beautiful and unique.