| Once an explicit symbol of individuality or | | | | hearted! Tiff does acknowledge that some people |
| conformity to something other than the norm, | | | | see scarification blurring the lines too much |
| body modification now appeals to a wide range of | | | | between body modification and self harm, but |
| people from all social groupings and all walks of life. | | | | when carried out by experienced artists this link |
| Similarly to music, fashion and hairstyles there are | | | | becomes weak. Self-harm has a serious |
| trends that appear and disappear and always the | | | | psychological element involved when it is carried |
| outrageous statements that lie on the fringes of it | | | | out, when someone wants to become scarred |
| all. Not being afraid of having a few needles | | | | for purely aesthetic reasons this does not hold |
| inserted into my skin I am interested in the world | | | | the psychological elements of self harm. |
| of body modification today and what it means. | | | | |
| Tiff Badhairdo from Magnus Opus Tattoo parlour, | | | | Microdermals are another modification that has |
| Brighton helped answer a few of my questions to | | | | recently increased in popularity. A microdermal |
| delve into the world of needles, scalpels and | | | | displays the combined appearance of an implant |
| human flesh… | | | | (inserting something under the skin) and a piercing. |
| | | | | A single stud is ‘anchored’ under the skin |
| I think there is a fairly standard route of entry | | | | after a small incision is made with a scalpel. They |
| into the world of body modification; pierced ears, | | | | are a lot less likely to grow out of the skin than |
| maybe a nose, lip or eyebrow, with a progression | | | | regular surface piercings. This is because there are |
| into cartilage and surface piercings (piercings that | | | | holes in piece of metal under the skin, so tissue |
| enter and exit along the same piece of skin e.g. | | | | can grow through them and keep the jewellery |
| wrist or ankle) later on. From Tiff’s | | | | anchored in place. Microdermals are being |
| experience, the tragus (a particular area of | | | | incorporated with tattoos in some cases adding a |
| cartilage in the ear) is one of the most popular | | | | 3D element to designs and with a far less invasive |
| piercings he performs now and he certainly | | | | procedure than involved in a surface piercing. |
| believes over time that popularity comes and | | | | |
| goes for certain piercings as is the case with | | | | I have only managed to touch the surface |
| tattoos. New trends and methods appear over | | | | regarding body modification in this article as there |
| time and in turn grow in popularity as more | | | | are many other procedures that are carried out |
| people exhibit them. | | | | today. As much as trends in body modification |
| | | | | have changed over the years and have become |
| In recent years, those looking for a new way of | | | | more widely acceptable in our culture (in my last |
| expressing themselves through the medium of | | | | office job I was often given piercing care advice |
| body modification can turn to scarification. This | | | | from my manager!) it is definitely true that those |
| has become the latest form of body art that | | | | whose bodies are heavily modified are still open to |
| grown in popularity. Like tattoos, scarification is a | | | | receive prejudice from a large majority of |
| permanent design achieved through scarring the | | | | society. Tiff comments that those who have a lot |
| skin with, most commonly; a scalpel or the use of | | | | of visible modifications will usually be limited to |
| heat (branding). Scarification can be seen as a | | | | working within the body modification industry or |
| step on from tattooing, it is a permanent | | | | within a few other workplaces that will not |
| modification with the added element that it is | | | | discriminate. In this sense there is still prejudice |
| raised unlike a tattoo so has a more tactile | | | | against people just because they choose to |
| element. Tiff explained that scarification was | | | | decorate their body. Is this fair? I don’t think |
| always a more ‘underground’ form of | | | | so; unless offensive material is displayed on |
| body art which is now appealing to a wider range | | | | someone’s body I don’t think it is right to |
| of people, as he remembers a time when there | | | | make an assumption about their character purely |
| was no interest in scarification at all. Tiff believes | | | | based on that. However, it is undeniably human |
| a major factor that has brought scarification to | | | | nature to react to those that are different from |
| the forefront of body modifications is the internet. | | | | you and maybe opinions will change over time. |
| Websites such as allow the browser to enter into | | | | Just make sure if you do get any modifications |
| a world of common body modifications or | | | | yourself, get them done professionally and look |
| experience a whole new realm of extreme | | | | after them, infected modifications are not so fun! |
| modifications that are definitely not for the faint | | | | |