For those without experience or knowledge of body modification, the mere mention of the term could well ignite a sense of fear or dread. Yet in its simplest terms, body modification literally just means altering one’s outward appearance – so whether you wear studs in your ears or not, the term spans the whole lot from the universal procedures of tattooing and ear piercings, through to a variety of much more more extreme, esoteric procedures, for which the resulting aesthetic is commonly considered to be outside of the socially constructed, standardised ‘norms’ of beauty (by narrow-minded folk).

For some, body modification is solely a tool through which to disrupt their appearance, or a vehicle through which to face out, while for other members of the community, the procedures – and the explanations behind them – extend deeper, often forming a part of the narrative inside an individual’s exploration of identity, self-acceptance, therapy, or pain.

After all, undergoing eye-popping levels of pain to be able to outwardly transform the body isn’t any latest phenomena. While the art of tattooing is believed to have originated over 10,000 years ago, people have been pushing the aesthetic limits of their body via piercings, stretching and various other mutilations since precedent days.

From coin slots (the removal of a bit of the ear that so you possibly can stack rings inside) and the same procedure of cartilage removal, to blackwork (a way of tattooing that covers large areas of the skin in opaque ink) and scarification (a tattoo form that involves stripping away layers of skin) – the body modification procedures that folks undergo worldwide vary of their levels of extremity, while surgical modification techniques allow people to undergo more intense transformations like tongue splitting and elf ear modification.

For some members of the body mod community, the will to undergo such procedures stems back to their childhood. While Reddit user U/TobiasWidower’s journey to tongue splitting stemmed from watching a clip of Erik Sprague on Discovery Channel, @melnotorious’ elf ears were a “childhood dream turned reality”. “Having my tongue split, to me a minimum of, makes me feel more like myself, explains U/TobiasWidower. “It’s a method to subtly denote an outsider status, a hidden secret that sets you other than others, making you more unique.”

As inside most communities, there are specific procedures which can be frowned upon by hardcore fans. For instance, sensationalist procedures just like the bagel head (that originated in Canada before gaining notable popularity in Japan), owing to the incontrovertible fact that it’s a short lived alteration. As Reddit user U/irregularjoe150 explains, “It’s weird that this keeps cropping up far and wide, it was all done years ago on in the future as a part of a body modification performance art thing in Japan, yet loads of individuals appear to assume it’s an everyday thing, like, get up, brush teeth, dress, turn self into bagel.” Because the name suggests, it’s a procedure that makes one’s brow morph into the form of a bagel via a saline injection to the center of the brow — for a two hour period — before the following swelling is pushed in with force to create the illusion of a bagel.

So which procedures weigh in as essentially the most extreme in modern times? 4 individuals who’ve undergone tongue splitting, scarification, coin slot and elf ear modification lift the lid on their relationship with body modification.

U/TobiasWidower on Tongue Splitting

What does body modification mean to you? 
I used to be raised around tattoos and piercings. For me, they’re a method to express your individuality, your history, and to experiment together with your vision of yourself. They will cement an identity, express ideals, denote affiliations, or rejoice culture. Tattoos specifically are a language unto themselves, from traditional Japanese to Polynesian tribal, each symbol and image communicates something specific to that person.

How did you first encounter the split tongue procedure?
My first major exposure to extreme body mods was through Erik Sprague (lizard man). I saw a clip of his on the Discovery Channel and was smitten with the concept of a split tongue. I had at all times been fascinated with reptiles and Judeo-Christian demon lore but admittedly I used to be only around ten on the time, so it had one other 12 years to percolate in my mind before I went through with the procedure.

How does it make you’re feeling?
Having my tongue split, to me a minimum of, makes me feel more like myself. It’s a method to subtly denote an outsider status, a hidden secret that sets you other than others, making you more unique.

What concerning the pain?
The procedure itself is normally done under local anaesthesia, however the healing process takes 7-10 days and could possibly be in comparison with having wisdom teeth pulled or tonsils removed. Your mouth is swollen and sore, eating is difficult, and all in all, life sucks. There are also myriad risks involved, as much as and including nerve damage, excessive bleeding, and infection.

@melnotorious on Elf Ears

What first drew you to body modification?
I’ve at all times been drawn to body modification from a young age. Some people try to select it apart, but when it comes right down to it, I just really just like the look.

What about elf ear modification specifically?
The pointed ears were a childhood dream turned reality. Now that I even have them, I feel like they were at all times meant to look this manner.

How would you describe the method?
My artist was kind and well-spoken, after talking to him I felt confident concerning the process and procedure. The initial pain subsided inside a number of days. The toughest part for me was having to sleep on my back and never roll over on them while they were healing. I hardly slept!

Do you’ve gotten plans to undergo another procedures?
Last yr I scheduled an appointment for a subdermal implant in my hand. I ended up having to cancel after checking out I used to be pregnant. I haven’t decided whether or not I’ll reschedule yet, but I’ll at all times proceed getting tattooed.

U/Voldemortsbf on Scarification

What first drew you to body modification and what does it mean to you?
I saw people in my class in seventh grade with the standard Claire’s helix piercing and it looked beautiful to me, so not knowing higher I went to my local mall and got one. Two years later in my freshman social studies class, I watched a documentary concerning the rituals and modifications that happen inside in African tribes and fell in love with the ladies and men that had stretched lobes, scarring and various tattoos on their body. The day after I purchased an ear stretching kit online and have only gotten to my goal size this yr (six years later). To me, body modification is decorating the body and a method to modify yourself to the way you see yourself inside your head. As someone that’s MTF transgender, I discovered getting pierced and tattooed early in my transition was so therapeutic since it was a method to change my body to what I strived to appear like at a time when my appearance was under no circumstances something I used to be comfortable with.

What made you choose to undergo scarification?
I’ve chosen the scarification route since I would like a modification on my face. I’m within the body modification industry and I’m already tattooed and modified, so it’s not an issue for me career-wise, but I also don’t want something as harsh and obvious as a black ink tattoo on my face.

How do you relate to pain?
Several tattoo artists have told me that I even have a reasonably high pain tolerance. Though even when I didn’t, that may not hold me back from getting the modifications I like. Pain like that is temporary and completely price getting something that can make me confident in my skin for the remainder of my life.

Are you considering another procedures?
After all! I’d prefer to get one other scarification piece. I’m also looking right into a chest sub-dermal, getting my neck tattooed and ending my right sleeve (I even have half my arm blacked out with a negative space moon on my hand) with a black and gray portrait of Voldemort from Harry Potter. I also work at an APP certified piercing studio so getting latest piercings are at all times within the cards for me!

@mollxdoll on Coin Slot

What was your entry into body modification?
Initially, I used to be drawn to piercings for the jewellery aspect – I’ve at all times been a glitter addict!

What concerning the coin slot specifically?
I liked the coin slot so I could wear the utmost amount of jewelry possible in that area.

How did you discover the procedure?
I’ve had this done for thus a few years that I don’t remember the method or the pain thoroughly in all honesty. The procedure took about half an hour –  they scalpel the form out first, then they stitch you back up. Considering I don’t remember it thoroughly, it might’t have been that bad! 

Do you’ve gotten any future procedures planned?
If anything, just ear piercings. Having a jewelry shop makes you would like extra spots for jewellery just about on a regular basis!