Body Piercing

Elaine Davidson, Brazilian Born - with over 9,800 piercings she is the most pierced woman in the world

The art of piercing is a modification that involves cutting or puncturing an area of the body in order to wear jewelry. The origin of this ancient practice is unclear but among the earliest records, mummified remains over 5000 years old have been found wearing earrings.

Earring with remains found in Germany dated from the 6th century.

Ear piercing is by far the most common practice and it could be argued that the general populous do not consider a basic ear lobe piercing as "extreme". There are mothers that have been known to get their baby daughters' ear lobes pierced before they are even 1 year old. Whilst this is becoming common practice in the western world, it is not paid the credence it deserves. Consider this scenario - a human life is having its body modified before it is able to conscientiously decide for itself. What if that human grows old enough to decide it never wanted the body modification to begin with? Some people conclude that this is mutilation by definition; It is a valid conclusion. In comparison "genital mutilation" which is rampant in Africa (90% of females aged 15-49) follows a similar ideology. The Parents and elders see forced female genital cutting as - "a normal part of their culture" not - "mutilation".

Infant girl getting her ear lobes pierced

Jim Ward
"Granddaddy of the modern body piercing movement"

There are a plethora of locations on the human body that can be pierced, a labret is not one of them. A labret is a piece of jewelry, not part of the human anatomy. This example is one of a thousand terminology misinterpretations that riddle the piercing industry today. Sometimes the clinical terminology of a particular piercing will simply be the part of the body being pierced eg. septum, eyebrow, philtrum piercing. Other times you will find that the name has been adopted from the piece of jewelry being used eg. a surface/dermal anchor. There are many other widely accepted names for certain body piercings like Prince Albert piercing or a Medusa piercing, however some of these dubs can be controversial. When we start dubbing a pair of upper lip piercings "Angel bites" It may sound cute, but we stray from clinical professionalism as a community. Individual conduct indirectly defines stereotype of the collective human experiences represented. The use of this language will stem from ones personal philosophy towards body modification. For an in depth view of Modern Body Piercing culture, Jim Wards book titled "Running the Gauntlet" is a great read

Some common examples of body jewelry

It always pays to use a professional and body piercing is no exception. Crooked, misplaced an uneven piercings are just a few of the many risks associated amateurs in the industry. Quality jewelry is also imperative particularly for a fresh piercing. Titanium & stainless steel jewelry is the benchmark of professionals however gold is an excellent choice too. Many other quality materials exist though they are not recommended until the piercing is properly healed. Cheaper nastier jewelry often comes with its own set of complications like toxicity or sharp external threads so do yourself a favour and don't use them, your body will thank you for it.

Subdermal Implants

Ear Implants by Samppa VonCyborg

A subdermal implant is an object "usually made of silicone" that is augmented with the body by inserting it under the epidermal layer (skin) It is also known as a "3D-implant" or "Pocketing". Silicone implants are either carved or mold injected to create the desired form or shape. An incision is made through the skin down to the subcutaneous layer then a dermal elevator is used to separate the skin at the fascia to create a "pocket" for the implant to be inserted. After the implant has been inserted, the incision is stitched shut and left to heal. Stitches can usually be removed after 2 weeks except in special circumstances but the skin can take between 1-2 years to "knit" completely at the fascia, although most silicone implants will look exceptional at around 6 months of healing.

Samppa VonCyborg making the incision for a silicone implant

Implant incision is ready for stitches

Implants are often put under tattoos to create a 3D effect however commonly you will see them under clean skin areas too. Designs and shapes are endless and can range from stars, skulls & domes to pieces that are much more abstract in nature. Working with a qualified & experienced artist like Samppa Von Cyborg will ensure you get the desired result. There are many "hacks" out there trying to emulate the work of the professionals but ultimately they lack the finesse of technique, experience and knowledge base that is imperative to performing a procedure of this nature.

Silicone Implant after 1 year

Some areas of the body are more ideal for subdermal implants than others. The backside of the hand is a preferable area as it has little tissue between the skin and the bone. This allows the skin to "stretch" tighter over the implant making it more visible and prominent. Another great area of the body is the forehead for the same reason, there is little muscle and fat tissue between the skin and the bone. Another consideration is functionality of the body area in question. Whilst an implant can be put nearly anywhere it is advisable to keep them away from high contact/ movement areas of the body like the inside area of the hand/palm or the feet in case of contact with shoes etc.

Subdermal Implants are growing in popularity and it is generally agreed that this movement started in 1994 by Steve Haworth at HTC Body Piercing. Steve put a row of beads under a woman's wrist to create a "bracelet" effect. Since then many artist have experimented with a spectrum of designs and techniques. Some of the most well known artists in the industry today are - Samppa Von Cyborg, Russ Foxx, Brian Decker and the infamous Stelarc who cultivated cells to grow an ear then implanted it onto his arm.

Stelarc and his infamous "ear implant"