As consumers we are exposed to outrageous marketing tactics that persuade us to believe that eyelash extensions and acrylic tip nails are a must have beauty accessory. We are all guilty of indulging in these instant gratification products in an effort to keep up with the times and be a part of the ever evolving self modification standards.

There are three distinct types of consumers for body enhancing products:

1. The Must-Haver who dedicates their spare income to fill their frown lines with the newest FDA approved products and stand nude in a public booth to fool people into thinking they just returned from a weekend get away in Cabo.
2. The Selective Indulgent who is critical of the Must Have-Er yet finds herself at the local salon every month to get her roots touched up and a modest bikini wax.
3. The Anti-Glam who refuses to succumb to media intervention and feels we are all pawns in the game of life. However don’t let this anti- glam fool you, she too can be found at the local tattoo shop pondering her next piece of wearable art.

For decades women have spent thousands of dollars on beauty services ranging from hair coloring and body waxing to Cosmetic enhancement. It has become the social norm to modify your body in the ways that the media dictate as being socially acceptable and most women would not categorize themselves as or even understand what it means to be a body modified individual.

There exists a whole other world of body modification that is much less main stream and breaking slowly into the market of available services for men and women. It is extreme and alternative modification to your body that is not bound by social norms or acceptance but rather driven by the insatiable need to view your body as a work of art.

Tattoos and body piercings have made their statement and are slowly gaining acceptance among the masses. Not to long ago, people with tattoos were viewed as a lower class and it was thought outrageous to permanently brand your body. We are now seeing more and more television shows based around the art and culture of tattoo and body piercing and surprise surprise, the masses are starting to become intrigued! What most consumers do not know is that tattoo and body piercings are just the tip of the ice berg in alternative body modification. There is an underground world of less socially acceptable body mods that are misunderstood and misrepresented and the main reason is lack of knowledge and fear.

The Top 5 Alternative Body Modifications You’re Afraid to Ask About

1. Scarification
   

   

   Scarification is the act of etching, cutting or the removal of skin in words, designs or patterns. This is in no way a new form of expression. Scarification has been a cultural practice for decades, often in adolescence to represent a rite of passage or to signify emotional growth.  Scarification is not to be confused with “cutting” which in some cases is an emotional release of misdirected feelings.

2. Subdermal Implants
   

   

   A sub dermal implant is typically silicon or Teflon that is surgically implanted under the skin to caused a raised effect. This is not much different from breast implants, it’s just bringing attention to other parts of your body through other means.

3. Splitting

   

   Splitting is most commonly recognized in the form of a tongue split. This practice is most commonly done through surgical scalpeling or surgical laser. There are also extreme splitting practices to the gentiles.

4. Corsetry

   

   A corset is worn to mold and shape the torso into the desired shape and size. This is often practiced to achieve extreme changes in ones body shape through regular tight lacing.

5. Stretching

   

   Another form of body modification that got its start centuries ago as a cultural practice. This is the act of slowly stretching skin over time and is in some cultures is viewed to carry the mark of an experienced warrior.

These practices are hidden to much of the population and viewed in a much different light then most conventional methods of body alternation. Though some may be harder to swallow then others, it is no different then throwing Botox parties or vaginal rejuvenation. In a world where people strive for a bizarre ideal of aesthetic perfection, there are people who’s ideas differ from the norm, set them apart and allow them to feel like their bodies are a living work of art.

Not too long ago, I was faced with a verbal conforntation in regard to my being heavily tattooed. The woman confonting me had more self tanner on her body then I did tattoo’. She refused to accept that her spending $600 a month on hair coloring, tanning and nail tips was no different then me spending the same on tattoos. In her mind, her modifications were simply to make her look and feel good and could not conceivably understand wanting to get a tattoo. I tried to educate her on the difference in our lifestyles but she had her mind made up about me and the choices I made.

All we can ask for is the respect to make our own decisions when  it comes to our bodies. We may not understand another persons choices but we can allow them the right to make those choices with out prejudice. Information and tolerance is the only option in a society that is so easily influenced by the media. For those that  allow themselves to be told by celebrities what is right for their body, they have no place to frown on those who make educated decisions about what goes on or in their bodies.