Where Does Body Modification End And Mutilation Begin?

There was a time, not too long ago, when body modification was not particularly common outside of areas where it had cultural significance. It was unusual to see someone with a tattoo and piercings other than earlobes were virtually unheard of. Some where along the way, all of that changed. At first it was only those involved in various underground or alternative subcultures who had any interest in piercing various body parts. It progressed from ear lobe to upper ear and cartilage piercings, then noses, lips, tongues and even genitalia were all fair game for a surgical steel ring or barbel. Then it wasn't just the subcultures, it was everyone. Men and women from all walks of life suddenly have an interest in tattoos or piercings. Suddenly for the alternative culture, seeking to be individual or just to shock – even a nipple piercing was no longer sufficient – not when the local school teacher also had one hidden away under her conservative clothing!

So now with piercing being available for virtually any body part, body modification has become more extreme. Recent years have seen a surge in more radical modifications, ones which often require surgical procedures. Young women are actually having their tongues surgically split into a snake like fork or having implants surgically placed under the skin to provide patterns and textures on the skin. Where do we draw the line? When did mutilation of your body become socially acceptable under the heading of body modification?

Call me old fashioned, maybe I'm just stuck in my ways, but when I see a beautiful woman who has marred that beauty with scars and metal protrusions, it makes me sad. While I am not totally against body modification and in fact have a small tattoo of my own as well as a tiny crystal nose piercing, I do feel that sometimes it is being taken to far. While this sort of extreme body modification is rare at present how long will it be before it becomes the norm? And where does it end? When 80% of the population are sporting sub-dermal implants how do you make yourself more extreme? Do you remove and eye or amputate a limb?

How far will you go to be an individual?