There are a million ways to express your unique style and personality. From makeup to clothes to social media profiles, people find ways every day to set themselves apart. However, you may be looking for something more permanent.
Body modifications such as piercings and tattoos are ways that people can make unique and permanent changes to their bodies. While these modifications are beautiful and special, they also come with risks.
If body modifications aren’t properly performed or cared for, they can lead to a wide range of negative effects, including scarring and infections.
Tattoos
Choosing to get a tattoo is an important, and permanent, decision. While choosing what tattoo to get is important, it is equally important to choose the right tattoo artist. To avoid skin infections and systemic infections, make sure your tattoo artist:
- Has all necessary state certifications and licenses.
- Can show past work and reviews from previous clients.
- Keeps a clean workspace and uses sanitary materials for tattooing.
Tattoos come with risks, and tattoo removals come with even more risks. Tattoo removal can cause redness, blistering, and itching in the short term. In the long term, there are risks of discoloration and scarring at the site of the tattoo.
Ear piercings
While traditional earlobe piercings carry a relatively low risk of complications, adding multiple piercings in other parts of the ear can increase the risks. Potential risks associated with ear piercings include:
- Infection: If you do not regularly clean your ear and the site around your piercing, you may experience pain, redness, swelling, pus, and other symptoms of infection. This infection may need to be treated by a primary care physician.
- Traumatic injury: Traumatic injury can happen in several ways. If you have long hair, the strands can catch on your ear piercings and pull on the piercings in ways that can hinder healing. Another problem that can cause traumatic injury to your ear is if a piercing gun is used on your cartilage. This can cause damage to the cartilage that takes a long time to heal.
Choosing a qualified technician for your piercing, and consulting a doctor if you are experiencing ongoing problems and pain can help to reduce the long-term effects of a piercing on your health.
Branding
Branding is the practice of intentionally burning someone to cause a patterned scar. When someone chooses to be branded, they have heated metal rods pushed onto their skin. These rods cause third-degree burns that form raised scars, often in some kind of chosen pattern.
While this practice can be used for beautification, similar to tattooing, there are several health risks involved in branding, including:
- Pain: Branding can cause significant pain for the person being branded. Be sure to mentally prepare for this if you choose to be branded.
- Skin infection: If burns are not properly cared for, they can lead to skin infections. Speaking with a doctor about proper aftercare can help to diminish this risk.
- Further scarring: If your brand doesn’t heal properly, this can lead to further scarring that wasn’t originally intended.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of an infection, such as fever, chills, and swelling, then you should seek immediate medical care. If you are experiencing minor symptoms, then a primary care doctor can examine your brands. If you are experiencing extreme symptoms, seek help at your local emergency room. For continued treatment, you may be referred to an urgent care facility or dermatologist.
Tongue splitting
Tongue splitting involves using a scalpel to split the tongue in half, creating an aesthetic similar to that of a snake. Once the tongue is split, the wound is cauterized, but it is important to put a high focus on continued oral hygiene to avoid severe infections and other complications.
Before undergoing a tongue-splitting procedure, contact your dentist to discuss the risks involved and the proper aftercare for such a procedure.
Waist training
Many people dream of a smaller waist, and some go to great lengths to achieve it. Waist training, for many people, involves wearing tight corsets to “train” their waist to be smaller, creating an exaggerated hourglass shape.
For some, waist training goes as far as removing the lower ribs to create the smallest waist possible. These procedures, either through surgery or restriction with corsets, present many risks including:
- Digestive issues: Restricting the midsection can cause discomfort and indigestion.
- Poor posture and back pain: Wearing corsets for a long period of time can restrict the muscles and bones in your ribs and back, leading to long-term effects such as back pain and poor posture.
If you are looking for a smaller waist, you can avoid these health risks by pursuing a healthy diet and consistent exercise habits. These choices can help you to shed pounds and lose inches off your waist.
Body piercings
While some piercings are easy to care for, such as ear piercings, others pose more risks. Some of the risky places to receive a piercing include:
- Tongue: Tongue piercings pose several risks, including infections and tooth damage. If you do not practice consistent oral hygiene, a tongue piercing can lead to an infection that must be treated by a dentist and may lead to the loss of the piercing. Heavy, metal tongue piercings can also cause damage to your front teeth by constantly hitting against your teeth as you talk and chew.
- Genital area: The genital area has continuous contact with clothing that can catch on the piercing, and can be difficult to clean throughout the day to avoid infection.
- Belly button: Belly button piercings are common, but they can be easily caught on clothing. If a piercing is pulled by clothing, this can cause a traumatic injury to the area that slows the healing process.
Maintaining the cleanliness of these areas, and avoiding related risks such as infections and traumatic injuries, can help you to maintain your health after getting a piercing. If you begin to experience signs of infection or are noticing an impact on your teeth, seek the help of a primary care physician or dentist.
Sub-dermal implants
Sub-dermal implants, made from silicone or metal, are small objects that are placed under the skin to create specifically shaped protrusions. These implants can be placed all over the body, but they can lead to a variety of risks, including infection and scarring.
For some people, sub-dermal implants can also cause allergic reactions. These occur when your body tries to fight the introduction of a new substance and can lead to rashes, swelling, fever, and other symptoms.
Tooth filing
Tooth filing is done to create a specific shape for someone’s tooth. For example, a person may have their teeth filed to resemble those of a fictional creature such as a vampire.
While this procedure has an interesting aesthetic effect, it comes with serious risks for a person’s oral health. These risks include sensitivity and pain, increased risk of cavities, and a higher likelihood of tooth loss.
Due to these risks, tooth filing can substantially increase the amount you’ll have to spend on dental care in your lifetime. This is especially true if you eventually need to pay for dental implants.
If you have shaved teeth, you can reduce the risk of tooth loss by contacting a dentist as soon as you notice pain and unusual sensitivity.
Eye tattoos
As far as tattoos are concerned, eye tattoos are an extreme choice, and it’s important to understand the risks involved.
Eye tattoos can cause increased eye sensitivity and irritability, and can potentially lead to blindness. If you receive an eye tattoo and you experience any changes in vision or increased sensitivity, it is important to visit an eye doctor so these issues can be corrected and treated by a qualified medical professional.
Body modifications can be beautiful and unique ways to express your creativity and individuality. By understanding the risks involved, and working with qualified technicians and medical professionals, you can reduce the risk of long-term, negative health effects.