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Body modification (or '''body alteration''') is the permanent or semi-permanent deliberate altering of the Human Body for non-medical reasons, such as Spiritual , various social (markings), BDSM " Edgeplay " or Aesthetic . It can range from the socially acceptable decoration (e.g., Pierced Ear s in many societies), to the overtly religiously mandated (e.g., Circumcision in a number of cultures) to Corporal Punishment , to provocative statement by the rebellious (e.g., Tongue Splitting ). Some even become physically addicted to the Adrenaline / Endorphin release associated with a painful procedure in a way analogous to that experienced by those who Self-harm . Some people experience an abstract but distinct compulsion to modify their body that appears to have no underlying or external reason. Some Futurists believe that eventually humans will pursue body modification with more advanced Technological means, such as permanently implanted devices to enhance mental and physical capabilities, thereby becoming Cyborg s. For the substantial number of people with Heart Pacemaker s and Brain Implant s such as Cochlear Implant s and electrical brain stimulators for Parkinson's Disease , this is already a reality. Body Art is any body modification for artistic or aesthetic reasons. However the term is often extended to all socially significant markings, often displaying the bearer belongs to some hereditary (e.g. tribal), age, religious or other group, and therefore on body parts that remain or can be 'decently' exposed in public, except if the group is private or even secret. TYPOLOGY OF BODY MODIFICATION
Body modifications occurring as the end result of long term activities or practices
Besides the obvious extreme forms of body modification more simple forms of change exist. Modify the movie shows that modification came come in a variety of forms: piercing, flesh suspension, make-up, tattoos, branding, stretching, scarification, splitting, plastic surgery, tanning, waxing, colored contacts, hair modifications, body building, tooth modification, implants, elective amputations, and trans-gender surgery. Of course this is not an exhaustive list but the idea should be known that almost anything that is physically done to the body is considered modification. CONTROVERSY One controversial objective of body modification is the attempt to resemble another Race , such as Asians having their Epicanthal Fold s modified supposedly to resemble non-Asian eyes (it should however be noted that they are not normally made 'rounder' or set deeper, and that 'double eyelids' were an ideal of beauty even in the Tang Dynasty ) or skin lightened with dyes (or even surgically), or Suntanning . Other sources of controversy stem from the notion of attempting to artificially beautify the natural form of the body, often leading to charges of disfigurement and mutilation. Extreme forms of Body Modification are occasionally viewed as symptomatic of Body Dysmorphic Disorder , other Mental Illness es, or as an expression of unchecked vanity. Often the general public are unprepared for some forms of modification and reports of the ostracism of modified individuals are widespread within the modification community. Unlicensed surgery performed outside of a medical environment can often be life-threatening, and is illegal in most countries and states. "Disfigurement" (a subjective term) and "mutilation" (regardless of any appreciation this always applies objectively whenever a bodily function is gravely diminished or lost, as with castration) are terms used by opponents of body modification to describe certain types of modifications, especially non-consensual ones. Those terms are used fairly uncontroversially to describe the victims of Torture , who have endured damage to Ear s, Eye s, Feet , Genitalia , Hand s, Nose s, Teeth , and/or Tongue s, including Amputation , Burning , Flagellation , Piercing , Skinning , and Wheeling . " Genital Mutilation " is also used somewhat more controversially to describe certain kinds of socially prescribed modifications to the Genitals , such as Circumcision , Female Circumcision , Castration , and surgeries performed to conform the genitals of individuals with Intersex conditions to those of typical males or females. INDIVIDUALS KNOWN FOR EXTENSIVE BODY MODIFICATION
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