A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

When scarification goes bad

Update: First, the person in this procedure healed fine and is very happy. Second, I want to make it clear that while this procedure looks very intense, it’s probably less intense as a procedure than some large skin removal work, transscrotal piercings, implants, tongue splitting, and all the other procedures generally accepted by the body modification community.

Ok, this is a pretty gory entry. I apologize for that. But I think it’s important to emphasize that when you do large scale scarification (or sometimes small scale), sometimes the keloid grows out of control and starts getting very uncomfortable, restricting mobility, and so on. This piece was only about a month old in the photos below (it was done by a “well known body modification artist” who’s gonna stay unnamed because that’s not the point of the entry) and the customer was quite unhappy and wanted it dealt with.

Samppa Von Cyborg and Lukas Zpira got together to help him as much as they could. They felt that all of it was cut too deep, and did their best to excise the tissue, although the centre keloid was not removed (I’m assuming it was adhered right to the cartilage at bottom of the sternum). Starting with some exploratory cuts:

Mostly off and looking very gory:

As you can see, quite a chasm of tissue was removed! Check out the fatty tissue below:

Once stitched up, I can’t imagine how relived and happy the customer must have been. It’s a pretty intense removal, and a lot to go through, but Lukas and Samppa did a nice job restoring him… Hopefully the removal doesn’t have similar keloiding issues (sometimes it’s a problem that snowballs).

Finally, the gross out shot of the removed tissue:

Please take scarification seriously!!!

Comments

1,136 responses to “When scarification goes bad”

  1. Justin Duncan Avatar
    Justin Duncan

    “What is my body worth?”
    All right, I must admit, I have not read all of the responses posted in this listing. I making this comment in reply to the gist of the opinions posted.
    I think the majority of you who have submitted have missed the point. You see the pictures posted and you cringe. What if all the plastic surgeons in the world posted all their botched procedures? Do you really think that every licensed doctor is infallible?
    The answer is that they are not. There is risk in any medical procedure, outside of anyone’s judgment, including the doctor’s and the patient’s. Both parties need to be well informed.
    I can’t tell you every breast enlargement and nose job patient know exactly what to expect from the procedure. I can’t tell you every plastic surgeon does their best to make the risks apparent to their patients. What I can tell you is that I have been through numerous body modification procedures, large and small. I have dealt with anything from shitty surface piercing’s (from a practitioner in my little town), to a tongue split from one of the best in the business (I could tell you his name, but he is afraid of prosecution, which should illustrate my point). Each procedure, despite its ups and down’s, was a learning experience, and throughout it all, the people doing the procedures either warned me of their ignorance, or gave me the best guidance possible. Better than any MD I had ever been to. It was MY decision to have it done. Whether they were honest or not, I was a big boy, and made my own decision’s based on logical inferences. Whoa, I know pesonal judgement is pretty out of style. Call me old fashioned, but I still place some weight in it…
    Are you all really so brainwashed that a piece of paper given to a person by the government means more than experience? Have you lost all sense of freedom? Your body and your mind are your responsibility. THAT IS ALL YOU GET! If you don’t want freedom over that, than what the fuck is the point of freedom?

  2. Justin Duncan Avatar
    Justin Duncan

    “What is my body worth?”
    All right, I must admit, I have not read all of the responses posted in this listing. I making this comment in reply to the gist of the opinions posted.
    I think the majority of you who have submitted have missed the point. You see the pictures posted and you cringe. What if all the plastic surgeons in the world posted all their botched procedures? Do you really think that every licensed doctor is infallible?
    The answer is that they are not. There is risk in any medical procedure, outside of anyone’s judgment, including the doctor’s and the patient’s. Both parties need to be well informed.
    I can’t tell you every breast enlargement and nose job patient know exactly what to expect from the procedure. I can’t tell you every plastic surgeon does their best to make the risks apparent to their patients. What I can tell you is that I have been through numerous body modification procedures, large and small. I have dealt with anything from shitty surface piercing’s (from a practitioner in my little town), to a tongue split from one of the best in the business (I could tell you his name, but he is afraid of prosecution, which should illustrate my point). Each procedure, despite its ups and down’s, was a learning experience, and throughout it all, the people doing the procedures either warned me of their ignorance, or gave me the best guidance possible. Better than any MD I had ever been to. It was MY decision to have it done. Whether they were honest or not, I was a big boy, and made my own decision’s based on logical inferences. Whoa, I know pesonal judgement is pretty out of style. Call me old fashioned, but I still place some weight in it…
    Are you all really so brainwashed that a piece of paper given to a person by the government means more than experience? Have you lost all sense of freedom? Your body and your mind are your responsibility. THAT IS ALL YOU GET! If you don’t want freedom over that, than what the fuck is the point of freedom?

  3. Bluepen Avatar
    Bluepen

    Yeah, I made it through most of the comments. I’m pretty proud of myself for that. Pretty much every point has been made, and I’ve only got one thing I’d like to add;

    Shannon, please, please, do not make modblog a ‘members only’ type of thing. I love reading modblog so much, and I’ve seen some amazing and inspiring work that I would never have gotten to see here. I’ve also learned a ton about various procedures (which, by the way, doesn’t mean I’m going to go out and try them, not all us minors jump at every chance to be stupid!). Bmezine and modblog specifically are amazing resources for the community and while I understand the paid parts of bmezine and think that’s completely fine.. please don’t limit modblog.

  4. Bluepen Avatar
    Bluepen

    Yeah, I made it through most of the comments. I’m pretty proud of myself for that. Pretty much every point has been made, and I’ve only got one thing I’d like to add;

    Shannon, please, please, do not make modblog a ‘members only’ type of thing. I love reading modblog so much, and I’ve seen some amazing and inspiring work that I would never have gotten to see here. I’ve also learned a ton about various procedures (which, by the way, doesn’t mean I’m going to go out and try them, not all us minors jump at every chance to be stupid!). Bmezine and modblog specifically are amazing resources for the community and while I understand the paid parts of bmezine and think that’s completely fine.. please don’t limit modblog.

  5. GWB Avatar
    GWB

    you fuckers are freaks, and need to see a fucking therapist. That is totaly fucked and n e one putting their self through that kind of tourture if fucked in the head for doing so. Bunch of fucking emo maggots get a fucking life and a fucking hobby for christ sake!

  6. GWB Avatar
    GWB

    you fuckers are freaks, and need to see a fucking therapist. That is totaly fucked and n e one putting their self through that kind of tourture if fucked in the head for doing so. Bunch of fucking emo maggots get a fucking life and a fucking hobby for christ sake!

  7. PsykoScott Avatar

    DEAR GWB,

    Eat a bowl of dick.

    Sincerely,
    PsykoScott

  8. PsykoScott Avatar

    DEAR GWB,

    Eat a bowl of dick.

    Sincerely,
    PsykoScott

  9. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    um……..ewww!!

  10. Lauren Avatar
    Lauren

    um……..ewww!!

  11. LD50 Avatar
    LD50

    Hahahaha! Psykoscott & GWB 🙂 But really though, eat a dick GWB. Change your name, and stop voting for fags.

  12. LD50 Avatar
    LD50

    Hahahaha! Psykoscott & GWB 🙂 But really though, eat a dick GWB. Change your name, and stop voting for fags.

  13. Toe Avatar
    Toe

    I dont understand why everybody feels sorry for this idiot, he did this to himself and deserves what he got.

  14. Toe Avatar
    Toe

    I dont understand why everybody feels sorry for this idiot, he did this to himself and deserves what he got.

  15. Kelly Avatar
    Kelly

    This is gross. I hope that guy didn’t get some sort of infection, but really with stuff like this, it seems like he’s asking for it. I don’t have a problem with tattoos or piercings (have some myself), but stuff like this seems to be taking it too far. Covering up for some kind of mental or emotional problem it seems like, but I can’t say cause I don’t know the person.

    I think it’s kind of disturbing that these guys just performed some kind of “back alley” surgery on the guy; I’m hoping this took place outside the US. Either way, it kind of seems like you play with fire and you’ll get burned.

  16. Kelly Avatar
    Kelly

    This is gross. I hope that guy didn’t get some sort of infection, but really with stuff like this, it seems like he’s asking for it. I don’t have a problem with tattoos or piercings (have some myself), but stuff like this seems to be taking it too far. Covering up for some kind of mental or emotional problem it seems like, but I can’t say cause I don’t know the person.

    I think it’s kind of disturbing that these guys just performed some kind of “back alley” surgery on the guy; I’m hoping this took place outside the US. Either way, it kind of seems like you play with fire and you’ll get burned.

  17. skitt Avatar
    skitt

    man i was about to go look at pr0n right after this but now im having second thoughts

  18. skitt Avatar
    skitt

    man i was about to go look at pr0n right after this but now im having second thoughts

  19. John Fleming Avatar

    What a fucking idiot!!

  20. John Fleming Avatar

    What a fucking idiot!!

  21. anoni-mouse Avatar
    anoni-mouse

    A possible outcome.

    First you pass a law ruling that only a doctor can perform a body mod. Of course most doctors wouldn’t do them because bod mods are not healing anything. Some (few) doctors would specialize on them, but they would be harrased by the media, and they would be more liable to lawsuits than other doctors. So anyone wishing for a bod mod would have to pay for the doctor’s med schooling and the legal risk. Bod mod would become rare and expensive, ideal for cellebrities and trust fund kids. And then it would die off of meaninglessness.

  22. anoni-mouse Avatar
    anoni-mouse

    A possible outcome.

    First you pass a law ruling that only a doctor can perform a body mod. Of course most doctors wouldn’t do them because bod mods are not healing anything. Some (few) doctors would specialize on them, but they would be harrased by the media, and they would be more liable to lawsuits than other doctors. So anyone wishing for a bod mod would have to pay for the doctor’s med schooling and the legal risk. Bod mod would become rare and expensive, ideal for cellebrities and trust fund kids. And then it would die off of meaninglessness.

  23. levatoor Avatar
    levatoor

    I weep at the sight of the world and its surroundings

  24. levatoor Avatar
    levatoor

    I weep at the sight of the world and its surroundings

  25. phi316 Avatar
    phi316

    i think people that do this shit are fucking faggots and i swear to you that if someone ever came to me and asked me to do that, i would shoot them in the stomach and make them suffer…who the fuck wants to hurt themself so they think they look better, i think u look like a shithead, and chances ur an emo bitch

  26. phi316 Avatar
    phi316

    i think people that do this shit are fucking faggots and i swear to you that if someone ever came to me and asked me to do that, i would shoot them in the stomach and make them suffer…who the fuck wants to hurt themself so they think they look better, i think u look like a shithead, and chances ur an emo bitch

  27. Eric Cartman Avatar
    Eric Cartman

    he deserves everything he got. I dont feel bad for this guy at all!!! He apparently wanted a scar. so fuck him.

  28. Eric Cartman Avatar
    Eric Cartman

    he deserves everything he got. I dont feel bad for this guy at all!!! He apparently wanted a scar. so fuck him.

  29. Justin Duncan Avatar
    Justin Duncan

    Jesus, I’m so disturbed I’m almost impressed by the level of ignorance on this message board. Wow, shooting people in the stomach to make them suffer, and calling them emo! You guys are so right, anything you don’t understand is fucked, and evil, and… emo I guess… (when did that become the worst thing you could call someone? but I digress…) No wonder this world is so fucked. You people are about as deep as desert mirage. If these procedures are so sick, and we, the people who do it so fucked up, what does that make you? You feel that way, and you are still looking at it. You have gone so far as to comment on it. I think that if you were so disturbed by this you would have STAYED THE FUCK OFF THE PAGE! You are all just little scared voyeurs, and I would appreciate it if you would keep your mouths shut so the grown folks with something intelligent to say could have a meaningful conversation without having to sift through your inane babble… Thank you.

  30. Justin Duncan Avatar
    Justin Duncan

    Jesus, I’m so disturbed I’m almost impressed by the level of ignorance on this message board. Wow, shooting people in the stomach to make them suffer, and calling them emo! You guys are so right, anything you don’t understand is fucked, and evil, and… emo I guess… (when did that become the worst thing you could call someone? but I digress…) No wonder this world is so fucked. You people are about as deep as desert mirage. If these procedures are so sick, and we, the people who do it so fucked up, what does that make you? You feel that way, and you are still looking at it. You have gone so far as to comment on it. I think that if you were so disturbed by this you would have STAYED THE FUCK OFF THE PAGE! You are all just little scared voyeurs, and I would appreciate it if you would keep your mouths shut so the grown folks with something intelligent to say could have a meaningful conversation without having to sift through your inane babble… Thank you.

  31. Justin Duncan Avatar
    Justin Duncan

    Oh yeah, and eat a bowl of dick 🙂

  32. Justin Duncan Avatar
    Justin Duncan

    Oh yeah, and eat a bowl of dick 🙂

  33. jim Avatar
    jim

    wow justin duncan, you take things way to seriously… cool your jets

  34. jim Avatar
    jim

    wow justin duncan, you take things way to seriously… cool your jets

  35. huayduke30 Avatar
    huayduke30

    Just so the regular posters know: the dipshits who are posting the ignorant dribble got here like did–through ebaumsworld. It was a feature on their daily links. I’ve never been here before, but I understand the expressionism involved in body art, whatever that might be (though the removal stuff I don’t get all, to be honest). Just thought I’d let you know why the postings are so many. Later.

  36. huayduke30 Avatar
    huayduke30

    Just so the regular posters know: the dipshits who are posting the ignorant dribble got here like did–through ebaumsworld. It was a feature on their daily links. I’ve never been here before, but I understand the expressionism involved in body art, whatever that might be (though the removal stuff I don’t get all, to be honest). Just thought I’d let you know why the postings are so many. Later.

  37. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    I agree with justin. I would never do this but I personally don’t see it any different than unnecessary plastic surgery. Just because you like body art dosen’t make you “emo”. I think that all the people all here that commented saying that “they’re stupid and emo” should grow up. If it isn’t something you’d do than fine, that’s one thing, but to be THAT judgemental is ridiculous.

  38. Jessica Avatar
    Jessica

    I agree with justin. I would never do this but I personally don’t see it any different than unnecessary plastic surgery. Just because you like body art dosen’t make you “emo”. I think that all the people all here that commented saying that “they’re stupid and emo” should grow up. If it isn’t something you’d do than fine, that’s one thing, but to be THAT judgemental is ridiculous.

  39. elizabeth Avatar
    elizabeth

    wow, that really didnt bother me, just seems like he made some mistakes, probably shouldnt have gone to some un liscenced person, if they are liscenced, then whatever its his desicion, i dont see what everyones getting so grossed out for.

  40. elizabeth Avatar
    elizabeth

    wow, that really didnt bother me, just seems like he made some mistakes, probably shouldnt have gone to some un liscenced person, if they are liscenced, then whatever its his desicion, i dont see what everyones getting so grossed out for.

  41. Stormchaser Avatar
    Stormchaser

    so… shooting people in the stomach for doing things with themselves… Maybe you, phi, GWB anbd so on, better should nozt cross my way, would be unhappy to get first time fined by lawsuit (and even worse for serious crime) – but it would be worth all the troubles – fucking bloody ignorant dumbasses

  42. Stormchaser Avatar
    Stormchaser

    so… shooting people in the stomach for doing things with themselves… Maybe you, phi, GWB anbd so on, better should nozt cross my way, would be unhappy to get first time fined by lawsuit (and even worse for serious crime) – but it would be worth all the troubles – fucking bloody ignorant dumbasses

  43. MUTCER Avatar
    MUTCER

    HAHAHAHAHA

    What a dumbass! I hope he doesn’t get necrotizing fasciitis or MRSA.

    Yeah, that looks like some real sterile technique to me.

  44. MUTCER Avatar
    MUTCER

    HAHAHAHAHA

    What a dumbass! I hope he doesn’t get necrotizing fasciitis or MRSA.

    Yeah, that looks like some real sterile technique to me.

  45. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    This picture makes me hungry you think that guy wants to sell his remains on e-bay

  46. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    This picture makes me hungry you think that guy wants to sell his remains on e-bay

  47. Justin Duncan Avatar
    Justin Duncan

    I don’t believe I over reacted in the least. I have done thing’s that if I posted the pictures I’m sure I would get the same responses (ie shooting someone in the stomach). Therefore I take these responses personally for everyone involved. I believe that if there are not serious and intelligently made arguments to these ignorant biases, which I am sorry to say are the reactions of most of the people in the world, we as a community will still be treated as freaks. When you’re a community of freaks, your arguments are null and void in the eyes of the masses and the law, and you end up dealing with the same type of legal issuses that sent shannon to Mexico (not that that wasn’t a good choice on his part anyways). Also, thanks to huayduke30 for restoring some of my faith in the mambers of this site…

  48. Justin Duncan Avatar
    Justin Duncan

    I don’t believe I over reacted in the least. I have done thing’s that if I posted the pictures I’m sure I would get the same responses (ie shooting someone in the stomach). Therefore I take these responses personally for everyone involved. I believe that if there are not serious and intelligently made arguments to these ignorant biases, which I am sorry to say are the reactions of most of the people in the world, we as a community will still be treated as freaks. When you’re a community of freaks, your arguments are null and void in the eyes of the masses and the law, and you end up dealing with the same type of legal issuses that sent shannon to Mexico (not that that wasn’t a good choice on his part anyways). Also, thanks to huayduke30 for restoring some of my faith in the mambers of this site…

Latest Tattoo, Piercing, and Body Modification News

  • What Lifts the Body, Shifts the Soul
    First suspensions are rarely just about the body— they’re a meeting point between the physical and the deeply personal. Stepping into this experience isn’t simply about trying something new, but about stepping outside yourself to a version you had always sensed was waiting. I’ve had… Read more: What Lifts the Body, Shifts the Soul
  • Skin and Strings: The Art of Human Puppetry
    One of the most powerful things about being at a convention like OSC is the sheer concentration of experience, creativity, and capability in one place. When you’re surrounded by people who not only understand the technical complexities of suspension but are excited by the challenge… Read more: Skin and Strings: The Art of Human Puppetry
  • Twelve Points to the Sky
    There’s a particular kind of magic that happens at your first big suspension gathering when you arrive with nerves, an open heart, and the quiet hope of flight. Guided by the encouragement of mentor Lynn Loheide and driven by the quiet confidence of belonging, Alex… Read more: Twelve Points to the Sky
  • Ontario SusCon 2025
    In March 2025, BME attended the Ontario Suspension Convention in Hamilton, hosted by the Kevin Donaghy and the Ontario Suspension Collective. We had the pleasure to take part and help document the event, but also run a booth to sell a bunch of old (but… Read more: Ontario SusCon 2025
  • Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezine
    Dear BME Community, We’ve been gone far too long, but BME is back to give people a voice, a space, a community. With time everything evolves, and BME may be different than you remember. Our goal is to stay true to Shannon and Rachel’s values… Read more: Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezine
  • BME Social Media
    Word of mouth has been our method of reuniting the community, and it has brought a substantial amount of us together. I am inspired by your loyalty and I want to remind more people of BME’s existence. In 2020 we gained control over @bmezine on… Read more: BME Social Media