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. kitty Avatar
    kitty

    those pictures were graphic but i have to say since i’m not going to be judged on here on what i say so i have to say that that was perrty awsome but what i don’t git is that are these people getting this for the cool scars after the healing or are these people trying to reduse the apperance of the scars that they already had.

  2. kitty Avatar
    kitty

    those pictures were graphic but i have to say since i’m not going to be judged on here on what i say so i have to say that that was perrty awsome but what i don’t git is that are these people getting this for the cool scars after the healing or are these people trying to reduse the apperance of the scars that they already had.

  3. ÈMþRê§§ Avatar
    ÈMþRê§§

    Every thing thats done as a bod mod carries risk, from a simply ear piercing to this type of work.
    This work was corrected by samppa and Lukas, and they obviously did a good job helping this man over a very difficult situation.
    Please dont everyone jump on me this is a genuine question, have samppa and Lukas got a medical background. As this seems quite a serious procedure that would normally be done in an operating theatre.

  4. ÈMþRê§§ Avatar
    ÈMþRê§§

    Every thing thats done as a bod mod carries risk, from a simply ear piercing to this type of work.
    This work was corrected by samppa and Lukas, and they obviously did a good job helping this man over a very difficult situation.
    Please dont everyone jump on me this is a genuine question, have samppa and Lukas got a medical background. As this seems quite a serious procedure that would normally be done in an operating theatre.

  5. Bradly Avatar
    Bradly

    LOL Now that is some funny sh-t, I understand mishaps but come on at what point do you say let a surgeon take care of it. I mean they use to cut ur leg off with a saw and some liquer but what about mixing modern with primal. As in ill take off my finger with a stone blade but if massive mishaps happen then it’s time…..

  6. Bradly Avatar
    Bradly

    LOL Now that is some funny sh-t, I understand mishaps but come on at what point do you say let a surgeon take care of it. I mean they use to cut ur leg off with a saw and some liquer but what about mixing modern with primal. As in ill take off my finger with a stone blade but if massive mishaps happen then it’s time…..

  7. Bradly Avatar
    Bradly

    No shit they should have sent that dude to dr. i read allot about the misfit dude who so many people rag on the artist just my opinion but …those peeps who did the removal fall in2 the coat hanger abortionist catagory in my book thats way to big of a massive opening to do in a shop,

  8. Bradly Avatar
    Bradly

    No shit they should have sent that dude to dr. i read allot about the misfit dude who so many people rag on the artist just my opinion but …those peeps who did the removal fall in2 the coat hanger abortionist catagory in my book thats way to big of a massive opening to do in a shop,

  9. ballsweets Avatar
    ballsweets

    This just goes to show you what some scarification “artists” [aka: fucking butchers] out there will do for a buck.

    Jeezus

  10. ballsweets Avatar
    ballsweets

    This just goes to show you what some scarification “artists” [aka: fucking butchers] out there will do for a buck.

    Jeezus

  11. carlos Avatar
    carlos

    life spain the dead of the english

  12. carlos Avatar
    carlos

    life spain the dead of the english

  13. xuxa Avatar

    hello….
    esto ess horrible denuncialos noooooo…??
    upsss. weno no se que sea esto pero lo unico q se es q esta horrible oieeeeeeeee………

  14. xuxa Avatar

    hello….
    esto ess horrible denuncialos noooooo…??
    upsss. weno no se que sea esto pero lo unico q se es q esta horrible oieeeeeeeee………

  15. tabitha Avatar
    tabitha

    Are either of them trained anaesthetists? Or is that why they don’t use it?

  16. tabitha Avatar
    tabitha

    Are either of them trained anaesthetists? Or is that why they don’t use it?

  17. Yom Avatar
    Yom

    The before pictures seem very hellraiser to me…

    And the last picture looks like saussages.

  18. Yom Avatar
    Yom

    The before pictures seem very hellraiser to me…

    And the last picture looks like saussages.

  19. Dawnie Avatar

    Okay… Somehow I missed this when it was posted originally. . I actually had a discussion about the scenario with a piercer/scarification artist in my home town about a month ago, which is what made me look for the original posting… Anyway…. I just feel the need to throw my two cents in after reading over half of all of the comments posted and thinking about the whole situation…

    I just want to say that I see nothing at all wrong with what Lukas and Samppa did procedure wise. I think it is super easy for people to sit back and criticize what happened and how the procedure wasn’t performed correctly or how this individual should have went to a hospital…

    People need to remember that their client is an adult who I am sure is and was perfectly able to decide that he wanted Lukas and Samppa to do this procedure and not a plastic surgeon. It’s not like they tied his hands behind his back and forced the client to let them do this. He wanted them to. I think people to easily jump over that important factor – the client I am sure was informed of any risks involved and made his decision, and who are you to criticize that decision, or the decision of two AWESOME practicioners who are amazing at what they do to decide to help this client out?

    If you are saying in your mind “well the risks are too dangerous” let me simply remind you that many of you have had procedures done such as scarification, implants, tongue splitting, other surgical mods, etc that many people would feel should not be able to be performed by the practicioners that perform them for us. I think making the assumption that the majority of you reading this (at least the ones in the community especially) can say that they have felt before when people criticize on how a procedure was done or how it should have been done by a m.d. if at all most of us feel that we are knowingly consenting despite all of the risks and complications that could arise that we outweigh the risks with what we are to gain from the procedure.

    Okay… So maybe this is a little jumbled together, it’s been a really long day, but I think I got most of my point across 🙂

  20. Dawnie Avatar

    Okay… Somehow I missed this when it was posted originally. . I actually had a discussion about the scenario with a piercer/scarification artist in my home town about a month ago, which is what made me look for the original posting… Anyway…. I just feel the need to throw my two cents in after reading over half of all of the comments posted and thinking about the whole situation…

    I just want to say that I see nothing at all wrong with what Lukas and Samppa did procedure wise. I think it is super easy for people to sit back and criticize what happened and how the procedure wasn’t performed correctly or how this individual should have went to a hospital…

    People need to remember that their client is an adult who I am sure is and was perfectly able to decide that he wanted Lukas and Samppa to do this procedure and not a plastic surgeon. It’s not like they tied his hands behind his back and forced the client to let them do this. He wanted them to. I think people to easily jump over that important factor – the client I am sure was informed of any risks involved and made his decision, and who are you to criticize that decision, or the decision of two AWESOME practicioners who are amazing at what they do to decide to help this client out?

    If you are saying in your mind “well the risks are too dangerous” let me simply remind you that many of you have had procedures done such as scarification, implants, tongue splitting, other surgical mods, etc that many people would feel should not be able to be performed by the practicioners that perform them for us. I think making the assumption that the majority of you reading this (at least the ones in the community especially) can say that they have felt before when people criticize on how a procedure was done or how it should have been done by a m.d. if at all most of us feel that we are knowingly consenting despite all of the risks and complications that could arise that we outweigh the risks with what we are to gain from the procedure.

    Okay… So maybe this is a little jumbled together, it’s been a really long day, but I think I got most of my point across 🙂

  21. Samantha Avatar
    Samantha

    The entire procedure looked painful I am wondering out of couriousity if the man with the keloids took anything ahead of time for the pain?

  22. Samantha Avatar
    Samantha

    The entire procedure looked painful I am wondering out of couriousity if the man with the keloids took anything ahead of time for the pain?

  23. conchuelo Avatar
    conchuelo

    puta madre no me haria eso ni cagando,

  24. conchuelo Avatar
    conchuelo

    puta madre no me haria eso ni cagando,

  25. leonardo Avatar
    leonardo

    man…that’s gotta hurt…

  26. leonardo Avatar
    leonardo

    man…that’s gotta hurt…

  27. taylor Avatar
    taylor

    SO even though this was posted like 6 months ago I really want to say a few things in regards to the comments i have read. The people hating on this procedure should not be kept from seeing anything. The deal s this…. I believe it is important for all sides to argued examined and dsicussed or those close minded people will stay forever close minded. I am in the middle. I think scarrification can be gorgeous. I also think that the people performing the work should have to go through some substantial training I also believe there should be a medical team in-case something goes wrong and for follow ups or questions. What if you have a reaction wouldnt you like to know you can see the doctor/ medical personnel who was there or has knowledge on this type of thing. I am no doctor or physcologist. I am clearly stating my opinion. I do believe how ever that this will never be accepted in most societies for years to come from a medical standpoint. So I think people who have medical knowledge and authority should educate or even if the artists became somehow cerified. I personaly enjoy most of what cutting I have seen. I am afraid to do it because I believe it is risky, and do not have desire to put my life in the hands of some one unqualified or qualified only through reputation and artisitc ability. I think if you are looking at the things on bme you sould have a pretty good idea that this isnt a childs game and this is peoples way of life. So there is no need to come and bash america for being the way they have been taught.Or bash anyone for the things they think. am assuming most people are intrigued or else they would not bother wasting their time with even viewing these pictures or bme’s website.
    Tay~

  28. taylor Avatar
    taylor

    SO even though this was posted like 6 months ago I really want to say a few things in regards to the comments i have read. The people hating on this procedure should not be kept from seeing anything. The deal s this…. I believe it is important for all sides to argued examined and dsicussed or those close minded people will stay forever close minded. I am in the middle. I think scarrification can be gorgeous. I also think that the people performing the work should have to go through some substantial training I also believe there should be a medical team in-case something goes wrong and for follow ups or questions. What if you have a reaction wouldnt you like to know you can see the doctor/ medical personnel who was there or has knowledge on this type of thing. I am no doctor or physcologist. I am clearly stating my opinion. I do believe how ever that this will never be accepted in most societies for years to come from a medical standpoint. So I think people who have medical knowledge and authority should educate or even if the artists became somehow cerified. I personaly enjoy most of what cutting I have seen. I am afraid to do it because I believe it is risky, and do not have desire to put my life in the hands of some one unqualified or qualified only through reputation and artisitc ability. I think if you are looking at the things on bme you sould have a pretty good idea that this isnt a childs game and this is peoples way of life. So there is no need to come and bash america for being the way they have been taught.Or bash anyone for the things they think. am assuming most people are intrigued or else they would not bother wasting their time with even viewing these pictures or bme’s website.
    Tay~

  29. ELY M. Avatar

    Its me again,
    I just had some scars and lesions removed from inside of my right pec by a surgeon.
    The pain is not too bad. It was my first time that I ever been awake during surgery.

    I would like to see how Bastien’s scars doing lately.

  30. ELY M. Avatar

    Its me again,
    I just had some scars and lesions removed from inside of my right pec by a surgeon.
    The pain is not too bad. It was my first time that I ever been awake during surgery.

    I would like to see how Bastien’s scars doing lately.

  31. Petros Palmos Avatar

    The excision of the 2 keloid scars seems quite failed. Surgeons are trained/experienced better for this kind of work. He should’ve visited a surgeon (a plastic one). See, everything concerning scar tissue is not just incising/cauterizing like body modification artists think.

  32. Petros Palmos Avatar

    The excision of the 2 keloid scars seems quite failed. Surgeons are trained/experienced better for this kind of work. He should’ve visited a surgeon (a plastic one). See, everything concerning scar tissue is not just incising/cauterizing like body modification artists think.

  33. kevin Avatar
    kevin

    they should deffenatley do a aft6er shot of this guy, maybe like 6 months later shots

  34. kevin Avatar
    kevin

    they should deffenatley do a aft6er shot of this guy, maybe like 6 months later shots

  35. adastra Avatar
    adastra

    How is it safe for that kind of procedure to be done in an environment like that….agh, the pain!

    In the first pictures the keloids look like handles, like you could pick him up and carry him off by grabbing them, hehe

  36. adastra Avatar
    adastra

    How is it safe for that kind of procedure to be done in an environment like that….agh, the pain!

    In the first pictures the keloids look like handles, like you could pick him up and carry him off by grabbing them, hehe

  37. Paul D Avatar
    Paul D

    Are you censoring my posts? I sent a message that hasn’t been shown in the meanwhile another has.

  38. Paul D Avatar
    Paul D

    Are you censoring my posts? I sent a message that hasn’t been shown in the meanwhile another has.

  39. A Lukas fan Avatar
    A Lukas fan

    I know its a very late post considering the date of the original blog entry. I noticed towards the end of the comments people started to get offensive in what they were posting…what is wrong with being a fag? People always put homosexuals down and use it in the wrong contex. Lukas is a great artist and I am wanting a small scarification and I wont get it done until I come across this guy. So many close minded opinions from a so-called open minded community makes me feel disapointed.

  40. A Lukas fan Avatar
    A Lukas fan

    I know its a very late post considering the date of the original blog entry. I noticed towards the end of the comments people started to get offensive in what they were posting…what is wrong with being a fag? People always put homosexuals down and use it in the wrong contex. Lukas is a great artist and I am wanting a small scarification and I wont get it done until I come across this guy. So many close minded opinions from a so-called open minded community makes me feel disapointed.

  41. ceniza Avatar
    ceniza

    I want to make a taco with that carnita !!!!
    hahaha xD

  42. ceniza Avatar
    ceniza

    I want to make a taco with that carnita !!!!
    hahaha xD

  43. wallyworld8 Avatar
    wallyworld8

    Cutting into human flesh with a scalpel to fix a problem is a medical f*cking procedure, people. It should only be done by a qualified surgeon. Ever hear of shock? Did you have drugs and training and nurses and equipment to revive him if he went into shock or had any other type of complications? I don’t care how much knowledge and experience you think you have. Every doctor knows even the simplest procedure carries and element of risk (people have died from nose jobs, c’mon). That’s why surgeries are done in a hospital or surgical center and not the doctor’s garage.

  44. wallyworld8 Avatar
    wallyworld8

    Cutting into human flesh with a scalpel to fix a problem is a medical f*cking procedure, people. It should only be done by a qualified surgeon. Ever hear of shock? Did you have drugs and training and nurses and equipment to revive him if he went into shock or had any other type of complications? I don’t care how much knowledge and experience you think you have. Every doctor knows even the simplest procedure carries and element of risk (people have died from nose jobs, c’mon). That’s why surgeries are done in a hospital or surgical center and not the doctor’s garage.

  45. Johan Avatar
    Johan

    Look, i still think the guys (Samppa & Lukas) did a great fucking job there! The guy’s ok and as long as he’s happy i don’t really see the point in y’all making such a big fuss about if it was leagal or right of them to do it.
    I’ve been to Samppa and i’ll go back to him if he’d do me the honors of cutting me again.

  46. Johan Avatar
    Johan

    Look, i still think the guys (Samppa & Lukas) did a great fucking job there! The guy’s ok and as long as he’s happy i don’t really see the point in y’all making such a big fuss about if it was leagal or right of them to do it.
    I’ve been to Samppa and i’ll go back to him if he’d do me the honors of cutting me again.

  47. iam:spirytus Avatar

    hi there, shannon do u know what kind of branding did that guy get in the first place? what made the keloids so big? if it was skin removal what the fuck went so wrong

  48. iam:spirytus Avatar

    hi there, shannon do u know what kind of branding did that guy get in the first place? what made the keloids so big? if it was skin removal what the fuck went so wrong

  49. kali (aka spirytus) Avatar

    shannon , what went wrong? what kind of branding was it ? was it skin removal???

  50. kali (aka spirytus) Avatar

    shannon , what went wrong? what kind of branding was it ? was it skin removal???

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