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.

Chhhhhhop!

I love that you can see Marco’s tools in the background after his DIY thumb removal… It’s something I’ve always been interested in, but since the surgery on my leg I’ve been wanting to do a minor amputation more and more — my surgery caused some nerve damage so I have no feeling in part of my lower leg, and observing the different ways that my brain interprets it is just fascinating. I guess sometimes one is driven by fetishism, and sometimes by curiosity.

That said, I like having long opposable thumbs, so for me I think I’d go with a finger, probably the ring finger (I think Steve Haworth told me some time ago, when we were implanting the magnets, that if you’re going to mess with a finger, that’s the one to do because it’s the weakest, and even if you lose it completely it does not have a major impact on your ability to use your hand).

Comments

217 responses to “Chhhhhhop!”

  1. Noman Avatar
    Noman

    Holy Sheet.
    I just checked out this rest of this site and realized you are all nuts.
    Hope you all make it in the real world when you get to 30+
    I’m sure as hell not going to hire you.

  2. Naomi Avatar
    Naomi

    Noman: That’s ok. Plenty of other people will :]
    We’re not nuts, we’ve just chosen a different life to you. Get over it.

  3. Kristin Avatar
    Kristin

    I think Noman needs to read a little about modified scientists:

    https://www.bme.com/news/2007/02/13/modified-scientists/

  4. MissAmbrose Avatar

    ‘For those of you that wish to amputate that you you were born with; please make sure its part of your reporductive system.’

    Given this pathetic comment, I think Noman really needs to get a life

  5. MissAmbrose Avatar

    ‘For those of you that wish to amputate that you you were born with; please make sure its part of your reporductive system.’

    Given this pathetic comment, I think Noman really needs to get a life on top of that

    Not to worry, I’m doing this myself – I dont need any help with it. If I want to do it, and its the right time, I will do it. And I’m not going to do it with a pair of poxy shears

    Grow up

  6. Nobody Avatar

    Fascinating and beautiful.

  7. Jesus Avatar
    Jesus

    Noman is one of many people. Jobs recquire you to look a certain way. It’s just how the working world is. So you people just need to stop bashing him for it.

    As for the thumb, since there is something around it, I don’t quite believe it. Especially since the anatomy of it looks wrong. So unless this person’s thumb is just fucked, or it’s fake because there is more tissue on the pads of your thumb than there is a bone there. The bone above the knuckle is more towards the nail, rather than the pads like it’s shown in the photo. The bone below the knuckle is somewhat in the middle. And the knuckle obviously takes a large portion of the thumb.
    So either way wherever he cut it, it looks wrong just by where the bone is.

    I’d like to see someone correct me on this.
    But I have a strong belief that it’s fake.

  8. wallyworld8 Avatar
    wallyworld8

    Gross and pointless.

  9. kelly Avatar
    kelly

    i think it’s funny how some ppl tell ppl. to shut-up if they don’t like their comments or feelings on the subject. Let ppl be intitled to their oppinion. There’s a reason for the comment box! To comment on the picture, to say whether they think it’s “gross” or “cool”.
    Just wondering what the person who did the amputation is thinking while reading these comments. I’d be laughing my ass off!!

  10. fishbits Avatar
    fishbits

    You can’t compare this sort of mod with tattooing… nor any other sort of mod.

    1) I think it is photoshopped.. but that’s me

    2) A mod like this alters the functionality and life of the human. I am not sure what the definition of body mod is… but art for art’s sake is one thing… but limiting the functionality of the human form… is… odd.

    Not wrong… not bad. Just doesn’t make much sense.

    I mean… having a tattoo doesn’t limit you like this… you are still a perfectly functioning member of society.

    Now how is he going to snap his fingers, cock a trigger, etc. I think making yourself less human to be more human… or different… or an artistic statement…

    will be lost on everyone less the one that did it.

    I ain’t wasting my thumb power for this cat tho.

  11. Ali Avatar
    Ali

    I’m not sure how I feel about amputation. It looks impressive, and if it is what you want, then sure, wicked, whatever. BUT I don’t think I would dabble in it myself.
    It looks amazingly clean though, and I find the how process of amputation very interesting, aswell as the motives.

  12. eatyrspleens Avatar
    eatyrspleens

    wow, how did i miss this?!
    posted on my birthday, too!
    getting to see the inside of a thumb would’ve been such a sweet 21st birthday present!

    the ignorance in some of these comments is astounding. though i’ll have to admit, i stopped reading all the negative ones after the nazi reference. oh, godwin’s law.

  13. fishbits Avatar
    fishbits

    bme pain olympics??? anyone?????

  14. Anktsunamunh Avatar
    Anktsunamunh

    Great picture… sometimes I wish I could do that… guess it will stay a dream… now get your feet back on the ground Anktsunamunh! [I’m a bass player… I use all of my fingers to work and enjoy life!]

  15. Dmitrij Avatar
    Dmitrij

    What you’d do this to yourself, whatever. i getting paid to doing this on people owing money to my employer. most the is screaming and crying and begging. to making man living with pain… i enjoy much to take the life of man. which is good. not that i do. if you needing the thumb to be gone, i will doing on you.

  16. John Avatar
    John

    I found the video that Marco recorded during the process.
    http://www.toxicjunction.com/get.asp?i=v3811

  17. MACE Avatar

    I fellupon this pic by accident. My mind raced and I placed my hand on my head as my heartbeat increased. Even after e few minutes i felt light headed, not because of the gore, you paint a mental picture of yourself doing this to your own thumb and it makes you freak out in your mind.
    wicked shit man.
    wicked.

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