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.

DIY Mid-Foot Amputation

A friend of mine (who is very experienced in this subject) recently did this DIY foot shortening — and this definitely has to be the limits of what’s possible in a DIY setting. I hope it heals well (it’s two weeks old in this photo)! More pictures are in BME/extreme‘s amputation galleries.

PS. It’s quite an old interview, but you may want to read this interview about voluntary amputation (free link) if you’d like to learn a little more about the “why” end of things, or if you’re a BME/Video member, this video interview about ampuation (as well as a demonstration) is very much worth checking out.

Comments

272 responses to “DIY Mid-Foot Amputation”

  1. TyTweeder Avatar
    TyTweeder

    to quote #68, campbell… “To me, it’s no different from getting your tongue pierced.”

    except a tongue piercing you take out and the hole will heal… your effin toes are gone forever… there is no reset button…

    whats next, sewing people together? DIY Siamese Twin Melding?
    no no no… i wanna see some one cut their own head off… that would be the coolest mod ever!

  2. TyTweeder Avatar
    TyTweeder

    to quote #68, campbell… “To me, it’s no different from getting your tongue pierced.”

    except a tongue piercing you take out and the hole will heal… your effin toes are gone forever… there is no reset button…

    whats next, sewing people together? DIY Siamese Twin Melding?
    no no no… i wanna see some one cut their own head off… that would be the coolest mod ever!

  3. Chels Avatar
    Chels

    Id miss being able to paint all my toenails.

  4. Chels Avatar
    Chels

    Id miss being able to paint all my toenails.

  5. Corky Avatar

    Did anyone of you who are questioning his intentions (or otherwise judging this procedure) think to look in the BME Wiki for something that might help explain this to you?

    http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Amputation

    It’s really no different that any other mod. For example, what makes you want to voluntarily allow someone to cut into your flesh with a scalpel?

    Ultimately, it’s no different that anything else. Albeit, more permanent than most mods, but ultimately it’s from similar motives – it makes you happy.

  6. Corky Avatar

    Did anyone of you who are questioning his intentions (or otherwise judging this procedure) think to look in the BME Wiki for something that might help explain this to you?

    http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Amputation

    It’s really no different that any other mod. For example, what makes you want to voluntarily allow someone to cut into your flesh with a scalpel?

    Ultimately, it’s no different that anything else. Albeit, more permanent than most mods, but ultimately it’s from similar motives – it makes you happy.

  7. kuroneko711 Avatar

    People really need to lay off this guy. I’m really not interested in psychological bull on why this guy cut off his toes, because the way I see it, now-a-days psychology can “prove” theres something mentally wrong with everyone. This guy decided to do this, and I’m sure he will walk just fine like this, and I’m sure he’ll be happy regardless of what you have to say about it because he did it for him, NOT YOU.

    Also, I’m sure your foot would be red if you just cut off the toes too, and I’m sure if he researched amputation enough to know how to safely do it, he researched how to take care of it afterwards too.

    Oh, one more thing (sorry for the legnth of this), I saw one person state that this is “wrong”, and that’s certainly not your judgement to make. Just because you dont accept something doesnt mean its wrong, it just means you dont like it. And wishing he gets really sick from this is pretty low and uncalled for. I wish him a great recovery and happiness with his journey.

  8. kuroneko711 Avatar

    People really need to lay off this guy. I’m really not interested in psychological bull on why this guy cut off his toes, because the way I see it, now-a-days psychology can “prove” theres something mentally wrong with everyone. This guy decided to do this, and I’m sure he will walk just fine like this, and I’m sure he’ll be happy regardless of what you have to say about it because he did it for him, NOT YOU.

    Also, I’m sure your foot would be red if you just cut off the toes too, and I’m sure if he researched amputation enough to know how to safely do it, he researched how to take care of it afterwards too.

    Oh, one more thing (sorry for the legnth of this), I saw one person state that this is “wrong”, and that’s certainly not your judgement to make. Just because you dont accept something doesnt mean its wrong, it just means you dont like it. And wishing he gets really sick from this is pretty low and uncalled for. I wish him a great recovery and happiness with his journey.

  9. Christa Avatar
    Christa

    “i hope this fucker gets gangrene or some horrible infection or something… teach him a lesson… ”

    I laugh at the people who wish this person would get a bad infection – they’re basically wishing for him to die or come pretty close to? And these people are the ones who brand people on this site freaks…. makes yah think doesnt it?

  10. Christa Avatar
    Christa

    “i hope this fucker gets gangrene or some horrible infection or something… teach him a lesson… ”

    I laugh at the people who wish this person would get a bad infection – they’re basically wishing for him to die or come pretty close to? And these people are the ones who brand people on this site freaks…. makes yah think doesnt it?

  11. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    The BME Wiki is by no means a complete or impartial directory of body modification. It is based on the opinions of those within the scene, is completely biased and sometimes offers little in the way of evidence to back up its articles.

    The Wiki on amputation rightly puts quotations around some very key phrases and makes some startling generalisations. It barely touches on the psychology of self amputation and offers little in the way of non-partisan commentary.

    I am still waiting for Shannon (or even anyone else) to provided some contextual evidence for eyeball tattooing through history as none of my books or extensive histories of tattooing show anything of the sort.

    Be VERY wary of some of the info you take from BME as there are some areas that need stronger evidence to back up their validity.

  12. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    The BME Wiki is by no means a complete or impartial directory of body modification. It is based on the opinions of those within the scene, is completely biased and sometimes offers little in the way of evidence to back up its articles.

    The Wiki on amputation rightly puts quotations around some very key phrases and makes some startling generalisations. It barely touches on the psychology of self amputation and offers little in the way of non-partisan commentary.

    I am still waiting for Shannon (or even anyone else) to provided some contextual evidence for eyeball tattooing through history as none of my books or extensive histories of tattooing show anything of the sort.

    Be VERY wary of some of the info you take from BME as there are some areas that need stronger evidence to back up their validity.

  13. akibare Avatar
    akibare

    Siamese twin melding? Maybe, if it’s out there enough…!

    But seriously, it’s not all that hard to draw a line between mods that change look only, and mods that change bodily function. Crossing that line or not is an entirely different topic but I fail to see how pretending there is no difference in terms of future implications is more “open-minded” or “understanding.” It takes what could be a very interesting topic and pretty much flattens it and, er, cuts discussion off.

    Furthermore, it’s a public website, and now it’s getting quite well known, of course there will be people shaking their heads and wondering “what on earth…?” But then, that’s part of the attraction, isn’t it? (Motivation of the practitioners aside.) I mean, everyone’s seen pictures of split tongues now, they’re old hat.

    Only tangentially related, has anyone read a book “Out on Blue Six” by Ian McDonald? It’s a dystopian future sort of genre, but in it there is a group of people “Brothers of the Carnal Plenum” and they swap body parts, amputating and resewing them on. It’s fiction and futuristic so everything is always functional, but the “Siamese Twins” comment sorta reminded me of it. Maybe in the future it could be your own cloned arm.

    How about “Geek Love,” the cult of Artie?

  14. akibare Avatar
    akibare

    Siamese twin melding? Maybe, if it’s out there enough…!

    But seriously, it’s not all that hard to draw a line between mods that change look only, and mods that change bodily function. Crossing that line or not is an entirely different topic but I fail to see how pretending there is no difference in terms of future implications is more “open-minded” or “understanding.” It takes what could be a very interesting topic and pretty much flattens it and, er, cuts discussion off.

    Furthermore, it’s a public website, and now it’s getting quite well known, of course there will be people shaking their heads and wondering “what on earth…?” But then, that’s part of the attraction, isn’t it? (Motivation of the practitioners aside.) I mean, everyone’s seen pictures of split tongues now, they’re old hat.

    Only tangentially related, has anyone read a book “Out on Blue Six” by Ian McDonald? It’s a dystopian future sort of genre, but in it there is a group of people “Brothers of the Carnal Plenum” and they swap body parts, amputating and resewing them on. It’s fiction and futuristic so everything is always functional, but the “Siamese Twins” comment sorta reminded me of it. Maybe in the future it could be your own cloned arm.

    How about “Geek Love,” the cult of Artie?

  15. Christa Avatar
    Christa

    rule of the day kids: dont do anything unless Giles Wallwork says its okay (no seriously he reads lots of books how can he be wrong? ) haha

  16. Christa Avatar
    Christa

    rule of the day kids: dont do anything unless Giles Wallwork says its okay (no seriously he reads lots of books how can he be wrong? ) haha

  17. Corky Avatar

    Giles – I wasn’t trying to imply that the Wiki is in anyway impartial or objective… I realize now that my comment is fairly easy to interpret that way, but it was intended to be just another view/opinion on the subject, as it seems like the majority of people who are commenting negatively about this haven’t done much to gain any insight (be it opinion or factual) as to why someone would amputate a part of their body.

  18. Corky Avatar

    Giles – I wasn’t trying to imply that the Wiki is in anyway impartial or objective… I realize now that my comment is fairly easy to interpret that way, but it was intended to be just another view/opinion on the subject, as it seems like the majority of people who are commenting negatively about this haven’t done much to gain any insight (be it opinion or factual) as to why someone would amputate a part of their body.

  19. akibare Avatar
    akibare

    >>80
    Well, the guy in the next post gave HIMSELF a nasty infection… on purpose! I’ll admit that one boggles my mind, if I wanted to have toes gone, chopping seems less overall pain, not to mention controllable.

    I mentioned above though, my father chopped half his foot like that in an industrial accident, but due to the nature of it, there needed to be skin grafts to close it, and the meantime lots of ripping off of purposely sticky bandages to remove any infected/gangrenous bits that can happen on the end. He says that was by far the worst part, it’s similar to what they do for burn victims. But if you’re dissecting off the toes all clean and leaving skin to close up with, it’s probably less of a problem. Accidents aren’t so clean, very often, if you’re talking a shop.

  20. akibare Avatar
    akibare

    >>80
    Well, the guy in the next post gave HIMSELF a nasty infection… on purpose! I’ll admit that one boggles my mind, if I wanted to have toes gone, chopping seems less overall pain, not to mention controllable.

    I mentioned above though, my father chopped half his foot like that in an industrial accident, but due to the nature of it, there needed to be skin grafts to close it, and the meantime lots of ripping off of purposely sticky bandages to remove any infected/gangrenous bits that can happen on the end. He says that was by far the worst part, it’s similar to what they do for burn victims. But if you’re dissecting off the toes all clean and leaving skin to close up with, it’s probably less of a problem. Accidents aren’t so clean, very often, if you’re talking a shop.

  21. Christa Avatar
    Christa

    #85 … yes that guy did do it to himself but thats my point he did it to HIMSELF- wishing that someone gets an infection just to learn a lesson shows what kind of moral standards they have.

    I would never do such things to myself but that doesnt mean I would wish for them to get sick or die? And if these people think that people who do things they want to do to themselves (not harming anyone) are freaks then let me get in the freak line- thank you !!

  22. Christa Avatar
    Christa

    #85 … yes that guy did do it to himself but thats my point he did it to HIMSELF- wishing that someone gets an infection just to learn a lesson shows what kind of moral standards they have.

    I would never do such things to myself but that doesnt mean I would wish for them to get sick or die? And if these people think that people who do things they want to do to themselves (not harming anyone) are freaks then let me get in the freak line- thank you !!

  23. Chel Avatar
    Chel

    I would not like the asymetrical-ness of having no toes on one foot and the normal 5 on the other. But i guess it does show the amazing contrast pretty well.

  24. Chel Avatar
    Chel

    I would not like the asymetrical-ness of having no toes on one foot and the normal 5 on the other. But i guess it does show the amazing contrast pretty well.

  25. Pauly Unstoppable Avatar

    no digger thats my only reason behind it

    though giles will come up with some long psychological excuse like always about how its not modification and i am only doing it because society is telling me i need bigger breasts, oh wait that was another thread

    but i just think its pretty, thats it

    the only other reason i could think of right now would be to piss everyone on modblog off (obviously not the real reason)

    the “clay” quote is only flawed by your standards (as well as a few others) what i cant seem to get is why people dont understand is there are different spectrum’s of modifications out there and that psychology doesn’t superceed everything else in th e world

    i am not going to get into this debate, as i try to keep out of most modblog debates anymore cause there is no reasoning with some people on here at all

    i understand that amputation is definitely out of the realm of most peoples understanding, there are things in body modification that i personally cant wrap my mind around

    however i don’t go off and condemn these people as lunatics and go off on rants about there mental well being and how they should be ashamed of themselves for cutting off a limb people who lost them accidentally would love to have back

    hey he cut off part of his foot, why do you even care anyway, is that your foot, do you know this person, in the big spectrum that is life is he going to effect yours at all……yeah i didn’t think so

    you don’t have to like it, you don’t have to get it, hell you dont have to even look at it, but its no ones place to say its not body modification or stop him from doing it

    and on a side note, i have had a psychological evaluation (which is a crook of shit anyway) about my want to remove the tip of my finger just because, and i was found to be in sound mind, and they saw no negative reason well besides they wouldn’t do it, that i shouldn’t be able to do it

    that turned out a lot longer then i wanted, i wont be posting again however so tear it all apart and call me whatever but i said my peace

  26. Pauly Unstoppable Avatar

    no digger thats my only reason behind it

    though giles will come up with some long psychological excuse like always about how its not modification and i am only doing it because society is telling me i need bigger breasts, oh wait that was another thread

    but i just think its pretty, thats it

    the only other reason i could think of right now would be to piss everyone on modblog off (obviously not the real reason)

    the “clay” quote is only flawed by your standards (as well as a few others) what i cant seem to get is why people dont understand is there are different spectrum’s of modifications out there and that psychology doesn’t superceed everything else in th e world

    i am not going to get into this debate, as i try to keep out of most modblog debates anymore cause there is no reasoning with some people on here at all

    i understand that amputation is definitely out of the realm of most peoples understanding, there are things in body modification that i personally cant wrap my mind around

    however i don’t go off and condemn these people as lunatics and go off on rants about there mental well being and how they should be ashamed of themselves for cutting off a limb people who lost them accidentally would love to have back

    hey he cut off part of his foot, why do you even care anyway, is that your foot, do you know this person, in the big spectrum that is life is he going to effect yours at all……yeah i didn’t think so

    you don’t have to like it, you don’t have to get it, hell you dont have to even look at it, but its no ones place to say its not body modification or stop him from doing it

    and on a side note, i have had a psychological evaluation (which is a crook of shit anyway) about my want to remove the tip of my finger just because, and i was found to be in sound mind, and they saw no negative reason well besides they wouldn’t do it, that i shouldn’t be able to do it

    that turned out a lot longer then i wanted, i wont be posting again however so tear it all apart and call me whatever but i said my peace

  27. santimo Avatar
    santimo

    i would really like to know how this was done. the whole process.

  28. santimo Avatar
    santimo

    i would really like to know how this was done. the whole process.

  29. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Paully – Just because you are unsure of the genuine reasons behind your modifications doesn’t mean that others are. Removal of limbs isn’t new and many scientists and psychiatrists have spent years researching the similarities between people who do it and their results are fairly wide ranging. Your attititude towards psychology (“crook(sic) of shit”) shows how much you really care for the reasons behind what you do.

    Why do I care? Well to put it simply I am classed alongside people who modify themselves but it is becoming more apparent that as the scene grows so does the level of irresponsibility attached to some of the protagonists involved. Shannon throws people who purposely infect their limbs for selfish desire alongside people with strong spiritual beliefs and fantastic works of body art together.

    I want to show the world that the body art scene is not infected by attention seekers, extremists, fashion victims, ignorant followers or those defined solely by whatever can be done.

  30. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Paully – Just because you are unsure of the genuine reasons behind your modifications doesn’t mean that others are. Removal of limbs isn’t new and many scientists and psychiatrists have spent years researching the similarities between people who do it and their results are fairly wide ranging. Your attititude towards psychology (“crook(sic) of shit”) shows how much you really care for the reasons behind what you do.

    Why do I care? Well to put it simply I am classed alongside people who modify themselves but it is becoming more apparent that as the scene grows so does the level of irresponsibility attached to some of the protagonists involved. Shannon throws people who purposely infect their limbs for selfish desire alongside people with strong spiritual beliefs and fantastic works of body art together.

    I want to show the world that the body art scene is not infected by attention seekers, extremists, fashion victims, ignorant followers or those defined solely by whatever can be done.

  31. jlb Avatar
    jlb

    i hate condescending pricks like giles that think they know it all

    hey i watched a show on the discovery channel about people who feel the need to amputate something therefore i am the best! The show highlighed a few people who felt like they needed to amputate a body part and doctors said they were crazy so everyone who wants to amputate a body part is crazy!

  32. jlb Avatar
    jlb

    i hate condescending pricks like giles that think they know it all

    hey i watched a show on the discovery channel about people who feel the need to amputate something therefore i am the best! The show highlighed a few people who felt like they needed to amputate a body part and doctors said they were crazy so everyone who wants to amputate a body part is crazy!

  33. Pauly Unstoppable Avatar

    basically your an elitist and egotist

    if its not “up to par” with the body art you chose then its not body art at all

    and again there you go with the “genuine” reasons of behind modifications, i really find the fact you think people cant think for themselves extremely absurd, you can quote and rant all you want about psychiatrist say this and they say that etc etc, that doesn’t make you the know all be all of why I or anyone else wants modifications

    and i find it equally absurd that everything is so cut and dry that because some people do get amputations or any other modification because of some sort of psychological disorder, that means everyone does

    the world is not that black and white you cant define everyone by the same logic because we are all differnt

    i know nothing what i say matters anyway, its not going to get anywhere with the people its directed to because i think its obvious they are as pig headed and set in there ways as i am

    which i can admit, so i really am done now, well hopefully

  34. Pauly Unstoppable Avatar

    basically your an elitist and egotist

    if its not “up to par” with the body art you chose then its not body art at all

    and again there you go with the “genuine” reasons of behind modifications, i really find the fact you think people cant think for themselves extremely absurd, you can quote and rant all you want about psychiatrist say this and they say that etc etc, that doesn’t make you the know all be all of why I or anyone else wants modifications

    and i find it equally absurd that everything is so cut and dry that because some people do get amputations or any other modification because of some sort of psychological disorder, that means everyone does

    the world is not that black and white you cant define everyone by the same logic because we are all differnt

    i know nothing what i say matters anyway, its not going to get anywhere with the people its directed to because i think its obvious they are as pig headed and set in there ways as i am

    which i can admit, so i really am done now, well hopefully

  35. hellonightmare Avatar

    I’m glad I’ve been given the chance to learn about this.

  36. hellonightmare Avatar

    I’m glad I’ve been given the chance to learn about this.

  37. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    JLB – “i hate condescending pricks like giles that think they know it all

    hey i watched a show on the discovery channel about people who feel the need to amputate something therefore i am the best!”

    Hilarious. Actually I have been studying body modification for over 16 years but hey….

  38. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    JLB – “i hate condescending pricks like giles that think they know it all

    hey i watched a show on the discovery channel about people who feel the need to amputate something therefore i am the best!”

    Hilarious. Actually I have been studying body modification for over 16 years but hey….

  39. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Paully – Believe it or not people are not as different as you would like to believe. Despite the constant desire by some to be unique they remain creatures of habit and are often quite predictable.

  40. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Paully – Believe it or not people are not as different as you would like to believe. Despite the constant desire by some to be unique they remain creatures of habit and are often quite predictable.

  41. akibare Avatar
    akibare

    >>90

    The very word “scene” speaks volumes.

  42. akibare Avatar
    akibare

    >>90

    The very word “scene” speaks volumes.

  43. Dungbeetle Avatar
    Dungbeetle

    Why? Body Modification is a scene, and it has been for years. Hate to break it to some of you kids out there, but you didn’t invent the word ‘scene’ a year or two ago. It just refers to a ‘relatively’ small group where people share common interests. It was only a couple of years ago that calling someone ‘scene’ became a derogatory term.

  44. Dungbeetle Avatar
    Dungbeetle

    Why? Body Modification is a scene, and it has been for years. Hate to break it to some of you kids out there, but you didn’t invent the word ‘scene’ a year or two ago. It just refers to a ‘relatively’ small group where people share common interests. It was only a couple of years ago that calling someone ‘scene’ became a derogatory term.

  45. beardyface Avatar

    Two comments:
    1) I agree with whay Pauly is saying (and he is living up to his name)
    2) A question to Giles: How have you managed to study anything, much less body modification, for 16 years without ever opening your mind?

  46. beardyface Avatar

    Two comments:
    1) I agree with whay Pauly is saying (and he is living up to his name)
    2) A question to Giles: How have you managed to study anything, much less body modification, for 16 years without ever opening your mind?

  47. MaliceAlice Avatar
    MaliceAlice

    Why are some of you dissing psychology? This is what baffles me. I feel like the only reason you wouldn’t talk to someone about motives is because you’re afraid you don’t actually have a good reason.
    Now, I’m not saying all amputees are ‘crazy’ or ‘freaks’ or whatever unfair term you want to use to shut down opposition. I am saying that removal is SO different from addition wouldn’t you want to make sure it’s the right choice for you? And I’ve heard you moaning about how ligit doctors won’t preform these operations, but you don’t seem to understand that they NEED to know why.
    It’s not some ‘black and white’ arbatrary thing. If you really want to take steps toward acceptance, you have to learn how to play the game. That means counseling and being able to articulate clearly why you need (not want, but need) this piece of you cut out forever. If you can’t do that, doctors will never listen to you and you get disasters like the post above.

  48. MaliceAlice Avatar
    MaliceAlice

    Why are some of you dissing psychology? This is what baffles me. I feel like the only reason you wouldn’t talk to someone about motives is because you’re afraid you don’t actually have a good reason.
    Now, I’m not saying all amputees are ‘crazy’ or ‘freaks’ or whatever unfair term you want to use to shut down opposition. I am saying that removal is SO different from addition wouldn’t you want to make sure it’s the right choice for you? And I’ve heard you moaning about how ligit doctors won’t preform these operations, but you don’t seem to understand that they NEED to know why.
    It’s not some ‘black and white’ arbatrary thing. If you really want to take steps toward acceptance, you have to learn how to play the game. That means counseling and being able to articulate clearly why you need (not want, but need) this piece of you cut out forever. If you can’t do that, doctors will never listen to you and you get disasters like the post above.

  49. severed Avatar

    once the redness goes away that will be one cute foot!!

  50. severed Avatar

    once the redness goes away that will be one cute foot!!

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