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 Finger Amputation

Alex is a voluntary LAK, RAK, and RBE amputee* and is now also stubbing the fingers on his right hand (I mentioned the interviews a few days ago but if you want to know more, for starters read this interview with my late friend Chaz about voluntary amputationyou may also want to read this to see what kind of guy he was before you judge him and other voluntary amputees). He used ice to do the initial DIY anesthesia and then cleanly chopped it off. There was almost no bleeding, but definitely lots of pain. Click on through if you want to see the remainders.

That reminds me, if you want to see a free video of a DIY amputation, view the final Uvatiarru trailer (yeah, the movie is still in its ultra-extended production cycle, sorry).

* Left above the knee, right above the knee, and right below the elbow.

Comments

868 responses to “DIY Finger Amputation”

  1. Kittybeth Avatar

    I’m not sure about the circumstances of major amputations, but I myself desire a specific minor amputation (partial finger). I can’t help but think of it as incredibly beautiful; and I’ve always thought that way. When I was about seven year old I attempted to amputate it myself, but succeeded only in causing a rather significant injury instead (never went to the doctor because I hid it from my family, but the swelling was massive and I was unable to move my fingers for a couple of weeks)

    Really the only thing that prevents me from cutting it off now is 1- I’m afraid I’d fuck it up again like I did when I was a kid. And 2- I’m not sure how’d I’d go through life explaining it. The latter is especially true when reading the reactions on message boards like this.

    It’s a fucking finger, you can live a normal life with nine of them, and you can live a pretty normal life with no hands too. The most talented sketch artist I ever met had no hands, he just held the pencil between the stubs. There is a local farmer with no arms, who married a woman with no arms, and they raised a child and ran a farm together. I’ve recently read about a ballerina who is an above the knee amputee. Just because you are missing a limb or two does not mean you become some helpless leech.

  2. Kittybeth Avatar

    I’m not sure about the circumstances of major amputations, but I myself desire a specific minor amputation (partial finger). I can’t help but think of it as incredibly beautiful; and I’ve always thought that way. When I was about seven year old I attempted to amputate it myself, but succeeded only in causing a rather significant injury instead (never went to the doctor because I hid it from my family, but the swelling was massive and I was unable to move my fingers for a couple of weeks)

    Really the only thing that prevents me from cutting it off now is 1- I’m afraid I’d fuck it up again like I did when I was a kid. And 2- I’m not sure how’d I’d go through life explaining it. The latter is especially true when reading the reactions on message boards like this.

    It’s a fucking finger, you can live a normal life with nine of them, and you can live a pretty normal life with no hands too. The most talented sketch artist I ever met had no hands, he just held the pencil between the stubs. There is a local farmer with no arms, who married a woman with no arms, and they raised a child and ran a farm together. I’ve recently read about a ballerina who is an above the knee amputee. Just because you are missing a limb or two does not mean you become some helpless leech.

  3. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Jen – Luckily, for the time being at least, we’re not regulated by what YOU deem acceptable… And rightly so.

    Jen to be honest everyone here is regulated by what society, the media, the church and government deem acceptable. Codes of conduct exist usually for the protection of people and sometimes for control. In this case people are expressing concern over someone removing a part of their body because inside they believed it to be the right thing to do. It is an extreme and incredibly rare modification that if done wrong or by someone who has not researched it properly can cause severe problems hence the concern.

    Those seeking to do so should seek psychological assistance before they do so as often the desires with it can be addressed despite Shannon’s insistance that they can’t.

    Most people do with their body what they want anyway, in private.

  4. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Jen – Luckily, for the time being at least, we’re not regulated by what YOU deem acceptable… And rightly so.

    Jen to be honest everyone here is regulated by what society, the media, the church and government deem acceptable. Codes of conduct exist usually for the protection of people and sometimes for control. In this case people are expressing concern over someone removing a part of their body because inside they believed it to be the right thing to do. It is an extreme and incredibly rare modification that if done wrong or by someone who has not researched it properly can cause severe problems hence the concern.

    Those seeking to do so should seek psychological assistance before they do so as often the desires with it can be addressed despite Shannon’s insistance that they can’t.

    Most people do with their body what they want anyway, in private.

  5. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Jen – Luckily, for the time being at least, we’re not regulated by what YOU deem acceptable… And rightly so.

    Jen to be honest everyone here is regulated by what society, the media, the church and government deem acceptable. Codes of conduct exist usually for the protection of people and sometimes for control. In this case people are expressing concern over someone removing a part of their body because inside they believed it to be the right thing to do. It is an extreme and incredibly rare modification that if done wrong or by someone who has not researched it properly can cause severe problems hence the concern.

    Those seeking to do so should seek psychological assistance before they do so as often the desires with it can be addressed despite Shannon’s insistance that they can’t.

    Most people do with their body what they want anyway, in private.

  6. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Jen – Luckily, for the time being at least, we’re not regulated by what YOU deem acceptable… And rightly so.

    Jen to be honest everyone here is regulated by what society, the media, the church and government deem acceptable. Codes of conduct exist usually for the protection of people and sometimes for control. In this case people are expressing concern over someone removing a part of their body because inside they believed it to be the right thing to do. It is an extreme and incredibly rare modification that if done wrong or by someone who has not researched it properly can cause severe problems hence the concern.

    Those seeking to do so should seek psychological assistance before they do so as often the desires with it can be addressed despite Shannon’s insistance that they can’t.

    Most people do with their body what they want anyway, in private.

  7. ringo Avatar
    ringo

    still, think of the savings on socks and gloves…

  8. ringo Avatar
    ringo

    still, think of the savings on socks and gloves…

  9. ringo Avatar
    ringo

    still, think of the savings on socks and gloves…

  10. ringo Avatar
    ringo

    still, think of the savings on socks and gloves…

  11. kivaka Avatar

    the cool thing in life is that you can do what ever you want to make you happy. but there are people/companys that think things we do are wrong because thats the way they think. i like the idea that someone did something like this and was able to do something that he wanted to do. i think people that think this shouldnt be done should really think about FREEDOM know one owns you and never will. live and do what ever you want because your going to die anyway, so if you see something you dont like well owell thats life and i love it.

  12. kivaka Avatar

    the cool thing in life is that you can do what ever you want to make you happy. but there are people/companys that think things we do are wrong because thats the way they think. i like the idea that someone did something like this and was able to do something that he wanted to do. i think people that think this shouldnt be done should really think about FREEDOM know one owns you and never will. live and do what ever you want because your going to die anyway, so if you see something you dont like well owell thats life and i love it.

  13. kivaka Avatar

    the cool thing in life is that you can do what ever you want to make you happy. but there are people/companys that think things we do are wrong because thats the way they think. i like the idea that someone did something like this and was able to do something that he wanted to do. i think people that think this shouldnt be done should really think about FREEDOM know one owns you and never will. live and do what ever you want because your going to die anyway, so if you see something you dont like well owell thats life and i love it.

  14. kivaka Avatar

    the cool thing in life is that you can do what ever you want to make you happy. but there are people/companys that think things we do are wrong because thats the way they think. i like the idea that someone did something like this and was able to do something that he wanted to do. i think people that think this shouldnt be done should really think about FREEDOM know one owns you and never will. live and do what ever you want because your going to die anyway, so if you see something you dont like well owell thats life and i love it.

  15. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Kittybeth – It’s a fucking finger, you can live a normal life with nine of them, and you can live a pretty normal life with no hands too.

    Nature gave you them for a reason. What do you hope to achieve by removing the tip of your finger ? Why do you seek to emulate those who had no choice in losing limbs/digits etc ?

    You can also survive without sight so should we allow people to go all Oedipus on us?

  16. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Kittybeth – It’s a fucking finger, you can live a normal life with nine of them, and you can live a pretty normal life with no hands too.

    Nature gave you them for a reason. What do you hope to achieve by removing the tip of your finger ? Why do you seek to emulate those who had no choice in losing limbs/digits etc ?

    You can also survive without sight so should we allow people to go all Oedipus on us?

  17. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Kittybeth – It’s a fucking finger, you can live a normal life with nine of them, and you can live a pretty normal life with no hands too.

    Nature gave you them for a reason. What do you hope to achieve by removing the tip of your finger ? Why do you seek to emulate those who had no choice in losing limbs/digits etc ?

    You can also survive without sight so should we allow people to go all Oedipus on us?

  18. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Kittybeth – It’s a fucking finger, you can live a normal life with nine of them, and you can live a pretty normal life with no hands too.

    Nature gave you them for a reason. What do you hope to achieve by removing the tip of your finger ? Why do you seek to emulate those who had no choice in losing limbs/digits etc ?

    You can also survive without sight so should we allow people to go all Oedipus on us?

  19. sae Avatar
    sae

    giles, after all these comments you’ve been leaving, im still sitting here wondering, what gives you the right to judge?

  20. sae Avatar
    sae

    giles, after all these comments you’ve been leaving, im still sitting here wondering, what gives you the right to judge?

  21. sae Avatar
    sae

    giles, after all these comments you’ve been leaving, im still sitting here wondering, what gives you the right to judge?

  22. sae Avatar
    sae

    giles, after all these comments you’ve been leaving, im still sitting here wondering, what gives you the right to judge?

  23. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Sae – “giles, after all these comments you’ve been leaving, im still sitting here wondering, what gives you the right to judge?”

    The small area at the bottom that says “Leave a comment”

  24. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Sae – “giles, after all these comments you’ve been leaving, im still sitting here wondering, what gives you the right to judge?”

    The small area at the bottom that says “Leave a comment”

  25. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Sae – “giles, after all these comments you’ve been leaving, im still sitting here wondering, what gives you the right to judge?”

    The small area at the bottom that says “Leave a comment”

  26. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Sae – “giles, after all these comments you’ve been leaving, im still sitting here wondering, what gives you the right to judge?”

    The small area at the bottom that says “Leave a comment”

  27. Kittybeth Avatar

    Giles Wallwork-

    I wouldn’t wish accidental amputations on anyone, including myself believe it or not. And oddly enough, I know of more voluntary finger amputees than involuntary. I’m not attempting to “imitate” other people with missing fingers anymore than I brush my teeth to imitate people with pretty smiles.

    As for nature? Nature also gave me an extra kidney, an extra lung, an extra ovary, tonsils which at this point only sit around and get infected a couple of times a year, an appendix who’s only apparent function is to potentially cause life threatening illness, and not only more teeth that I need, but some that didn’t even have space to come in and required surgical removal. So what nature happened to give me ten fingers?

    And no, I don’t really have an issue with people who wish to blind themselves.

  28. Kittybeth Avatar

    Giles Wallwork-

    I wouldn’t wish accidental amputations on anyone, including myself believe it or not. And oddly enough, I know of more voluntary finger amputees than involuntary. I’m not attempting to “imitate” other people with missing fingers anymore than I brush my teeth to imitate people with pretty smiles.

    As for nature? Nature also gave me an extra kidney, an extra lung, an extra ovary, tonsils which at this point only sit around and get infected a couple of times a year, an appendix who’s only apparent function is to potentially cause life threatening illness, and not only more teeth that I need, but some that didn’t even have space to come in and required surgical removal. So what nature happened to give me ten fingers?

    And no, I don’t really have an issue with people who wish to blind themselves.

  29. Kittybeth Avatar

    Giles Wallwork-

    I wouldn’t wish accidental amputations on anyone, including myself believe it or not. And oddly enough, I know of more voluntary finger amputees than involuntary. I’m not attempting to “imitate” other people with missing fingers anymore than I brush my teeth to imitate people with pretty smiles.

    As for nature? Nature also gave me an extra kidney, an extra lung, an extra ovary, tonsils which at this point only sit around and get infected a couple of times a year, an appendix who’s only apparent function is to potentially cause life threatening illness, and not only more teeth that I need, but some that didn’t even have space to come in and required surgical removal. So what nature happened to give me ten fingers?

    And no, I don’t really have an issue with people who wish to blind themselves.

  30. Kittybeth Avatar

    Giles Wallwork-

    I wouldn’t wish accidental amputations on anyone, including myself believe it or not. And oddly enough, I know of more voluntary finger amputees than involuntary. I’m not attempting to “imitate” other people with missing fingers anymore than I brush my teeth to imitate people with pretty smiles.

    As for nature? Nature also gave me an extra kidney, an extra lung, an extra ovary, tonsils which at this point only sit around and get infected a couple of times a year, an appendix who’s only apparent function is to potentially cause life threatening illness, and not only more teeth that I need, but some that didn’t even have space to come in and required surgical removal. So what nature happened to give me ten fingers?

    And no, I don’t really have an issue with people who wish to blind themselves.

  31. sae Avatar
    sae

    you know, looking up the word comment in the dictionary no where does it read “synonymous with judgment”

    not like i can stop you, just wondering if you had any excuse for trying to take someone elses life down a notch

  32. sae Avatar
    sae

    you know, looking up the word comment in the dictionary no where does it read “synonymous with judgment”

    not like i can stop you, just wondering if you had any excuse for trying to take someone elses life down a notch

  33. sae Avatar
    sae

    you know, looking up the word comment in the dictionary no where does it read “synonymous with judgment”

    not like i can stop you, just wondering if you had any excuse for trying to take someone elses life down a notch

  34. sae Avatar
    sae

    you know, looking up the word comment in the dictionary no where does it read “synonymous with judgment”

    not like i can stop you, just wondering if you had any excuse for trying to take someone elses life down a notch

  35. Heretic Avatar

    Wow there truely are alot of close minded dipshits out in the world isn’t there..

    BTW Very well said Shannon!

  36. Heretic Avatar

    Wow there truely are alot of close minded dipshits out in the world isn’t there..

    BTW Very well said Shannon!

  37. Heretic Avatar

    Wow there truely are alot of close minded dipshits out in the world isn’t there..

    BTW Very well said Shannon!

  38. Heretic Avatar

    Wow there truely are alot of close minded dipshits out in the world isn’t there..

    BTW Very well said Shannon!

  39. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Kittybeth – “And no, I don’t really have an issue with people who wish to blind themselves”

    And with that you really have kind of ruined your argument. If you cannot see the inherent problem with someone wishing to voluntarily disable themselves in the belief they are somehow empowering themselves then I’m afraid you will never truly understand the attitudes that go with this kind of modification.

    Regardless of how well you believe you’ll function without certain parts the truth is that the desire to remove part of your body is seen by those who study such issues as a pathological disorder.

  40. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Kittybeth – “And no, I don’t really have an issue with people who wish to blind themselves”

    And with that you really have kind of ruined your argument. If you cannot see the inherent problem with someone wishing to voluntarily disable themselves in the belief they are somehow empowering themselves then I’m afraid you will never truly understand the attitudes that go with this kind of modification.

    Regardless of how well you believe you’ll function without certain parts the truth is that the desire to remove part of your body is seen by those who study such issues as a pathological disorder.

  41. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Kittybeth – “And no, I don’t really have an issue with people who wish to blind themselves”

    And with that you really have kind of ruined your argument. If you cannot see the inherent problem with someone wishing to voluntarily disable themselves in the belief they are somehow empowering themselves then I’m afraid you will never truly understand the attitudes that go with this kind of modification.

    Regardless of how well you believe you’ll function without certain parts the truth is that the desire to remove part of your body is seen by those who study such issues as a pathological disorder.

  42. Giles Wallwork Avatar

    Kittybeth – “And no, I don’t really have an issue with people who wish to blind themselves”

    And with that you really have kind of ruined your argument. If you cannot see the inherent problem with someone wishing to voluntarily disable themselves in the belief they are somehow empowering themselves then I’m afraid you will never truly understand the attitudes that go with this kind of modification.

    Regardless of how well you believe you’ll function without certain parts the truth is that the desire to remove part of your body is seen by those who study such issues as a pathological disorder.

  43. Micah Avatar

    91 sae, don’t be silly. Judgment isn’t a right, it’s an unavoidable reaction to anything beyond our individual bubbles of existence. You yourself judged the situation when you viewed these pictures and read the story too, it’s just that your judgment of it probably fits in with the PC idea that everything is acceptable as long as the person doing it is ok with it and that to pass any judgment other than the one the PC police deem acceptable is bordering on a criminal act.

    You can NOT come into contact with a story about someone chopping off parts of their body and NOT have a judgment about it. Again, yours probably fits with what is now labeled as “tolerant” which in reality often means “afraid to say what you really think because the tolerance police will smack you if you do.”

    If you want to play the “what right do you have” game then let’s play: What right do YOU have to questing Giles judgment? His opinion is HIS, not YOURS, so where do you get off questioning it? Just like the amputee in this story, Giles judgments do not harm you, so why are you questioning them?

    See? When you start in with righteous finger-pointing what you forget is… now YOU’RE being judgmental. Doctor, heal thyself.

  44. Micah Avatar

    91 sae, don’t be silly. Judgment isn’t a right, it’s an unavoidable reaction to anything beyond our individual bubbles of existence. You yourself judged the situation when you viewed these pictures and read the story too, it’s just that your judgment of it probably fits in with the PC idea that everything is acceptable as long as the person doing it is ok with it and that to pass any judgment other than the one the PC police deem acceptable is bordering on a criminal act.

    You can NOT come into contact with a story about someone chopping off parts of their body and NOT have a judgment about it. Again, yours probably fits with what is now labeled as “tolerant” which in reality often means “afraid to say what you really think because the tolerance police will smack you if you do.”

    If you want to play the “what right do you have” game then let’s play: What right do YOU have to questing Giles judgment? His opinion is HIS, not YOURS, so where do you get off questioning it? Just like the amputee in this story, Giles judgments do not harm you, so why are you questioning them?

    See? When you start in with righteous finger-pointing what you forget is… now YOU’RE being judgmental. Doctor, heal thyself.

  45. Micah Avatar

    91 sae, don’t be silly. Judgment isn’t a right, it’s an unavoidable reaction to anything beyond our individual bubbles of existence. You yourself judged the situation when you viewed these pictures and read the story too, it’s just that your judgment of it probably fits in with the PC idea that everything is acceptable as long as the person doing it is ok with it and that to pass any judgment other than the one the PC police deem acceptable is bordering on a criminal act.

    You can NOT come into contact with a story about someone chopping off parts of their body and NOT have a judgment about it. Again, yours probably fits with what is now labeled as “tolerant” which in reality often means “afraid to say what you really think because the tolerance police will smack you if you do.”

    If you want to play the “what right do you have” game then let’s play: What right do YOU have to questing Giles judgment? His opinion is HIS, not YOURS, so where do you get off questioning it? Just like the amputee in this story, Giles judgments do not harm you, so why are you questioning them?

    See? When you start in with righteous finger-pointing what you forget is… now YOU’RE being judgmental. Doctor, heal thyself.

  46. Micah Avatar

    91 sae, don’t be silly. Judgment isn’t a right, it’s an unavoidable reaction to anything beyond our individual bubbles of existence. You yourself judged the situation when you viewed these pictures and read the story too, it’s just that your judgment of it probably fits in with the PC idea that everything is acceptable as long as the person doing it is ok with it and that to pass any judgment other than the one the PC police deem acceptable is bordering on a criminal act.

    You can NOT come into contact with a story about someone chopping off parts of their body and NOT have a judgment about it. Again, yours probably fits with what is now labeled as “tolerant” which in reality often means “afraid to say what you really think because the tolerance police will smack you if you do.”

    If you want to play the “what right do you have” game then let’s play: What right do YOU have to questing Giles judgment? His opinion is HIS, not YOURS, so where do you get off questioning it? Just like the amputee in this story, Giles judgments do not harm you, so why are you questioning them?

    See? When you start in with righteous finger-pointing what you forget is… now YOU’RE being judgmental. Doctor, heal thyself.

  47. kivaka Avatar

    im a dipshit

  48. kivaka Avatar

    im a dipshit

  49. kivaka Avatar

    im a dipshit

  50. kivaka Avatar

    im a dipshit

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