This was originally posted on BodyTwo, but I was asked about it again this morning, and I thought it related well to the lip disc posts.
One of the most asked-about members of the modification community is “Fishmaul” (“Fishmouth”) or “Zygzag”, who is said to wear massive plugs in stretched cheek piercings. Here’s the photo set that most people have seen reposted over and over:
Some people claimed he was part of the German street punk scene in Aachen, others claimed he was Russian, and others claimed it was simply a fake Photoshopped picture. As it turns out he’s Polish, and quite real. A reader wrote me about him,
Hi Shannon. That “Fishmouth” is from Poland and everyone calls him “ZygZag”. For now he lives in Germany in a punk squat or something. I don’t know him but he’s a Polish BodyMod legend. For now he doesn’t wear his plugs. I’ve got different photos of him without plugs.
Here are the photos that came with that email:
He was drinking a beer at the time, so clearly he’d figured out how to live with giant holes in his cheeks…
Not long afterwards I received this photo of ZygZag with his plugs in at an event, wearing his cheek plates and other piercings:
As I wrote at the time, I can’t begin to express the admiration that I have for ZygZag’s dedication to developing this look… He’s got to be the only person on the planet, maybe the first in history, to push cheek stretching like this, and the degree he’s done it to is staggering. It’s really amazing to me, and the first time in a long time that I’ve seen something that’s genuinely new.
Unfortunately not much information on ZygZag is out there, as another Polish reader explains,
In January I discussed with my friends the subject of cheek stretching. Someone said that Zygzag is the only person in Poland with stretched cheek piercings so we started to look for his pics. After a few months of searching some guy contacted us and said that he knew Zygzag, and we wouldn’t find anything because he never wanted to have his pictures published. We also came to know that he removed the plugs because his eyes were constantly irritated and he couldn’t speak properly cause of the facial deformation. He had his skin transplanted few times to make the holes smaller. I don’t know how much of this is true, but it’s some additional info about the guy anyway.
So there you go… It won’t surprise me if he ends up being the only person to do this, ever. If anyone knows more (or knows anyone else that’s done this), please do write me!
Comments
875 responses to “Fishmaul / Fishmouth / ZygZag Cheek Stretching”
Finally i fell over this “article”, me and some friends have been discussing for ages what the name of that guy was. Its the only cheek stretches ive ever seen, almost puked when i saw him without them while he ate and drank beer at k-town 2005. =D Gotta love it..
Finally i fell over this “article”, me and some friends have been discussing for ages what the name of that guy was. Its the only cheek stretches ive ever seen, almost puked when i saw him without them while he ate and drank beer at k-town 2005. =D Gotta love it..
Finally i fell over this “article”, me and some friends have been discussing for ages what the name of that guy was. Its the only cheek stretches ive ever seen, almost puked when i saw him without them while he ate and drank beer at k-town 2005. =D Gotta love it..
Finally i fell over this “article”, me and some friends have been discussing for ages what the name of that guy was. Its the only cheek stretches ive ever seen, almost puked when i saw him without them while he ate and drank beer at k-town 2005. =D Gotta love it..
Finally i fell over this “article”, me and some friends have been discussing for ages what the name of that guy was. Its the only cheek stretches ive ever seen, almost puked when i saw him without them while he ate and drank beer at k-town 2005. =D Gotta love it..
number 150, dont be dumb.
what always did my head in was how they stayed in. flares yeah duhh…but where? a flare on the bottom would be ruthlessly uncomfortable…and im not sure upward or backward would be any better? nevertheless it is epic!
number 150, dont be dumb.
what always did my head in was how they stayed in. flares yeah duhh…but where? a flare on the bottom would be ruthlessly uncomfortable…and im not sure upward or backward would be any better? nevertheless it is epic!
number 150, dont be dumb.
what always did my head in was how they stayed in. flares yeah duhh…but where? a flare on the bottom would be ruthlessly uncomfortable…and im not sure upward or backward would be any better? nevertheless it is epic!
number 150, dont be dumb.
what always did my head in was how they stayed in. flares yeah duhh…but where? a flare on the bottom would be ruthlessly uncomfortable…and im not sure upward or backward would be any better? nevertheless it is epic!
number 150, dont be dumb.
what always did my head in was how they stayed in. flares yeah duhh…but where? a flare on the bottom would be ruthlessly uncomfortable…and im not sure upward or backward would be any better? nevertheless it is epic!
you guys are all fucking idiots
you guys are all fucking idiots
you guys are all fucking idiots
you guys are all fucking idiots
you guys are all fucking idiots
he’s a nice, wise guy. shut up kinderfreaks ;p
he’s a nice, wise guy. shut up kinderfreaks ;p
he’s a nice, wise guy. shut up kinderfreaks ;p
he’s a nice, wise guy. shut up kinderfreaks ;p
he’s a nice, wise guy. shut up kinderfreaks ;p
My friend lived with him the whole summer in germany in a park. He has not (attleast) completely fixed anything becausee he obviosly still has the giant holes in his cheeks. apart from that, he novadays has two about 3/4 stretched piercings on is forehead and very large nostril stretches. hop this helped out. I heard he is a nice guy but messy when it comes to eating.
-erik
My friend lived with him the whole summer in germany in a park. He has not (attleast) completely fixed anything becausee he obviosly still has the giant holes in his cheeks. apart from that, he novadays has two about 3/4 stretched piercings on is forehead and very large nostril stretches. hop this helped out. I heard he is a nice guy but messy when it comes to eating.
-erik
My friend lived with him the whole summer in germany in a park. He has not (attleast) completely fixed anything becausee he obviosly still has the giant holes in his cheeks. apart from that, he novadays has two about 3/4 stretched piercings on is forehead and very large nostril stretches. hop this helped out. I heard he is a nice guy but messy when it comes to eating.
-erik
My friend lived with him the whole summer in germany in a park. He has not (attleast) completely fixed anything becausee he obviosly still has the giant holes in his cheeks. apart from that, he novadays has two about 3/4 stretched piercings on is forehead and very large nostril stretches. hop this helped out. I heard he is a nice guy but messy when it comes to eating.
-erik
My friend lived with him the whole summer in germany in a park. He has not (attleast) completely fixed anything becausee he obviosly still has the giant holes in his cheeks. apart from that, he novadays has two about 3/4 stretched piercings on is forehead and very large nostril stretches. hop this helped out. I heard he is a nice guy but messy when it comes to eating.
-erik
I CANT BELIEVE PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THIS GUYS INTEGRITY. IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE A SUBJECT OR HAVE PICTURES TAKEN OF YOU THEN I SUGGEST NOT PUTTING GIANT HOLES IN YOUR CHEEKS. IF YOU SAW THIS GUY WALKING DOWN THE STREET, YOU WOULDNT HAVE TO BE A SQUARE TO TAKE DOUBLE LOOK. I CANT STAND IT WHEN PEOPLE DO OUTRAGEOUS THINGS AND THEN EXPECT EVERYONE TO LEAVE THEM ALONE, AND WHAT REALLY AMAZES ME IS WHEN PEOPLE FOLLOW THE B.S. AND TRY TO HELP PRESERVE THE PERSON’S WILL OR ‘HONOR’. HOW ABOUT WE PUT OUR ATTENTION ON PRESERVING PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY MATTER IN THIS WORLD, WHO ACTUALLY NEED OUR HELP. I DONT UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS: “OK, IM GOING TO PURPOSELY CHANGE MY APPEARANCE TO A POINT WHERE ITS UNDENIABLY DIFFERENT/STRANGE/GOING TO CAUSE ME TO RECEIVE A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND THEN IM GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO NOT MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT AND NOT LOOK AT ME AND NOT TAKE PICTURES OF ME”. WHAT??? IF YOURE GOING TO BE A FREAK THEN BE A REAL FREAK, THERES ENOUGH FAKE AND B.S. IN THE WORLD ALREADY.
I CANT BELIEVE PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THIS GUYS INTEGRITY. IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE A SUBJECT OR HAVE PICTURES TAKEN OF YOU THEN I SUGGEST NOT PUTTING GIANT HOLES IN YOUR CHEEKS. IF YOU SAW THIS GUY WALKING DOWN THE STREET, YOU WOULDNT HAVE TO BE A SQUARE TO TAKE DOUBLE LOOK. I CANT STAND IT WHEN PEOPLE DO OUTRAGEOUS THINGS AND THEN EXPECT EVERYONE TO LEAVE THEM ALONE, AND WHAT REALLY AMAZES ME IS WHEN PEOPLE FOLLOW THE B.S. AND TRY TO HELP PRESERVE THE PERSON’S WILL OR ‘HONOR’. HOW ABOUT WE PUT OUR ATTENTION ON PRESERVING PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY MATTER IN THIS WORLD, WHO ACTUALLY NEED OUR HELP. I DONT UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS: “OK, IM GOING TO PURPOSELY CHANGE MY APPEARANCE TO A POINT WHERE ITS UNDENIABLY DIFFERENT/STRANGE/GOING TO CAUSE ME TO RECEIVE A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND THEN IM GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO NOT MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT AND NOT LOOK AT ME AND NOT TAKE PICTURES OF ME”. WHAT??? IF YOURE GOING TO BE A FREAK THEN BE A REAL FREAK, THERES ENOUGH FAKE AND B.S. IN THE WORLD ALREADY.
I CANT BELIEVE PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THIS GUYS INTEGRITY. IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE A SUBJECT OR HAVE PICTURES TAKEN OF YOU THEN I SUGGEST NOT PUTTING GIANT HOLES IN YOUR CHEEKS. IF YOU SAW THIS GUY WALKING DOWN THE STREET, YOU WOULDNT HAVE TO BE A SQUARE TO TAKE DOUBLE LOOK. I CANT STAND IT WHEN PEOPLE DO OUTRAGEOUS THINGS AND THEN EXPECT EVERYONE TO LEAVE THEM ALONE, AND WHAT REALLY AMAZES ME IS WHEN PEOPLE FOLLOW THE B.S. AND TRY TO HELP PRESERVE THE PERSON’S WILL OR ‘HONOR’. HOW ABOUT WE PUT OUR ATTENTION ON PRESERVING PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY MATTER IN THIS WORLD, WHO ACTUALLY NEED OUR HELP. I DONT UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS: “OK, IM GOING TO PURPOSELY CHANGE MY APPEARANCE TO A POINT WHERE ITS UNDENIABLY DIFFERENT/STRANGE/GOING TO CAUSE ME TO RECEIVE A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND THEN IM GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO NOT MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT AND NOT LOOK AT ME AND NOT TAKE PICTURES OF ME”. WHAT??? IF YOURE GOING TO BE A FREAK THEN BE A REAL FREAK, THERES ENOUGH FAKE AND B.S. IN THE WORLD ALREADY.
I CANT BELIEVE PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THIS GUYS INTEGRITY. IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE A SUBJECT OR HAVE PICTURES TAKEN OF YOU THEN I SUGGEST NOT PUTTING GIANT HOLES IN YOUR CHEEKS. IF YOU SAW THIS GUY WALKING DOWN THE STREET, YOU WOULDNT HAVE TO BE A SQUARE TO TAKE DOUBLE LOOK. I CANT STAND IT WHEN PEOPLE DO OUTRAGEOUS THINGS AND THEN EXPECT EVERYONE TO LEAVE THEM ALONE, AND WHAT REALLY AMAZES ME IS WHEN PEOPLE FOLLOW THE B.S. AND TRY TO HELP PRESERVE THE PERSON’S WILL OR ‘HONOR’. HOW ABOUT WE PUT OUR ATTENTION ON PRESERVING PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY MATTER IN THIS WORLD, WHO ACTUALLY NEED OUR HELP. I DONT UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS: “OK, IM GOING TO PURPOSELY CHANGE MY APPEARANCE TO A POINT WHERE ITS UNDENIABLY DIFFERENT/STRANGE/GOING TO CAUSE ME TO RECEIVE A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND THEN IM GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO NOT MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT AND NOT LOOK AT ME AND NOT TAKE PICTURES OF ME”. WHAT??? IF YOURE GOING TO BE A FREAK THEN BE A REAL FREAK, THERES ENOUGH FAKE AND B.S. IN THE WORLD ALREADY.
I CANT BELIEVE PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THIS GUYS INTEGRITY. IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE A SUBJECT OR HAVE PICTURES TAKEN OF YOU THEN I SUGGEST NOT PUTTING GIANT HOLES IN YOUR CHEEKS. IF YOU SAW THIS GUY WALKING DOWN THE STREET, YOU WOULDNT HAVE TO BE A SQUARE TO TAKE DOUBLE LOOK. I CANT STAND IT WHEN PEOPLE DO OUTRAGEOUS THINGS AND THEN EXPECT EVERYONE TO LEAVE THEM ALONE, AND WHAT REALLY AMAZES ME IS WHEN PEOPLE FOLLOW THE B.S. AND TRY TO HELP PRESERVE THE PERSON’S WILL OR ‘HONOR’. HOW ABOUT WE PUT OUR ATTENTION ON PRESERVING PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY MATTER IN THIS WORLD, WHO ACTUALLY NEED OUR HELP. I DONT UNDERSTAND THE THOUGHT PROCESS: “OK, IM GOING TO PURPOSELY CHANGE MY APPEARANCE TO A POINT WHERE ITS UNDENIABLY DIFFERENT/STRANGE/GOING TO CAUSE ME TO RECEIVE A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND THEN IM GOING TO ASK PEOPLE TO NOT MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT AND NOT LOOK AT ME AND NOT TAKE PICTURES OF ME”. WHAT??? IF YOURE GOING TO BE A FREAK THEN BE A REAL FREAK, THERES ENOUGH FAKE AND B.S. IN THE WORLD ALREADY.
I’m sorry, but this is gross. I find stretched facial piercings in general very unattractive(at least those beyond a 0 or so), but this is just grotesque. I’ve been shoving needles through my flesh since I was 11, and this is one case where even *I* would call it mutilation. I mean, more power to him for doing what he wants but why would anyone want to deform themselves like this? To look like Droopy the Dog & dribble all over themselves? Shock value maybe? Piercings are one thing, but for someone to take it to this level I have to suspect some sort of mental illness. Not to mention that our faces are not structured to have huge gaping holes in them. I get leakage from my tiny little 16g lip ring if I’m not careful, I can’t imagine how much this guy drools. It’s unsanitary and frankly disgusting, look at all the stains on his shirt! Just the oral health factor is enough to make me gag. My ears are only stretched to a half inch & I get plenty of funk on my plugs just every couple of days, I can’t even IMAGINE how gross his must be. And I have to agree with all the folks that said if he doesn’t want to be gawked at, he shouldn’t have turned himself into a sideshow. It’s completely different than someone with a natural deformity or disfiguration getting stared at too. They can’t help it, this guy could have. I knew when I first started getting piercings & tats that people were gonna want a closer look sometimes. I accept the stares as human curiosity & as the small price I pay for looking different. It’s human nature to want to study the unusual, so I don’t think anyone really has the right to bitch about getting stared at if they go out looking like this. Hell, I’m a freak and even *I* stare at people like this.
I’m sorry, but this is gross. I find stretched facial piercings in general very unattractive(at least those beyond a 0 or so), but this is just grotesque. I’ve been shoving needles through my flesh since I was 11, and this is one case where even *I* would call it mutilation. I mean, more power to him for doing what he wants but why would anyone want to deform themselves like this? To look like Droopy the Dog & dribble all over themselves? Shock value maybe? Piercings are one thing, but for someone to take it to this level I have to suspect some sort of mental illness. Not to mention that our faces are not structured to have huge gaping holes in them. I get leakage from my tiny little 16g lip ring if I’m not careful, I can’t imagine how much this guy drools. It’s unsanitary and frankly disgusting, look at all the stains on his shirt! Just the oral health factor is enough to make me gag. My ears are only stretched to a half inch & I get plenty of funk on my plugs just every couple of days, I can’t even IMAGINE how gross his must be. And I have to agree with all the folks that said if he doesn’t want to be gawked at, he shouldn’t have turned himself into a sideshow. It’s completely different than someone with a natural deformity or disfiguration getting stared at too. They can’t help it, this guy could have. I knew when I first started getting piercings & tats that people were gonna want a closer look sometimes. I accept the stares as human curiosity & as the small price I pay for looking different. It’s human nature to want to study the unusual, so I don’t think anyone really has the right to bitch about getting stared at if they go out looking like this. Hell, I’m a freak and even *I* stare at people like this.
I’m sorry, but this is gross. I find stretched facial piercings in general very unattractive(at least those beyond a 0 or so), but this is just grotesque. I’ve been shoving needles through my flesh since I was 11, and this is one case where even *I* would call it mutilation. I mean, more power to him for doing what he wants but why would anyone want to deform themselves like this? To look like Droopy the Dog & dribble all over themselves? Shock value maybe? Piercings are one thing, but for someone to take it to this level I have to suspect some sort of mental illness. Not to mention that our faces are not structured to have huge gaping holes in them. I get leakage from my tiny little 16g lip ring if I’m not careful, I can’t imagine how much this guy drools. It’s unsanitary and frankly disgusting, look at all the stains on his shirt! Just the oral health factor is enough to make me gag. My ears are only stretched to a half inch & I get plenty of funk on my plugs just every couple of days, I can’t even IMAGINE how gross his must be. And I have to agree with all the folks that said if he doesn’t want to be gawked at, he shouldn’t have turned himself into a sideshow. It’s completely different than someone with a natural deformity or disfiguration getting stared at too. They can’t help it, this guy could have. I knew when I first started getting piercings & tats that people were gonna want a closer look sometimes. I accept the stares as human curiosity & as the small price I pay for looking different. It’s human nature to want to study the unusual, so I don’t think anyone really has the right to bitch about getting stared at if they go out looking like this. Hell, I’m a freak and even *I* stare at people like this.
I’m sorry, but this is gross. I find stretched facial piercings in general very unattractive(at least those beyond a 0 or so), but this is just grotesque. I’ve been shoving needles through my flesh since I was 11, and this is one case where even *I* would call it mutilation. I mean, more power to him for doing what he wants but why would anyone want to deform themselves like this? To look like Droopy the Dog & dribble all over themselves? Shock value maybe? Piercings are one thing, but for someone to take it to this level I have to suspect some sort of mental illness. Not to mention that our faces are not structured to have huge gaping holes in them. I get leakage from my tiny little 16g lip ring if I’m not careful, I can’t imagine how much this guy drools. It’s unsanitary and frankly disgusting, look at all the stains on his shirt! Just the oral health factor is enough to make me gag. My ears are only stretched to a half inch & I get plenty of funk on my plugs just every couple of days, I can’t even IMAGINE how gross his must be. And I have to agree with all the folks that said if he doesn’t want to be gawked at, he shouldn’t have turned himself into a sideshow. It’s completely different than someone with a natural deformity or disfiguration getting stared at too. They can’t help it, this guy could have. I knew when I first started getting piercings & tats that people were gonna want a closer look sometimes. I accept the stares as human curiosity & as the small price I pay for looking different. It’s human nature to want to study the unusual, so I don’t think anyone really has the right to bitch about getting stared at if they go out looking like this. Hell, I’m a freak and even *I* stare at people like this.
I’m sorry, but this is gross. I find stretched facial piercings in general very unattractive(at least those beyond a 0 or so), but this is just grotesque. I’ve been shoving needles through my flesh since I was 11, and this is one case where even *I* would call it mutilation. I mean, more power to him for doing what he wants but why would anyone want to deform themselves like this? To look like Droopy the Dog & dribble all over themselves? Shock value maybe? Piercings are one thing, but for someone to take it to this level I have to suspect some sort of mental illness. Not to mention that our faces are not structured to have huge gaping holes in them. I get leakage from my tiny little 16g lip ring if I’m not careful, I can’t imagine how much this guy drools. It’s unsanitary and frankly disgusting, look at all the stains on his shirt! Just the oral health factor is enough to make me gag. My ears are only stretched to a half inch & I get plenty of funk on my plugs just every couple of days, I can’t even IMAGINE how gross his must be. And I have to agree with all the folks that said if he doesn’t want to be gawked at, he shouldn’t have turned himself into a sideshow. It’s completely different than someone with a natural deformity or disfiguration getting stared at too. They can’t help it, this guy could have. I knew when I first started getting piercings & tats that people were gonna want a closer look sometimes. I accept the stares as human curiosity & as the small price I pay for looking different. It’s human nature to want to study the unusual, so I don’t think anyone really has the right to bitch about getting stared at if they go out looking like this. Hell, I’m a freak and even *I* stare at people like this.
your all a bunch of cunts i dont know the dude in the pictures but i can garuntee he doesnt give a fuck what any of you chumps think and the person above me next time dont write a paragraph just say that your a judgemental retard who thinks they are cool because they have some minor body mods everything you typed proves you dont understand true body mods or the punk mentality lol talking about stains on his shirt like that shocks you better not look at his undies your not a freak your just the average cockhead that feels the need to limit everyone else to what they consider normal.
your all a bunch of cunts i dont know the dude in the pictures but i can garuntee he doesnt give a fuck what any of you chumps think and the person above me next time dont write a paragraph just say that your a judgemental retard who thinks they are cool because they have some minor body mods everything you typed proves you dont understand true body mods or the punk mentality lol talking about stains on his shirt like that shocks you better not look at his undies your not a freak your just the average cockhead that feels the need to limit everyone else to what they consider normal.
your all a bunch of cunts i dont know the dude in the pictures but i can garuntee he doesnt give a fuck what any of you chumps think and the person above me next time dont write a paragraph just say that your a judgemental retard who thinks they are cool because they have some minor body mods everything you typed proves you dont understand true body mods or the punk mentality lol talking about stains on his shirt like that shocks you better not look at his undies your not a freak your just the average cockhead that feels the need to limit everyone else to what they consider normal.
your all a bunch of cunts i dont know the dude in the pictures but i can garuntee he doesnt give a fuck what any of you chumps think and the person above me next time dont write a paragraph just say that your a judgemental retard who thinks they are cool because they have some minor body mods everything you typed proves you dont understand true body mods or the punk mentality lol talking about stains on his shirt like that shocks you better not look at his undies your not a freak your just the average cockhead that feels the need to limit everyone else to what they consider normal.
your all a bunch of cunts i dont know the dude in the pictures but i can garuntee he doesnt give a fuck what any of you chumps think and the person above me next time dont write a paragraph just say that your a judgemental retard who thinks they are cool because they have some minor body mods everything you typed proves you dont understand true body mods or the punk mentality lol talking about stains on his shirt like that shocks you better not look at his undies your not a freak your just the average cockhead that feels the need to limit everyone else to what they consider normal.
He’s pretty damn sexy.
He’s pretty damn sexy.
He’s pretty damn sexy.
He’s pretty damn sexy.
He’s pretty damn sexy.
what happens when he wants to eat? wouldnt it all just dribble down his cheeks? lol
what happens when he wants to eat? wouldnt it all just dribble down his cheeks? lol
what happens when he wants to eat? wouldnt it all just dribble down his cheeks? lol
what happens when he wants to eat? wouldnt it all just dribble down his cheeks? lol
what happens when he wants to eat? wouldnt it all just dribble down his cheeks? lol