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.

Lock It Up


Good morning, ModBlog! Let’s start today backwards: Here we have a young man who got his 18 mm. lip piercing closed and stitched up by Brooklyn’s number one son, xPUREx. It’s not uncommon to find reactions to procedures like this … not negative, necessarily, but certainly sad: people tend to be disappointed when a person has his or her stretched ears/lip/whatever restored to their original state. Understandable, to be sure, but I have to say, I’m always rather impressed that these stretched piercings that so many of us grew up believing to be relatively “permanent” are increasingly reversible. This isn’t to say that such procedures should be taken lightly, of course, but the ingenuity is pretty remarkable nonetheless.

See more in Scalpelled and other large gauge lip procedures (Lip Piercing)

Comments

128 responses to “Lock It Up”

  1. San Avatar

    Man, I so would have rather Brian been singing Vanilla Ice than Alanis Morisette during my ears..
    😛
    But you stitch much nicer than a doctor! That won’t be noticeable in a couple of months.. it hurts to be that good!

  2. San Avatar

    Man, I so would have rather Brian been singing Vanilla Ice than Alanis Morisette during my ears..
    😛
    But you stitch much nicer than a doctor! That won’t be noticeable in a couple of months.. it hurts to be that good!

  3. Tranque Avatar
    Tranque

    I really don’t see a problem with reversals. Most of us go in knowing that our procedures have varying chances of being totally permanent, but we’re not mind readers. Problems may arise (such as the dental issues) that will cause us to change our minds or create the need to change our bodies. Heck, some just become disenchanted with the modification. And if it’s okay to say, “You can change your body to this,” why is it unacceptable to say, “You can change your body back?”

    It’s going to make for a neat scar, if you’re into that sort of thing.:)

  4. Tranque Avatar
    Tranque

    I really don’t see a problem with reversals. Most of us go in knowing that our procedures have varying chances of being totally permanent, but we’re not mind readers. Problems may arise (such as the dental issues) that will cause us to change our minds or create the need to change our bodies. Heck, some just become disenchanted with the modification. And if it’s okay to say, “You can change your body to this,” why is it unacceptable to say, “You can change your body back?”

    It’s going to make for a neat scar, if you’re into that sort of thing.:)

  5. sazmatazz Avatar
    sazmatazz

    # 25 – here here! i 100% agree with that statement.

  6. sazmatazz Avatar
    sazmatazz

    # 25 – here here! i 100% agree with that statement.

  7. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    I agree with 25

  8. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    I agree with 25

  9. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    #25 Does that mean that everyone with a tattoo should be taken more seriously than those with peircings?
    I know many a person who got tattoo on a drunken whim or regretted one, whether it be their neck, forearms or leg. That being said, just as there are people not dedicated to their piercings, there is an equal amount not dedicated to their tattoo’s, piercings are just much easier to reverse. Having a tattoo does not always make you more dedicated to body modification.

  10. Kat Avatar
    Kat

    #25 Does that mean that everyone with a tattoo should be taken more seriously than those with peircings?
    I know many a person who got tattoo on a drunken whim or regretted one, whether it be their neck, forearms or leg. That being said, just as there are people not dedicated to their piercings, there is an equal amount not dedicated to their tattoo’s, piercings are just much easier to reverse. Having a tattoo does not always make you more dedicated to body modification.

  11. Xheni Avatar
    Xheni

    I disagree with 25. Tattoos can be removed also, and sometimes piercings don’t close up.
    The dedication I have to my piercings is just as valid as the dedication one may have toward their facial tattoo. I think it’s unfair to let permanence determine the value of one body mod over another.

  12. Xheni Avatar
    Xheni

    I disagree with 25. Tattoos can be removed also, and sometimes piercings don’t close up.
    The dedication I have to my piercings is just as valid as the dedication one may have toward their facial tattoo. I think it’s unfair to let permanence determine the value of one body mod over another.

  13. crafty Avatar
    crafty

    #25, 28, and 29……. the last time i checked you could get tattoos removed also. its not as easy as stitching something up but you can have it done. i have tattoos and stretched lobes and i love them both equally. i think i takes longer dedication to stretch something out than to sit in a chair for a couple of hours to get a tattoo.

  14. crafty Avatar
    crafty

    #25, 28, and 29……. the last time i checked you could get tattoos removed also. its not as easy as stitching something up but you can have it done. i have tattoos and stretched lobes and i love them both equally. i think i takes longer dedication to stretch something out than to sit in a chair for a couple of hours to get a tattoo.

  15. Nate Avatar
    Nate

    Why should you judge people based on their dedication to their piercings?

    To some people it’s not a lifestyle or a culture, it’s aesthetically pleasing.

    in before flame war

  16. Nate Avatar
    Nate

    Why should you judge people based on their dedication to their piercings?

    To some people it’s not a lifestyle or a culture, it’s aesthetically pleasing.

    in before flame war

  17. Nate Avatar
    Nate

    Sorry, let me clarify.

    By dedication I mean permanence, not health of the piercing. You can’t justify taking shitty care of a piercing.

  18. Nate Avatar
    Nate

    Sorry, let me clarify.

    By dedication I mean permanence, not health of the piercing. You can’t justify taking shitty care of a piercing.

  19. katy prost Avatar

    If your going to change your mind, why do it. I’m young, I’m sure no one wants to change their mind but I wont be shutting my lobes. They will be flapping in the breeze when I take out the plugs for good!
    His lip was (close to) 3/4″, kind of serious you know, pretty big. Maybe not to modblog (haha) but to joe smo?

    Sucks that he changed his mind, but I’m glad to see the reversal looks like it went smoothy! (as little as I know) Hope the final healing goes just as well.

  20. katy prost Avatar

    If your going to change your mind, why do it. I’m young, I’m sure no one wants to change their mind but I wont be shutting my lobes. They will be flapping in the breeze when I take out the plugs for good!
    His lip was (close to) 3/4″, kind of serious you know, pretty big. Maybe not to modblog (haha) but to joe smo?

    Sucks that he changed his mind, but I’m glad to see the reversal looks like it went smoothy! (as little as I know) Hope the final healing goes just as well.

  21. katy prost Avatar

    But dental reasons– that is a perfect reason to get rid of something.

  22. katy prost Avatar

    But dental reasons– that is a perfect reason to get rid of something.

  23. dean Avatar

    Who cares about “dedication,” seriously? You don’t “take me seriously” because most of my mods are piercings? People choose to keep or remove piercings for so many hugely different reasons that are, quite frankly, none of anyone’s business to judge.

    Personally, I think anyone who gets visible piercings or tattoos for the sole sake of being visibly pierced or tattooed is doing it wrong — and I don’t know of any person who’s said this piercing/tattoo doesn’t mean anything to me and I don’t think it’s pretty, I just want a visible modification so that someone in the body modification community will take me seriously.

    Besides which, tattoos are increasingly reversible, and I know a number of people with tattoos who care absolutely nothing for the body modification community and some of those loathe and despise their tattoos, wish they’d never gotten them, and want them removed.

    Suspension’s not permanent either, but I tend to think that people who are willing to hang themselves from hooks are pretty fucking dedicated — not that their dedication actually matters. As long as everyone’s doing what they want, and is happy with their body, who the fuck care what you or I or anyone else thinks?

  24. dean Avatar

    Who cares about “dedication,” seriously? You don’t “take me seriously” because most of my mods are piercings? People choose to keep or remove piercings for so many hugely different reasons that are, quite frankly, none of anyone’s business to judge.

    Personally, I think anyone who gets visible piercings or tattoos for the sole sake of being visibly pierced or tattooed is doing it wrong — and I don’t know of any person who’s said this piercing/tattoo doesn’t mean anything to me and I don’t think it’s pretty, I just want a visible modification so that someone in the body modification community will take me seriously.

    Besides which, tattoos are increasingly reversible, and I know a number of people with tattoos who care absolutely nothing for the body modification community and some of those loathe and despise their tattoos, wish they’d never gotten them, and want them removed.

    Suspension’s not permanent either, but I tend to think that people who are willing to hang themselves from hooks are pretty fucking dedicated — not that their dedication actually matters. As long as everyone’s doing what they want, and is happy with their body, who the fuck care what you or I or anyone else thinks?

  25. jenn Avatar
    jenn

    I love when people say “not to be an asshole, but…” and then go ahead with being one. As for the statement “If you’re going to change your mind, why do it?”… Well, that’s just ridiculous. Why do anything, then? There’s always the chance of unforseen complications (like dental issues) when making a choice about anything. People change their minds about major life decisions all of the time. Why bother doing ANYTHING, if you might change your mind in the future?

  26. jenn Avatar
    jenn

    I love when people say “not to be an asshole, but…” and then go ahead with being one. As for the statement “If you’re going to change your mind, why do it?”… Well, that’s just ridiculous. Why do anything, then? There’s always the chance of unforseen complications (like dental issues) when making a choice about anything. People change their minds about major life decisions all of the time. Why bother doing ANYTHING, if you might change your mind in the future?

  27. dean Avatar

    re: jenn, ahahahaha. true. it’s the same thing with “don’t take it personally,” and then they go on to insult you personally. “don’t take it personally, but you’re ugly and you smell bad.”

    personally, i go into all my mods knowing i might change my mind. am i planning on it? no, but it happens, that’s life, stuff comes up.

    just now, i was thinking i was going to have perogies for dinner, and i even started frying up some onions, but then i changed my mind. so i’m having scalloped potatoes instead. i guess i’m not very dedicated to fried onions. 😉

  28. dean Avatar

    re: jenn, ahahahaha. true. it’s the same thing with “don’t take it personally,” and then they go on to insult you personally. “don’t take it personally, but you’re ugly and you smell bad.”

    personally, i go into all my mods knowing i might change my mind. am i planning on it? no, but it happens, that’s life, stuff comes up.

    just now, i was thinking i was going to have perogies for dinner, and i even started frying up some onions, but then i changed my mind. so i’m having scalloped potatoes instead. i guess i’m not very dedicated to fried onions. 😉

  29. Squig Avatar

    wow, thats a cool looking scar!

  30. Squig Avatar

    wow, thats a cool looking scar!

  31. Fras Avatar
    Fras

    Another thing we have to remember here is that on a scale of medical related issues (such as infections, scarring, and dental issues and so on) tattoos have a much smaller rate of occurence than piercings….completely leaving the whole dedication side of things for a moment, tattooing your face does have risks but once completely healed will pose no other risks (apart from prejudice) compared to something like large guage lip piercings, tongue piercings, and any other piercings that are taken to an extreme…..sometimes things dont work out how they’re supposed to.

    He might have wanted that piercing forever and the decision to have it reversed was met with much chagrin.

  32. Fras Avatar
    Fras

    Another thing we have to remember here is that on a scale of medical related issues (such as infections, scarring, and dental issues and so on) tattoos have a much smaller rate of occurence than piercings….completely leaving the whole dedication side of things for a moment, tattooing your face does have risks but once completely healed will pose no other risks (apart from prejudice) compared to something like large guage lip piercings, tongue piercings, and any other piercings that are taken to an extreme…..sometimes things dont work out how they’re supposed to.

    He might have wanted that piercing forever and the decision to have it reversed was met with much chagrin.

  33. Dustin Avatar

    so, i even try to avert the controversy that surrounds every modblog post ever it seems, and it still happened.

    it’s my face, not yours. i wanted it, im bummed i lost it, but i’d be even more bummed with no teeth. i knew the risks, i got educated, i did what a responisible person does before they do something serious.

    give me a break, people. no one cares about your two cents, especially not me, and it’s my face in the fucking picture.

  34. Dustin Avatar

    so, i even try to avert the controversy that surrounds every modblog post ever it seems, and it still happened.

    it’s my face, not yours. i wanted it, im bummed i lost it, but i’d be even more bummed with no teeth. i knew the risks, i got educated, i did what a responisible person does before they do something serious.

    give me a break, people. no one cares about your two cents, especially not me, and it’s my face in the fucking picture.

  35. HereKittyKitty Avatar
    HereKittyKitty

    And besides, tattoos CAN be removed…so on the same mindset, that means that only something like nullo (and the like) could be called dedication?
    I don’t buy it.

    BTW, he has every right to change his body as he sees fit for the reasons that matter to him. Very tidy stitches =)

  36. HereKittyKitty Avatar
    HereKittyKitty

    And besides, tattoos CAN be removed…so on the same mindset, that means that only something like nullo (and the like) could be called dedication?
    I don’t buy it.

    BTW, he has every right to change his body as he sees fit for the reasons that matter to him. Very tidy stitches =)

  37. katy prost Avatar

    #40 thats a really good point.

  38. katy prost Avatar

    #40 thats a really good point.

  39. Progressive Avatar
    Progressive

    Its sad when someone with a crooked face wants symmetry in their piercings.
    And… large gauge cartilege irreversable?

  40. Progressive Avatar
    Progressive

    Its sad when someone with a crooked face wants symmetry in their piercings.
    And… large gauge cartilege irreversable?

  41. dean Avatar

    #40 trufax.

    rest in peace, my nape piercing. D:

    most of us (i’m guessing — if i’m wrong, correct me) would like to keep our piercings forever… unfortunately, sometimes it doesn’t work. i, for one, find tattoos to be way easier to heal than surface piercings on high-movement areas.

  42. dean Avatar

    #40 trufax.

    rest in peace, my nape piercing. D:

    most of us (i’m guessing — if i’m wrong, correct me) would like to keep our piercings forever… unfortunately, sometimes it doesn’t work. i, for one, find tattoos to be way easier to heal than surface piercings on high-movement areas.

  43. Tami Avatar
    Tami

    his high nostrils are adorable.

  44. Tami Avatar
    Tami

    his high nostrils are adorable.

  45. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    Love the scar.

  46. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    Love the scar.

  47. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    “so on the same mindset, that means that only something like nullo (and the like) could be called dedication?”

    And even then something could be theoretically constructed. And we may get things that are irreversible today that 10 years down the track medical technology could change.

  48. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    “so on the same mindset, that means that only something like nullo (and the like) could be called dedication?”

    And even then something could be theoretically constructed. And we may get things that are irreversible today that 10 years down the track medical technology could change.

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