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.

Cutting Gone Wrong


Acts of body modification, even when performed by experienced professionals, can still have unpredictable results, and even the best-laid plans can go unexpectedly awry. Such was the case for this gentleman above, who, following a cutting, thought he was well upon his way into healing when things took an unfortunate turn.

This just goes to show you, even in a sterile environment and with proper aftercare, things can still go wrong. I followed precise aftercare, cleaning and re-dressing my wound 2-3 times a day, etc. Everything was going great until the seventh day of healing, when I developed two small pink areas. Talking to my artist via phone (who will go unnamed) we discussed the possibility of a heat rash but he wouldn’t know until he saw it in person and told me to stop wrapping it. I woke up the next morning and I saw what you see in the photo, which took about only nine hours to develop. Needless to say, I’m now taking two types of antibiotics, four pills a day; hopefully it will clear up soon. I can’t help but feel bummed because less than two days ago, everything looked perfect. Over the years, this is my first body modification to ever go wrong or become infected.

See more in Misc. Cuttings (Scarification)

Comments

110 responses to “Cutting Gone Wrong”

  1. Nygaard Avatar
    Nygaard

    What kind of infection is that?

  2. Nygaard Avatar
    Nygaard

    What kind of infection is that?

  3. Orchestra Influenza Avatar
    Orchestra Influenza

    It almost looks like an allergic reaction due to the rash being near what looks like where the edge of the dressings were and then possibly spreading to the cutting…. i’m curious what type of bandaging was used… I’ve seen similar reactions to adhesive from band-aids before.. either way…hope it goes away and the scar heals normally!

  4. Orchestra Influenza Avatar
    Orchestra Influenza

    It almost looks like an allergic reaction due to the rash being near what looks like where the edge of the dressings were and then possibly spreading to the cutting…. i’m curious what type of bandaging was used… I’ve seen similar reactions to adhesive from band-aids before.. either way…hope it goes away and the scar heals normally!

  5. Gilmo Avatar
    Gilmo

    Aw, I hope he gets better soon, that looks sad 🙁

  6. Gilmo Avatar
    Gilmo

    Aw, I hope he gets better soon, that looks sad 🙁

  7. Kaitlin S Avatar
    Kaitlin S

    i looks like a staph infection but i could be wrong.

  8. Kaitlin S Avatar
    Kaitlin S

    i looks like a staph infection but i could be wrong.

  9. kier Avatar

    Oh no! 🙁

  10. kier Avatar

    Oh no! 🙁

  11. Wendy Blackheart Avatar

    Oooh, ick. That looks like what happens to me when I use band aids – something in the glue fucks up my skin, and it spreads quick if I don’t deal with it. Hope it heals up soon!

  12. Wendy Blackheart Avatar

    Oooh, ick. That looks like what happens to me when I use band aids – something in the glue fucks up my skin, and it spreads quick if I don’t deal with it. Hope it heals up soon!

  13. Philipp Avatar
    Philipp

    yeah i know the reaction that the glue makes sometimes but the area of the scarings are diffrent to that. you noticed the 2 dots, one left one right, next to the scars. it seems like it spreads from there

  14. Philipp Avatar
    Philipp

    yeah i know the reaction that the glue makes sometimes but the area of the scarings are diffrent to that. you noticed the 2 dots, one left one right, next to the scars. it seems like it spreads from there

  15. Colalala Avatar

    I’m with #2…
    It doesn’t even look super infected. More like an irritation or some kind of adverse reaction to something.

    Regardless that sucks pretty hard. Really hope it clears up for him.
    it’s never fun when your body decides to say no.

  16. Colalala Avatar

    I’m with #2…
    It doesn’t even look super infected. More like an irritation or some kind of adverse reaction to something.

    Regardless that sucks pretty hard. Really hope it clears up for him.
    it’s never fun when your body decides to say no.

  17. ilivetobebrutal Avatar
    ilivetobebrutal

    that is kind of shitty to happen to you, i hope it gets better!
    and by the way, those plugs look damn awesome!

  18. ilivetobebrutal Avatar
    ilivetobebrutal

    that is kind of shitty to happen to you, i hope it gets better!
    and by the way, those plugs look damn awesome!

  19. Manda-RN Avatar
    Manda-RN

    Just to point out (or maybe be the devils advocate) modification shops do not use sterile feild or technique. Medical asepsis is used, technically not free of all microbe forms. Sterile feild requires the removal of all microbe formations, both normal flora and transient microbe colonies. Medical asepsis does involve the sterilization of objects however is quickly considered contaminated from a medical stand point. Medical aspesis requires prudent effort to have as close to a microbe free set up/procedure as possible and follows similar but very diffrent guidelines.

  20. Manda-RN Avatar
    Manda-RN

    Just to point out (or maybe be the devils advocate) modification shops do not use sterile feild or technique. Medical asepsis is used, technically not free of all microbe forms. Sterile feild requires the removal of all microbe formations, both normal flora and transient microbe colonies. Medical asepsis does involve the sterilization of objects however is quickly considered contaminated from a medical stand point. Medical aspesis requires prudent effort to have as close to a microbe free set up/procedure as possible and follows similar but very diffrent guidelines.

  21. MLR Avatar
    MLR

    That looks like MRSA, and is probably why the recipient is on so many drugs.

  22. MLR Avatar
    MLR

    That looks like MRSA, and is probably why the recipient is on so many drugs.

  23. Candace Avatar

    I’d like to know what the prognoses from the doctor was to require the antibiotics. It appears like a reaction to the wrapping, not MRSA. I am curious.

  24. Candace Avatar

    I’d like to know what the prognoses from the doctor was to require the antibiotics. It appears like a reaction to the wrapping, not MRSA. I am curious.

  25. BIOHAZARD Avatar

    Just wondering if you have been diagnosed by a dermatologist or doctor on this one since you are on antibiotics? Also I have learned from doctors and BBP classses that there are so many different forms of rashes and skin disorders that its almost impossible for someone to self diagnose. Google image pics of staph, that looks nothing like mrsa. If it was mrsa he would probably still be in the hospial, thats becomes life threatening sometimes within hours.

  26. BIOHAZARD Avatar

    Just wondering if you have been diagnosed by a dermatologist or doctor on this one since you are on antibiotics? Also I have learned from doctors and BBP classses that there are so many different forms of rashes and skin disorders that its almost impossible for someone to self diagnose. Google image pics of staph, that looks nothing like mrsa. If it was mrsa he would probably still be in the hospial, thats becomes life threatening sometimes within hours.

  27. triballl Avatar
    triballl

    wow man i am terribly sorry that happened to you! hope it heals up fast and your scars heal how you want.

  28. triballl Avatar
    triballl

    wow man i am terribly sorry that happened to you! hope it heals up fast and your scars heal how you want.

  29. antipinkpunk Avatar
    antipinkpunk

    That doesn’t look like MRSA at all. And fyi, MRSA does not necessarily require a hospital visit, if oral antibiotics are taken in a timely fashion. At any rate, I hope it clears up soon.

  30. antipinkpunk Avatar
    antipinkpunk

    That doesn’t look like MRSA at all. And fyi, MRSA does not necessarily require a hospital visit, if oral antibiotics are taken in a timely fashion. At any rate, I hope it clears up soon.

  31. oppositronic Avatar
    oppositronic

    ZOMGPWND.

    nature wins

  32. oppositronic Avatar
    oppositronic

    ZOMGPWND.

    nature wins

  33. Roger "Rabb!t" Rodriguez Avatar

    By the looks of the picture it seems like you were covering the area with plastic and creating an incubator process that caused your body to react to the plastic which probably has latex properties in it. If you also look at the tape area you can also see some irritation there also that may contain latex also. Simply let it air dry and clean it on a daily basis would take care of that and also by seeing your doctor they put you on antibiotics and that will aid in a speedy healing. So always make sure to not over do the covering of the tissue that has been cut open your body can react easily to it.

    But thats just my opinion. : )

  34. Roger "Rabb!t" Rodriguez Avatar

    By the looks of the picture it seems like you were covering the area with plastic and creating an incubator process that caused your body to react to the plastic which probably has latex properties in it. If you also look at the tape area you can also see some irritation there also that may contain latex also. Simply let it air dry and clean it on a daily basis would take care of that and also by seeing your doctor they put you on antibiotics and that will aid in a speedy healing. So always make sure to not over do the covering of the tissue that has been cut open your body can react easily to it.

    But thats just my opinion. : )

  35. Kristopher Avatar

    thats very upsetting,sorry mate.

  36. Kristopher Avatar

    thats very upsetting,sorry mate.

  37. xPUREx Avatar

    Although possible the irritation may have manifested into an infection, in most cases when skin irritation occurs after a scarification a simple zinc oxide cream (for diaper rash) calms it and eventually remedies the problem within two to three days.

    As for the quote regarding “experienced professionals”, I know for a fact that this was this practitioner’s 2nd, or possibly 3rd, piece ever done. I know this because it was recently emailed to me and asked of my opinion and advice.

  38. xPUREx Avatar

    Although possible the irritation may have manifested into an infection, in most cases when skin irritation occurs after a scarification a simple zinc oxide cream (for diaper rash) calms it and eventually remedies the problem within two to three days.

    As for the quote regarding “experienced professionals”, I know for a fact that this was this practitioner’s 2nd, or possibly 3rd, piece ever done. I know this because it was recently emailed to me and asked of my opinion and advice.

  39. drew Avatar
    drew

    @19, yea the peice itself is apparent that it wasnt done by a very experienced cutter. look at the middle arrows/triangles on each side, they are poorly done (by modblog standards) and are very thin and not very strait cuts. unprofessional and unhealthy. sorry about ur mishap dude

  40. drew Avatar
    drew

    @19, yea the peice itself is apparent that it wasnt done by a very experienced cutter. look at the middle arrows/triangles on each side, they are poorly done (by modblog standards) and are very thin and not very strait cuts. unprofessional and unhealthy. sorry about ur mishap dude

  41. AHBroccoli Avatar

    GD that sucks.

    @19 Which is why I went to you for mine.

  42. AHBroccoli Avatar

    GD that sucks.

    @19 Which is why I went to you for mine.

  43. Rulebook Avatar
    Rulebook

    That definitely looks like a reaction, not an infection. Anyone who cries MRSA is fuckin’ retarded, as evidenced by the linear discoloration clearly caused by the dressing, dressing adhesive, or a combination of the two. And I’m sure the healing procedures were followed to a “T”‘, but what if it was something bogus, like a regiment of strictly sea salt without a proper anti-bacterial agent? The affected site is clearly “greasy” which could indicate some sort of salve was used, which could also cause a reaction given the chemical nature of it. In my professional opinion I would lean more towards #17 and 19′s prognosis and assume it was either heat rash or a latex reaction. If i were a betting man, given the artist’s initial assumption of heat rash, I would assume it was covered in some sort of air tight dressing which trapped heat and moisture at the site of healing leading to common heat rash, and that this was not the first time, given the artist’s healing instructions, that this had happened. The only thing that truly concerns me are the two “holes” that look to be created by alternate methods apart from the cutting. But given that the irritation is not localized to those spots, it is safe to assume that the problem did not originate from there. Keeping the area clean and dry with a mild anti-bacterial soap would be my prescription.

  44. Rulebook Avatar
    Rulebook

    That definitely looks like a reaction, not an infection. Anyone who cries MRSA is fuckin’ retarded, as evidenced by the linear discoloration clearly caused by the dressing, dressing adhesive, or a combination of the two. And I’m sure the healing procedures were followed to a “T”‘, but what if it was something bogus, like a regiment of strictly sea salt without a proper anti-bacterial agent? The affected site is clearly “greasy” which could indicate some sort of salve was used, which could also cause a reaction given the chemical nature of it. In my professional opinion I would lean more towards #17 and 19′s prognosis and assume it was either heat rash or a latex reaction. If i were a betting man, given the artist’s initial assumption of heat rash, I would assume it was covered in some sort of air tight dressing which trapped heat and moisture at the site of healing leading to common heat rash, and that this was not the first time, given the artist’s healing instructions, that this had happened. The only thing that truly concerns me are the two “holes” that look to be created by alternate methods apart from the cutting. But given that the irritation is not localized to those spots, it is safe to assume that the problem did not originate from there. Keeping the area clean and dry with a mild anti-bacterial soap would be my prescription.

  45. bethiesan Avatar
    bethiesan

    Are those trans blue kaos? He has pretty lips.

  46. bethiesan Avatar
    bethiesan

    Are those trans blue kaos? He has pretty lips.

  47. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    it looks alot like cellulitis, I got it from a tattoo a while back and it pretty much looked the same. have to take hella good care of it or you can be put in the hospital for like a year or longer its crazy.

  48. Adam Avatar
    Adam

    it looks alot like cellulitis, I got it from a tattoo a while back and it pretty much looked the same. have to take hella good care of it or you can be put in the hospital for like a year or longer its crazy.

  49. BlueStar Avatar

    If I were him, I’d see a dermatologist.
    Doctor’s too quickly diagnose infection when its not and prescribe antibiotics, they should have referred to a dermatologist.. (Even in Canada, they have specialists on call!)
    I’d definitely be seeing a doctor if my skin looked like that though… and I’d probably take the antibiotics as prescribed, also. (And I’d get tested for MRSA and staph, and all that jazz.. I would want a diagnosis, not an assumption and a, “here’s a prescription! take these!”)

  50. BlueStar Avatar

    If I were him, I’d see a dermatologist.
    Doctor’s too quickly diagnose infection when its not and prescribe antibiotics, they should have referred to a dermatologist.. (Even in Canada, they have specialists on call!)
    I’d definitely be seeing a doctor if my skin looked like that though… and I’d probably take the antibiotics as prescribed, also. (And I’d get tested for MRSA and staph, and all that jazz.. I would want a diagnosis, not an assumption and a, “here’s a prescription! take these!”)

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