Just like some other big name guy who shed blood for his followers, I shed blood for the readers of Modblog. People are complaining that Modblog isn’t updating and I wanted to help, but without new submissions to BME there is little for me to choose from. So instead of complaining or making excuses, I took action and used this lull in post as the encouragement I needed to get those godforsaken transdermals removed from my noggin.
First and foremost, I want to be clear I knew the risk going into the initial procedure and I realized the super low success rate of transdermals. Hell, I think the BME Encyclopedia entry on transdermal removal summed it up best.
All in all, because of the low success rate and complications, transdermal implants are one of the few procedures that BME recommends against — although we fully support people’s right to get them, if and only if they fully understand and accept the risks.It should also be noted that a variety of professionals are trying to solve the problems with transdermal implants.
I got my implants done by a highly reputable practitioner, whom I also consider a friend. As far as procedures go, it was as spot on as one could hope for. In fact, long time modbloggers may even remember this post Shannon made of them when they were brand new.
As is the case with most transdermals, they never actually healed. The wounds around the transdermal post oozed, well, pretty much constantly. The channels the implants were inserted in stayed seperated from the underlying tissue and bubbled up. Hair growth was nullified in a large circle around each of the implants……….and this is just what I dealt with in the first year.
I tried lots of remedies, some holistic, some horrific. I used everything from chamomile tea bag soaks to injecting alcohol around the transdermal stems to dry out the excess lymph. Nothing had any lasting affects. As the years went on the implants just got worse, most started migrating and the first one (as you can see in the before picture) rejected to the point of one foot coming completely through the skin.
While there has been no definitive study on the long term success rates of transdermal implants, 20% or less seems to be pretty accurate. I’d even go so far to assume that most of those will not last indefinitely and that a lot of the “successful” ones aren’t actually fully and properly healed.
I (speaking purely as myself, and not for BMEzine.com) feel that the transdermal implants, as we know them, have no place in modern body modification. The original design by Steve Haworth, was ground breaking and without that original design we may not have the microdermal anchor design that we have now. However, with the gray area legality of the implantation procedure and the unlikeliness of them properly healing, I just don’t see why they are still being commonly offered. Don’t get me wrong, if a practitioner wants to do some on a highly modded well informed client, I am not opposed, I just don’t see the point. However, the fact some practitioners will do these on any walk in client is an atrocity and a total F-You to our entire community.
One thing that I feel will certainly make transdermal implants obsolete is large gauge microdermals, such as those offered by Anatometal. With them offering micros up to an 8 gauge, that can be inserted with piercing techniques (no invasive surgery) and also removed far easier that transdermals, I just can’t see the need for an invasive and potentially illegal surgical procedure with a low success rate.
Anyhow, that’s my take on the subject, feel free to chime in your opinions on this topic in the comments. For a whole lot of photos from my transdermal removal procedure, keep on keeping on.
All photos, thanks to Robin Scott.
Have your own transdermal failure stories/pictures that you want to share? Email them to [email protected]
Comments
420 responses to “Why transdermals suck, by yours truly”
Hee hee hee, skull-vaginas.
Hee hee hee, skull-vaginas.
Hee hee hee, skull-vaginas.
Hee hee hee, skull-vaginas.
LOL
gnarly, to-the-max.
thanks for sharing! this is exactly the kind of thing BME needs more of. less cheerleading and more reality testing.
LOL
gnarly, to-the-max.
thanks for sharing! this is exactly the kind of thing BME needs more of. less cheerleading and more reality testing.
LOL
gnarly, to-the-max.
thanks for sharing! this is exactly the kind of thing BME needs more of. less cheerleading and more reality testing.
LOL
gnarly, to-the-max.
thanks for sharing! this is exactly the kind of thing BME needs more of. less cheerleading and more reality testing.
Shitty deal. Must be nice to have them out though.
Shitty deal. Must be nice to have them out though.
Shitty deal. Must be nice to have them out though.
Shitty deal. Must be nice to have them out though.
so is a transdermal a deeper and bigger microdermal?
micro’s seem to have a good healing rate.
so is a transdermal a deeper and bigger microdermal?
micro’s seem to have a good healing rate.
so is a transdermal a deeper and bigger microdermal?
micro’s seem to have a good healing rate.
so is a transdermal a deeper and bigger microdermal?
micro’s seem to have a good healing rate.
what ashplant said 😛
what ashplant said 😛
what ashplant said 😛
what ashplant said 😛
Well it clearly wasn’t due to lack of trying that they didn’t heal. I’m sure many would’ve thrown in the towl a lot sooner, or so i assume. I like the scarred look 😀
Well it clearly wasn’t due to lack of trying that they didn’t heal. I’m sure many would’ve thrown in the towl a lot sooner, or so i assume. I like the scarred look 😀
Well it clearly wasn’t due to lack of trying that they didn’t heal. I’m sure many would’ve thrown in the towl a lot sooner, or so i assume. I like the scarred look 😀
Well it clearly wasn’t due to lack of trying that they didn’t heal. I’m sure many would’ve thrown in the towl a lot sooner, or so i assume. I like the scarred look 😀
…or stitched, not scarred.
…or stitched, not scarred.
…or stitched, not scarred.
…or stitched, not scarred.
Holy fuck.
That looks horrific. I know it is a stupid thing to ask, a question I find annoying about my own tattoos and mods but MY GOD that must have hurt?? Is that not the most painful procedure you’ve undergone?
I completely agree with your take on the matter, and even feel there should be much more information given to people hardly exposed to the modification world about microdermals. I got a microdermal put at the bottom of my neck around two years ago. It lasted just under a year, (and rejected only because some drunken asshole thought it’d be a great idea to give it a good old poke) but I saw many people in the shop looking to get microdermals or “skin divers” as an alternative that kinda just pop in and can pop out really easily. Anyway, needless to say I’ve seen a lot of younger people with some pretty bad scarring including one of my own good friends who I actually thought was more wised up to the matter, but hers ended up fucking up really early on.
Anyway, there’s my thoughts.
Thanks for the post in the lull. If I had the equipment to take high enough quality images, I’d be on it!
Holy fuck.
That looks horrific. I know it is a stupid thing to ask, a question I find annoying about my own tattoos and mods but MY GOD that must have hurt?? Is that not the most painful procedure you’ve undergone?
I completely agree with your take on the matter, and even feel there should be much more information given to people hardly exposed to the modification world about microdermals. I got a microdermal put at the bottom of my neck around two years ago. It lasted just under a year, (and rejected only because some drunken asshole thought it’d be a great idea to give it a good old poke) but I saw many people in the shop looking to get microdermals or “skin divers” as an alternative that kinda just pop in and can pop out really easily. Anyway, needless to say I’ve seen a lot of younger people with some pretty bad scarring including one of my own good friends who I actually thought was more wised up to the matter, but hers ended up fucking up really early on.
Anyway, there’s my thoughts.
Thanks for the post in the lull. If I had the equipment to take high enough quality images, I’d be on it!
Holy fuck.
That looks horrific. I know it is a stupid thing to ask, a question I find annoying about my own tattoos and mods but MY GOD that must have hurt?? Is that not the most painful procedure you’ve undergone?
I completely agree with your take on the matter, and even feel there should be much more information given to people hardly exposed to the modification world about microdermals. I got a microdermal put at the bottom of my neck around two years ago. It lasted just under a year, (and rejected only because some drunken asshole thought it’d be a great idea to give it a good old poke) but I saw many people in the shop looking to get microdermals or “skin divers” as an alternative that kinda just pop in and can pop out really easily. Anyway, needless to say I’ve seen a lot of younger people with some pretty bad scarring including one of my own good friends who I actually thought was more wised up to the matter, but hers ended up fucking up really early on.
Anyway, there’s my thoughts.
Thanks for the post in the lull. If I had the equipment to take high enough quality images, I’d be on it!
Holy fuck.
That looks horrific. I know it is a stupid thing to ask, a question I find annoying about my own tattoos and mods but MY GOD that must have hurt?? Is that not the most painful procedure you’ve undergone?
I completely agree with your take on the matter, and even feel there should be much more information given to people hardly exposed to the modification world about microdermals. I got a microdermal put at the bottom of my neck around two years ago. It lasted just under a year, (and rejected only because some drunken asshole thought it’d be a great idea to give it a good old poke) but I saw many people in the shop looking to get microdermals or “skin divers” as an alternative that kinda just pop in and can pop out really easily. Anyway, needless to say I’ve seen a lot of younger people with some pretty bad scarring including one of my own good friends who I actually thought was more wised up to the matter, but hers ended up fucking up really early on.
Anyway, there’s my thoughts.
Thanks for the post in the lull. If I had the equipment to take high enough quality images, I’d be on it!
The lack of posts has been kind of unnerving(though it may have positively impacted on my productivity), but it’s great to see a positive response, and thanks for taking the time out to offer us an insight into your experience with these pieces, I was unaware how invasive the procedure was to remove transdermals. Here’s hoping that they heal up well.
I have been unsuccessful on three occasions so far with microdermals, though thankfully it’s a lot easier to get those little fella’s out.
The lack of posts has been kind of unnerving(though it may have positively impacted on my productivity), but it’s great to see a positive response, and thanks for taking the time out to offer us an insight into your experience with these pieces, I was unaware how invasive the procedure was to remove transdermals. Here’s hoping that they heal up well.
I have been unsuccessful on three occasions so far with microdermals, though thankfully it’s a lot easier to get those little fella’s out.
The lack of posts has been kind of unnerving(though it may have positively impacted on my productivity), but it’s great to see a positive response, and thanks for taking the time out to offer us an insight into your experience with these pieces, I was unaware how invasive the procedure was to remove transdermals. Here’s hoping that they heal up well.
I have been unsuccessful on three occasions so far with microdermals, though thankfully it’s a lot easier to get those little fella’s out.
The lack of posts has been kind of unnerving(though it may have positively impacted on my productivity), but it’s great to see a positive response, and thanks for taking the time out to offer us an insight into your experience with these pieces, I was unaware how invasive the procedure was to remove transdermals. Here’s hoping that they heal up well.
I have been unsuccessful on three occasions so far with microdermals, though thankfully it’s a lot easier to get those little fella’s out.
And how are you now ?
Are you now well enough ?
And how are you now ?
Are you now well enough ?
And how are you now ?
Are you now well enough ?
And how are you now ?
Are you now well enough ?
I can’t believe he had them in for over a year (all the while they weren’t healing, and oozing constantly)! I really hope his noggin heals up well after having them removed.
I can’t believe he had them in for over a year (all the while they weren’t healing, and oozing constantly)! I really hope his noggin heals up well after having them removed.
I can’t believe he had them in for over a year (all the while they weren’t healing, and oozing constantly)! I really hope his noggin heals up well after having them removed.
I can’t believe he had them in for over a year (all the while they weren’t healing, and oozing constantly)! I really hope his noggin heals up well after having them removed.
Yeah man, its was really bad!!! =/
You try to compress with warm water with salt-thick?
And your food??
Yeah man, its was really bad!!! =/
You try to compress with warm water with salt-thick?
And your food??
Yeah man, its was really bad!!! =/
You try to compress with warm water with salt-thick?
And your food??
Yeah man, its was really bad!!! =/
You try to compress with warm water with salt-thick?
And your food??
i look at modblog daily, but this post actually grossed me out. fucking jesus!
i look at modblog daily, but this post actually grossed me out. fucking jesus!