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”
Why would you leave them in that long when they were…ooozing!
Also from a logic point of view I would have thought the shape of the head and how tightly the skin is around the skull it would only be a matter of time before they’re forced out.
Why would you leave them in that long when they were…ooozing!
Also from a logic point of view I would have thought the shape of the head and how tightly the skin is around the skull it would only be a matter of time before they’re forced out.
Why would you leave them in that long when they were…ooozing!
Also from a logic point of view I would have thought the shape of the head and how tightly the skin is around the skull it would only be a matter of time before they’re forced out.
Why would you leave them in that long when they were…ooozing!
Also from a logic point of view I would have thought the shape of the head and how tightly the skin is around the skull it would only be a matter of time before they’re forced out.
transdermal to scarification!!!!!! hahahaha
transdermal to scarification!!!!!! hahahaha
transdermal to scarification!!!!!! hahahaha
transdermal to scarification!!!!!! hahahaha
holy shit !
holy shit !
holy shit !
holy shit !
You can no longer look intimidating when you shave your head. Stitches just won’t cut it
You can no longer look intimidating when you shave your head. Stitches just won’t cut it
You can no longer look intimidating when you shave your head. Stitches just won’t cut it
You can no longer look intimidating when you shave your head. Stitches just won’t cut it
I think that the lack of common sense is rampant with clients as well as practitioners.
I mean obviously it rests SOLELY in the hands of the artist by saying yes or no, but basic drives to one up everyone else is a two way street.
Well behaved modifications rarely make history.
I think that the lack of common sense is rampant with clients as well as practitioners.
I mean obviously it rests SOLELY in the hands of the artist by saying yes or no, but basic drives to one up everyone else is a two way street.
Well behaved modifications rarely make history.
I think that the lack of common sense is rampant with clients as well as practitioners.
I mean obviously it rests SOLELY in the hands of the artist by saying yes or no, but basic drives to one up everyone else is a two way street.
Well behaved modifications rarely make history.
I think that the lack of common sense is rampant with clients as well as practitioners.
I mean obviously it rests SOLELY in the hands of the artist by saying yes or no, but basic drives to one up everyone else is a two way street.
Well behaved modifications rarely make history.
The 8 gauge microdermals mentioned are an awesome idea, but in my experience they suck. I had 2 of them in my forehead, one of them was rejecting after having it for about 7-8 months – the foot was sticking out of my skin. I got them both removed because the second was really pissy and I didn’t want to come back so many months later to get that one removed for the same reason. At the same time that could be because my body sucks in general with microdermals.
The 8 gauge microdermals mentioned are an awesome idea, but in my experience they suck. I had 2 of them in my forehead, one of them was rejecting after having it for about 7-8 months – the foot was sticking out of my skin. I got them both removed because the second was really pissy and I didn’t want to come back so many months later to get that one removed for the same reason. At the same time that could be because my body sucks in general with microdermals.
The 8 gauge microdermals mentioned are an awesome idea, but in my experience they suck. I had 2 of them in my forehead, one of them was rejecting after having it for about 7-8 months – the foot was sticking out of my skin. I got them both removed because the second was really pissy and I didn’t want to come back so many months later to get that one removed for the same reason. At the same time that could be because my body sucks in general with microdermals.
The 8 gauge microdermals mentioned are an awesome idea, but in my experience they suck. I had 2 of them in my forehead, one of them was rejecting after having it for about 7-8 months – the foot was sticking out of my skin. I got them both removed because the second was really pissy and I didn’t want to come back so many months later to get that one removed for the same reason. At the same time that could be because my body sucks in general with microdermals.
Remember those awesome April fool’s day posts that used to happen here?
Remember those awesome April fool’s day posts that used to happen here?
Remember those awesome April fool’s day posts that used to happen here?
Remember those awesome April fool’s day posts that used to happen here?
You people are idiots.
You people are idiots.
You people are idiots.
You people are idiots.
HOLY FUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!
HOLY FUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!
HOLY FUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!
HOLY FUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!
I considered subdermals vs. transdermals for about two years before finally getting implants. I chose subdermals mostly because they would heal faster and easier.
I considered subdermals vs. transdermals for about two years before finally getting implants. I chose subdermals mostly because they would heal faster and easier.
I considered subdermals vs. transdermals for about two years before finally getting implants. I chose subdermals mostly because they would heal faster and easier.
I considered subdermals vs. transdermals for about two years before finally getting implants. I chose subdermals mostly because they would heal faster and easier.
And Sean, what do you expect when you get a lot of experimental work done at once?
There’s no way I would get five ordinary piercings done in one sitting.
And Sean, what do you expect when you get a lot of experimental work done at once?
There’s no way I would get five ordinary piercings done in one sitting.
And Sean, what do you expect when you get a lot of experimental work done at once?
There’s no way I would get five ordinary piercings done in one sitting.
And Sean, what do you expect when you get a lot of experimental work done at once?
There’s no way I would get five ordinary piercings done in one sitting.
I’m truly disappointed that there is no April Fools Day post…..come on Mod-Blog, you said you had no submissions so you had nothing to do….boooooooo!
I’m truly disappointed that there is no April Fools Day post…..come on Mod-Blog, you said you had no submissions so you had nothing to do….boooooooo!
I’m truly disappointed that there is no April Fools Day post…..come on Mod-Blog, you said you had no submissions so you had nothing to do….boooooooo!
I’m truly disappointed that there is no April Fools Day post…..come on Mod-Blog, you said you had no submissions so you had nothing to do….boooooooo!
Out of curiosity, injecting alcohol “to dry out the excess lymph”, it’s obviously not a common after care method, but has that been done before? Has it worked?
Out of curiosity, injecting alcohol “to dry out the excess lymph”, it’s obviously not a common after care method, but has that been done before? Has it worked?