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| Split tongue two weeks post op |
BODY MODIFICATION ART
It’s almost 2020, and it’s a societal norm for individuals to have some body piercings primarily of the ears and less often belly-buttons, with a shift in the prevalence of other peri-facial piercings such as the ala of the nose, lips, tongue and the nape of the neck. Piercing of the cheek and malar (cheek bone) process, sometimes known as a “teardrop” or dermal anchor are on the rise. Some call it a form of “artistic expression” known as Body Modification Artistry and it’s one of several drastic and bizarre procedures to be performed by tattoo artists.
HUMAN EXAMPLES:
Lizard man, Stalking cat man, and the all black tattooed man are examples of extreme forms of Body modification “art”. I was advised of this label by my patient, and my idea of art doesn’t look like this. This is a radical and risky life altering, mutilating, procedure particularly with splitting the tongue, creating a forked appearance like a lizard.
SOME FACTS:
What’s the purpose of having ones tongue split down the middle? Some believe it’s a right of passage to experience the pain, it supposedly teaches self discipline or physical endurance. Having a procedure like this without any local anesthesia is probably extremely painful. Tattoo parlors are unlicensed and thus unauthorized to administer an injection to numb the tongue. Individuals seeking this treatment generally are prepared for the procedure. I know when I bite my own tongue that draws blood and how it throbs sometimes for a day later. I traumatize a small area, nothing close to the area involved with this procedure.
THE PROCEDURE:
After having the tongue surgically divided with a scalpel, an incision is cut made in between the closed clamps, each side is then sutured closed, again without the sensation of numbing. In the absence of local anesthesia there is little vasoconstriction of the abundant blood supply and potentially poor control of bleeding. The tongue is a very vascular organ and local anesthesia is necessary for incisions on the tongue. After the procedure the tongue has a tendency to swell disproportionate to the treatment and the lack of vasoconstrictor. Swelling that encroaches on the posterior tongue can be tricky especially if an individual has a sleep breathing obstructive disorder, because this can have a serious consequence of closing off the airway space. Thus creating a major complication and possibly loss of a patent airway leading to death.
MY EXPERIENCE:
My first hand experience as an Oral Surgeon was with an individual who had sought out a "reputable tattoo artist" in NYC. The patient presented to me for suture removal approximately one week after the procedure because he didn’t want to trek into the city to have his sutures removed. At the time he was unable to speak during the initial visit due to significant pain he was experiencing and he had no control over the two halves of his tongue. He presented with a family member who was able to speak for the patient. Here he is one week after the suture removal and two weeks after the procedure. Upon his first appointment the tissues didn't look as healthy and the tongue was very covered with plaque and materia alba. I prescribed Perioguard an oral antimicrobial rinse for him to use during the healing phase and antinflammatories prn. This seemed
Stay tuned for Part 2. I will talk about the risks and other aspects of this art form.
The Girldoc 😉
https://medium.com/@nitinbhatt/16-most-extreme-cultural-body-modifications-in-the-world-f996b311036d
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