Definition: Scarification - in conjunction with body modification - is the purposeful art of inflicting the body with wounds in a particular pattern and encouraging scars to build (keloid) as the wound heals.
Scarification can be done by means of three preferred methods - laser, cautery branding or cutting. Each method has pros and cons in both execution and results. Due to laws that govern surgical practices, it may not be legal to practice one or all methods of scarification in your area, so you may have to do extensive digging to find a technician who legally practices this branch of art.
To go to someone who isn't licensed to legally practice scarification could be asking for serious trouble - infection is highly likely with this kind of wound if it's not done by a skilled and meticulous artist.
Not all people are good candidates for scarification - those with great skin and strong immune systems may heal the wound clean, leaving no traces of scarring behind. Keloiding is also imprecise as some areas may scar up more than others, resulting in an uneven design.
Because of the pain and commitment involved, and the fact that you have to be prepared that it may not create the results you're hoping for despite the time, pain, and expense involved, scarification isn't for everyone. It's considered an "extreme" form of body modification and is usually reserved only for the most die-hard enthusiasts.
Also Known As: cutting, branding
Scarification can be done by means of three preferred methods - laser, cautery branding or cutting. Each method has pros and cons in both execution and results. Due to laws that govern surgical practices, it may not be legal to practice one or all methods of scarification in your area, so you may have to do extensive digging to find a technician who legally practices this branch of art.
To go to someone who isn't licensed to legally practice scarification could be asking for serious trouble - infection is highly likely with this kind of wound if it's not done by a skilled and meticulous artist.
Not all people are good candidates for scarification - those with great skin and strong immune systems may heal the wound clean, leaving no traces of scarring behind. Keloiding is also imprecise as some areas may scar up more than others, resulting in an uneven design.
Because of the pain and commitment involved, and the fact that you have to be prepared that it may not create the results you're hoping for despite the time, pain, and expense involved, scarification isn't for everyone. It's considered an "extreme" form of body modification and is usually reserved only for the most die-hard enthusiasts.
Also Known As: cutting, branding