Cutting Into Body Art: Scarification

Everybody has some scars. Maybe from a time a broken bone pierced skin, a fall onto a sharp corner or even just from burning a thumb on a hot stove, you can look at your own body right now and probably pick out one scar. The pale spot, slightly unlevel with the rest of your skin, sits there as a reminder of something that happened. Although it hurt and bled and stung, the wound healed.

Well now that type of healing process is an art for many brave individuals. Scarification, methods of cutting and branding skin, are becoming increasingly popular in place of standard tattooing.

Actually, scarification has been around for a while now as a popular body modification option, but it has been underground. With not many trained and willing artists, it is not nearly as popular as a traditional tattoo. Also, the thought of pain and trouble quickly turns many possible patrons away. There are two major methods to scarification: cutting and branding.

CUTTING

Cutting first of all is just like it sounds. It is very similar to getting a tattoo, only instead of drawing in the design with ink, the artist cuts away top layers of skin revealing the tender, bloody tissue beneath. By first inking the design on skin, the artist will, by some method or another, remove enough skin to leave a relatively large space of open wound. Just as with any scar, this heals into the noticeable skin difference. As any scar, it heals over time in that shape if untreated, and produces an area of skin discernable from the rest of a person’s complexion.

Many artists use scalpels and medical equipment for the job, but any person wishing to get a scar is better to do research into the artist he chooses. As can be imagined, there are risks and benefits from the practice. Infection is a huge problem, and depending on where a person decides to get scarred, he will need very willing and present friends to help keep areas clean. There is pain, just as with any large wound, and excessive bleeding at first.

BRANDING

Branding is similar to the practice most people know, burning the skin. It is usually a heat burn, but on rarer occasions people do get cold burned. Some people choose to go with what can be considered a traditional brand, in that is the type usually seen done to life stock with a metal pole attached to the heated print. Other artists have moved into a more technological age, welcoming tools like heat and laser power drawing equipment.

This includes many of the same risks as cutting, and I urge again the importance in choosing an artist wisely. Be sure to make sure the method you wish to use is a style of the artist, and don’t be afraid to start communication!

To most people, this sounds insane, but the popularity is growing. Although scarification is still less popular than standard tattooing, and will most likely remain the minority, it is spreading.

So is this some new pop culture flame that will dwindle out after a generation of kids test their pain endurance? No. Scarification, as most people will know or realize, has a long history in many cultures and world regions. Branding is already understood to have a long history. Cutting as well, is used by African tribes to define groups and show identity. It holds religious and cultural ties to many people, on top of the aesthetic reasons of other people.

Some people even use it to experience a sense of euphoria caused by a release of endorphins by the brain. In the end, scarification is making its way quickly into popular culture. So be proud of your scars, and don’t be afraid to consider getting a couple more!