Implant (body modification)

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In body modification, an implant is a device placed under the human skin for decorative purposes. Such implants may be subdermal or transdermal. In the context of body modification, some may consider injections of silicone and other substances a type of implant as well.

Some types of implants may be performed by doctors or other medical professionals, while others are performed by cutters.

Contents 1 Implants and procedures 1.1 Clavicle or collarbone piercing 1.2 Deep chest piercing 1.3 Eyeball implant 1.4 Flesh stapling, flesh plating and pocketing 1.5 Genital beading and genital ribs 1.6 Horn implants 1.7 Magnetic implants 1.8 Scrotal implant 1.9 Subdermal implant 1.10 Surface piercing 1.11 Transdermal implant

[edit] Implants and procedures

[edit] Clavicle or collarbone piercing

A very deep piercing that passes beneath the collarbone, and therefore enters the body cavity.

[edit] Deep chest piercing

A deep chest piercing is a long piercing that passes under the skin of the chest and may be several inches long.

[edit] Eyeball implant

An eyeball implant, or extraocular implant is a cosmetic implant involving a tiny piece of decorative jewelry which is implanted within the superficial, interpalpebral conjunctiva of the human eye. Such implants are illegal in the United States, and are currently available only in the Netherlands.

[edit] Flesh stapling, flesh plating and pocketing

A flesh staple is a type of piercing jewellery or implant in which the middle, rather than the end of the jewellery is exposed when worn. The jewellery resembles a staple, the ends of which pierce the skin and hold the item in place.

A flesh plate works on the same principle, but has a different shape, resembling a flat plate rather than a staple.

Flesh pocketing achieves a similar effect to flesh stapling and plating, but with a lower rate of success.

[edit] Genital beading and genital ribs

Genital beading (also known as yakuza beads, love beads or pearling) is a process in which beads or other small objects are implanted beneath the shaft skin of the penis, or into the labia.

Genital ribs are short, slightly curved rods of various materials such as stainless steel, titanium, teflon, or silicone placed under the shaft skin of the penis.

[edit] Horn implants

In this modification, small pieces of Teflon are inserted beneath the skin of the forehead, giving the appearance of small horns. These can be gradually replaced with larger and larger pieces as the skin stretches, creating larger horns.

The first set of horn implants were done by Steve Haworth on The Enigma.

[edit] Magnetic implants

An experimental process in which small magnets are placed under the skin, allowing objects to be magnetically attached to the body. Some designs are for the purpose of sensory experimentation, in which the movement of the implant in the presence of magnetic fields can be felt by the individual. An account of an early sensory experiment can be found here.

Magnetic implants, as with all body modification, has inherent risk, as described in an account here.

[edit] Scrotal implant

A scrotal implant is an implant placed into the scrotum. The implants may be designed for this purpose (for example, Neuticles), or be of any implant-grade material.

[edit] Subdermal implant

A subdermal implant, also known as a 3D implant or a 3D-Art Implant, is an object inserted under the skin to create a decorative appearance. Steve Haworth is generally agreed to have created and popularized such implants.

Subdermal implants are usually installed by creating a hole in the skin which is expanded to allow insertion of the object, and then sutured closed. Magnets and RFID transmitters have been implanted in humans using this method.

[edit] Surface piercing

A surface piercing is a piercing that travels beneath the surface of the skin (on the arm, for example) rather than through a protruding portion of the anatomy such as the earlobe. Surface piercings can be placed on nearly any area of the body, provided they are not subject to too much movement or the risk of impact damage or infection from contact with contaminants such as dirt.

[edit] Transdermal implant

A transdermal implant (or percutaneous implant), also known as a microdermal implant or surface anchor, is an implant incorporating a flat plate that sits beneath the skin with an externally visible portion incorporating a bead, spike or other item that appears to float on the surface of the skin. Such implants have a very high rate of successful healing, and usually heal within two days.