On the fringe of the fringe: Risks and legal issues

It is imperative that you don't even think of piercing or suspending yourself or anyone else unless you're a professional, trained in proper sterilization, CPR and blood-borne pathogens (preferably a member of the Association of Professional Piercers -- you can find local APP members at www.bodypiercinginfo.biz/index.html). Even the most mainstream stuff is possibly dangerous. And consider the more serious piercings and modifications only if you're over 18.

Is it legal?

Outside of requiring a business license and parental consent for certain piercings, the industry is essentially unregulated in Washington and only somewhat regulated in Oregon.

Some states try to regulate certain procedures -- for example, the legality of tongue-splitting is currently an issue in Illinois. This lack of legislation gives piercers more latitude in doing things such as suspensions. Participants often sign waivers, accepting responsibility for their own safety.

With more fringe behavior, such as trepanation (drilling a hole in one's skull) and even amputations, which are illegal, people go to underground clinics to get them done.

No one interviewed for the above story actively condemned amputations, and most said they understand why people choose to have them.

"I could make an argument as to why someone should or shouldn't be able to do it (amputations)," says Ryan Ouellette, editor of Xtreme Body Mod magazine.

"I wouldn't get in over my head on a procedure. There are lots of things I don't want to do personally, like tongue splitting or implants ... even if I had some sort of training in doing them, which I don't."

Although piercer and implant specialist Steve Haworth doesn't condemn the choice, he won't do amputations or other kinds of body-part removal.

"People get modified for four different reasons: Aesthetics, shock value, spirituality or sexual enhancement, but ... I don't do modifications that take away from a person's ability to function in day-to-day life," says Haworth, who describes himself as a 3-D artist, with flesh as his medium.

When asked if there was any place where he would draw a line between modification and mutilation, Body Modification Ezine publisher Shannon Larratt responded, "The easiest way to be 'mutilated' is by acting without foresight. A person who enters body modification with a clear head and a clear heart will never be mutilated."

Although Xtreme Body Mod features stories on some fringe procedures, it also carries articles on the risks involved and regulations in various states, and Ouellette says that his shop turns away people for whom a certain piercing, scar or tattoo doesn't seem like a reasoned lifestyle choice.

But there are people who won't turn anyone away.

"There's always going to be some idiot who says 'I can do whatever you want,'" says Ouellette, who adds that anyone wanting any sort of body modification -- extreme or not -- should do plenty of thinking and research before getting anything done. And finding the most qualified person at the cleanest place is one way of cutting down on the risk of things going wrong.

It's important to ask a lot of questions about sterilization procedures and what you want done. "If they don't know the answers, then they probably shouldn't be doing it," says Ouellette.

Seattle piercer Rion Wickersham says he discusses major modifications over the phone only if the person is out of state. "If they're serious, they should be able to come in for a consultation."

Larratt says media coverage of the community has led to more interest from the public and, therefore, a growing community, which he thinks is good, but the result could be construed as a downside.

"The accessibility of heavy procedures has also dramatically increased. This has meant that people tend to 'graduate' from lighter procedures such as piercing and tattooing up to heavy surgical procedures in a very short time period. ... They certainly increase the risk factor,

"I hope that people don't think that just because it's easy to get something that it should be taken lightly."

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