In the process of scarification, scars are formed by cutting or branding the skin. There are many reasons why people may turn to scarification. Aesthetically, scarifications are usually more visible on darker skinned people than tattoos. Also, unlike tattoos, scarifications are a product of one's own body.
There are also religious and social reasons for scarification. According to some tribal belief in Africa, producing scars on newborn children helps preventing vision related illness. There may also be religious expressions used in the scarification process.
Scarification is not a precise art; there are many variables, such as skin type, depth of the cut, and how the wound is treated while healing, that make the outcome somewhat unpredictable.
The body creates the scar, not the artist; it is important to keep in mind that a method that works well on one person may not work so well on another. Also, the scars tend to spread a bit as they heal, so scarifications are usually relatively simple designs -- small details can easily get swallowed up in the healing process.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Scarification Tattoos
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86 comments:
I don't think anything has ever traumatised me quite so much.
i agree....
hehe, i think most of it is gorgeous, though the pics of the discarded flesh is a little unsettling, however, you would never catch me with a pet cut into my flesh. your body your choice...
Wow.. you must really love yourself in order to do that... what I found most disturbing was the father who decided that he would mutilate his little girl with the same scar as he had. No one made him scar himself...now his daughter doesn't have that choice.
i think that this is the most disturbing thing that i have ever saw. anyone that does this to themselves should have their head examined. THe guy that did that to his daughter should be arrested cause u know that she didn't ask for that to be done!!!!
michelle, the guy didnt scar his daughters head. its just pen. its like getting a tattoo, they wont do it on little kids.
i think its interesting. i kinda want to get sparrows on the top of my feet or on my chest(:
This is scary that people actually want to do this to themselves. tattoo's are one thing, but branding yourself or cutting out your skin. EW! what is that going to look like in 20 years?????
people need to stop being so f#%king weird!!!!
i know i know to each thier own..... but still.
i think its funny that people freak out so bad over this. i think its gorgeous. its an art form, just like tattoos and piercings. its a way to decorate your body. i actually have several and they dont hurt very much and are very easy during the healing process.
For the record, scarification is exponentially less painful than tattoos. I have several tattoos on my rib cage (one of them is huge), and they were all absolutely excruciating. There is no way to describe that pain. The scarification I have done on my stomach was virtually painless; it just felt like being scratched over and over again.
Please do not be so disrespectful of other people's life choices. It is offensive and, quite frankly, ignorant. I'm sure you have done things that I would not approve of, but I do not voice my opinion in such a derogatory manner. It is find to be grossed out (and I understand if you are; blood bothers most people), but it is not acceptable to be so blatantly rude. Unless, of course, you are prepared to take, in stride and without offense, what you dish out.
For christ's sake, it's an art form. Even if you wouldn't do it to yourself, you need to recognize it as such.
wow...while personally grossed out by the blood and pieces of flesh unfoutantly it makes my skin crawl i understand i got my first two peircings done recently and some thought i was crazy. but i understand to each their own... but dear god the healing pictures makes my skin crawl that is one brave person
Actually, unlike tattoos which can fade over time with exposure to sunlight and exfoliation, scarification probably holds up better over time.
The process is painful, it looks like a surgery chamber, and yes the risk of infection is far greater than a piercing or tattoo. All of that aside, it is beautiful.
sick
Can anyone tell me where the woman with the bamboo scar got it done, I am really interested and would like to make sure I go to a place that is accustomed to scarification and that also produces beautiful results??? Thanks
Interesting, some amazing designs...I'm think of getting a scar sometime in the next year or so...It's just that I don't know if the place I got all my piercings is accustomed to scarification.
uhh...that prolly wouldnt hurt that much but as for the guy who said tatoos r horrible, i think its just a matter of who gets them. like every1 thought i was crazy when i got mine cuz its directly on my spinal cord under my neck. hell the most pain ive went through was gauging my ear. that hurt like crazy cuz i went from piercing it with a sewing needle without ice to jamming a 14 gauge through like 5 minutes later. i think scarification is really cool but not the thing for me
Thie form of tattooing is absolutely magnificant. It's a pretty interesting way to do it. Turn something seen usually as an accident into something to look at thats really exciting. The shading of that elephant was absolutely beautiful. I really want one so badly. The bamboo one was also wonderful. The flesh color left makes it look sketched and cartoonish like a print, I love it.
i agree with many that it is extremly ignorrant to be so blatantly rude about peoples life choices and their body art i mean these people took something that was very important to them and had it engraved in to them forever it is not right to be so rude about that and it is not necessary. many of the scarification pictures are absolutly stunning and have actually inspired me to get my own work done.
very awesome art,beautiful.....
you make it!!!
It excites me in ways tattoos have never been able to do, just beautiful ^.^
So many people are so ignorant when it comes to body mods.
A lot of these look pretty well, they seemed to have healed nicely- except for the girl with the big keloid on her chest. Big, thick scars like that can limit a persons movement.
I want a few scarifications, but I'm a bit worried about how they'll scar, and how well they'll hold up. But I'm not too worried. I think they're beautiful.
I think these are amazing ! Though the bits of skin are a little sickening, the result is beautiful. I'd love to get a tiny one saying love on my inner left wrist, but I'm not sure that's possible because of the veins there... Anyone know ?
I might get one on my right arm. In my opinion, this is better than regular tattoo.
Personally, if I were to get that done - and I am now thinking about it no matter how much those picture traumitized me - it would have to be small. I'm used to pain like that and I do have a lot of scars from trips and falls that have been particularly bad. But I don't think I can stand a really huge one. Just something small on one of the stronger parts of my body. Something meaningful. But I wouldn't prefer this over tattoos. I think they're both good despite flaws, just that tattoos can have colour while scars can't. Plus the risen skin isn't that attractive at some points. Also that the results vary so much unsettles me because say I do it and it doesn't come out the way I want it? I'm fucked. With tattoos, you're sure.
To each his own can only go so far, but as a person who's gone through tattoos and pierceings I am willing to acknowledge that there comes a time when people have to admit that what they're doing is outside the bounds of normal humanity. Let's face it fellow freaks, most suits aren't going to say "Gee, I want to cut pieces of my skin off and give myself a scar on purpose." Because that's WEIRD, lol. I did scarifictaion before I even knew what it was, and to be wierd. That's why people do body mods, to be different. So for all the people pointing the finger of ignorance, let me remind you of the man/woman in the mirror. I have all these, and KNOW I'm considered a freak, so if I'm labeled as such so be it. According to Webster a freak is "one that is markedly unusual or abnormal.". Be honest, will people hate on you because you like this? Sure, but it's because they don't feel a need to be a freak. Personally, I LOVE the feeling of getting a tattoo (yes, even on my spine, lol) and I'll be honest enough to admit to being a freak. But unlike people who try to defend it, I just sit back and enjoy it. :)
That's freaking nasty. People who do that are freaks, and I freely admit that. Call me a suit, zombie, or whatever you want, but people let themselves get sliced up like that are just friggen gross.
i have a tiny heart on my side that i have done myself and it didnt hurt at all and healed in a few days.
it's no different from tattoos really.
A lot of these scars look hypertrophic, and I can tell you from experience that this type of scar can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Mine constantly itch and sometimes sting, even 6 years later. Be careful. I didn't get my scars on purpose, btw.
What nobody has yet mentioned is the fact that scarification was used by tribes in africa long ago and even now as form of identification. Its not weird, and even less so as an art form.
i think it looks really neat. i'd like it, but they only had full african and caucasian people. i'm mixed and i'd like to see how that heals. also i really want it ! haha,except it looks so painful. would i recieve pain killers or numbing stuff ??? D:
The African blood in you may cause you to heal with keloid scars--the thick, raised ones. There are several different ways to perform scarification, though, and each heals slightly differently. That piece is very, very fresh; scarification does not generally stay such a bright red forever.
You will not receive pain killers or a topical numbing agent. The amount of pain involved in scarification varies from method to method, though; tattoo machine scarification, for instance, is no more painful than a tattoo and can be less painful, depending on the area. If you've got questions, you can email me at pancakegenocide@gmail.com. I have a couple of scarification pieces myself.
Wow... Some of them are really beautiful, like the bamboo one that everyone seems to like and the one with the really fine lines on the guy's chest. On the other hand, some of them looked really gross to me, especially the really raised ones. But that's just my personal opinion. I take my hat off to the people who have the guts to go through that, but I think i'll stick to tatts.
To the guy who wants to scar his inner wrist...why don't u try a scar on ur jugular, i'm sure it'll be by far the most unusual freaky interesting one and u can go str8 to ur God and ask him if it'll heal nicely, right? :))
u guys are really crying for attention. ur not freaks at all. just crying for attention.begging.
I think this is beautiful. I wish I could get one but body mod and keloids don't normally mix. BUT if I could I would get a jasmine flower on my side, I'm not sure whether I would get it branded or cut though.
is there a difference in the results of burning and cutting? im thinking of getting on on my hip but i would like to know which is more likely to show, i am a mix of white, mexican, and ak native.
i guarantee the daughters is only marker or something, she probably wanted to be like daddy so they must have drawn it on there
Scarification is a beautiful, and dangerous, form of art. I have some self-done scarifications, and plan on adding more. However, it is much more permanenet than a tattoo or piercing, which can be removed or covered up, and insanely more painful! I love my results, though. The first night, had trouble sleeping and I walked with a limp. The scrubbing hurt like a mother drop kicking you through a window. All in all, totally worth it.
That is the dumbest shit I have ever seen.
My friend is getting this done. They used to be a "cutter" and now they are taking their scars from that and making a design out of it. Thats what I noticed that some of these people did.
I don't think by hurting yourself you are showing love for tattoos. I agree there are so many beautiful designs. But you can get it by ink also.
I have had a scarification done through cutting and it is not very painful. Less painful than a paper cut if done by a professional, which was my case. I didn't want a tattoo because I don't like the fact of injecting a foreign substance into my skin forever. I have no tattoos but I got a scar because I figured it would be less permanent, and it is! I got it done over after 2 years because I liked it so much...the most painful part is scratching it to make it heal slowly. But how much you scratch is up to you, the longer it takes it to heal, the more it will scar. Some people just let it heal on it's own. I heal scars very well, so who knows, i may get it done over again, or I may let it disappear gently, so when I get old and my skin starts to sag I won't regret it so much !!! But that's just me, I think all types of body mod is ok as long as it's done to yourself and you approve of it.
i think this is AWESOME! i've always wanted a tattoo but never pulled thru with it for the sole purpose that i didnt want ink in my skin for life....but scarring is such a better alternative in my eyes. you get the design, plus it's not as visible. i don't think there is a single thing wrong with this. i'm gona go hit the drawing board. lol
1st look at that little girls head its ink. A temp henna desing. Itll wash away. 2nd I luv this stuff. Im all bout it. I jus sat thu a 3 hour session bout a month ago on my arm. Good stuff were all individuals why look alike?
i think these are really quite beautiful. i would absoluty LOVE to get one! the only thing i thought was a bit disturbing, was the nuke sign in the scab stage and the bits of skin. but all in all a really interesting form of body art. if you dont agree, why look it up, and put down somthing others enjoy?
phicI recently discovered my son was into scarification...I heard never heard of it before and to tell the truth, it upsets me. BUT, I love him. He is not a freak. He is incredibly intelligent and beautiful. I don't understand it and would never choose it for myself, or for him, quite frankly. But you know what, it's not my choice. For some reason he finds it important to express himself. I still cry thinking of him doing this to his body, though. So while I empathize with those who are grossed out, I also ask you to soul search-each of us are freaks in some way. We just aren't alway honest about it.
Why should I be forced to look at someone's chosen form of mutilation? I also don't want to see Katie Courac's colonoscopy. Keep it to yourselves people. Scarification is another exaggerated form of egotism. It's another "me generation" exclusive.
I figured people wuld look at these pics who were intreastd in the art. Not people who just want to say negitive things ewww thats soo gross...Well dont look then easy. I think your ugly. Its all a matter of opion.
well... I cringed - I think I'm too empathetic, and endure enough physical pain already to NOT cringe when I see someone removing chunks of their flesh.
I am considered, well, eccentric. I don't have a single piercing, tattoo or any kind of body mod, and can still be unique and not like everyone else.
In an ironic way, when you mark yourself in this way, you ARE belonging - perhaps to a smaller number, but you are very "in" with your group.
The hardest way to be an individual is to do what NO ONE else does, and choose to believe that who you are, what you are - all those things, are at once common to all others while vastly different.
Real individuality is not carried outside, instead, it blooms from within.
What a bunch of fuds.
I think that these body mods are BEAUTIFUL... i couldn't do it, im a wuss, but i do think that a lot of these come out looking magnificent!
josie- omg i used to cut my self, and this is no different.. u just pay someone to do it.. wow what has the world come to?
why would anyone do this to themselves…
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I dont see why everyone's so bothered about this... it's just liked tattoos but just messier... I dont see why its that big of a deal... apparently this hurts less too...
Wow these are beautiful. I think the one I like best is the trebel clef symbol. Simple, I know, but I like the look of the raised scarring. I don't have any myself, but it is interesting to say the least. Really no different from tatooing, just another form of mutilation.
I think scarification is really cool. I love some of the designs on your page. I am thinking about getting one, but I don't know if I'm that brave just yet. Do you know of any places in OK that do it?
To all the people who said these people are freaks; i get it. Did you ever think they wanna be a freak?(:
I have a couple self-scarifications, and none hurt whatsoever. Some people say the cutting process is almost euphoric. But to all the people who think it's the same as self mutilation, you are way off. Self injury, poisoning, or harming (whatever you call it) is because of many different reasons. Most 'cutters' cut because they experience Hyperstress, which means you have far too much stress than you can handle. The cutting helps you because it calms you down, and makes you focus on the physical pain rather than the emotional pain you might be going through. Another reason why people cut themselves is because they feel numb, or they feel like nothing matters. When you experience this feeling, you can honestly say it's one of the worst feelings in the world, because you feel as though no matter what you do, it will never have a point to it. The self mutilation heals that because if you feel pain, it's better than feeling nothing.
Scarification, however, is no different than tattoos. Tattoos also have a superfluous amount of pain for most people, and wouldn't that be considered self mutilation too?
All in all, scarification is lovely. Most of these pictures are amazing. And as for the father/daughter picture, the daughter clearly has ink. It would be unlawful to give a scarification or body modification of any kind (besides possibly an ear piercing) to such a young kid.
i think it is pretty awesome if u can stand it then get it done im getting some strike branding done on my arm hoping it turns out great like these did
That is so cool :) I want to get some done :)
Dude, so many freaking comments... I stopped reading just over halfway.
I have just gone for my second scarification piece yesterday and i love it. It didn't hurt, though going over existing scar tissue (from last scarification). I got them done at Modify in Adelaide, South Australia by Efix Roy, known over the world for his famous Body Modification's both to hims self and his work on others. I feel privildged to have been scarred by him and i am going to do it again.
Now as for why. I was a cutter (self mutilation) and what i did was so bad at times i couldn't even walk due to the pain in my legs from cuts , they would constantly break open and i would be in pain for a few days. This doesn't even compare to that pain. I DID receive anesthetic (after the first cut to put the design on your skin, generally shallow cuts), and it did help though at times there was some discomfort or pain. But all in all i love them...
I dont have any tattoos yet but that is not of my own choice. My job wouldn't allow me to get any and then they fired me for no reason so... They are coming in the future...
Scarification is just another form of expression hate it if you will but dont hate it for the wrong reasons. Accept its gunna happen bitches! Cuz i wont stop and neither will everyone else.
If you want to see pics of mine both during the procedure and healing add me on facebook (Maddie Millward) or msn daughter_darkness01@hotmail.com
I have piercings, stretched ears, and i love tattoos, but this makes me feel physically sick, cutting off your own skin, to have somewhat the same effect as a tattoo, you can't remove these, and i just find it revolting.
i think it is very interseting that people are willing to scrape off skin to leave marks. it shows that they want it bad enough to go through the pain... i personaly would like one. but for it to be that permanent i wouldnt want some stupid design it would have to mean alot to me!
i think this is an amazing form of art. i've always cut pictures into my skin and didn't realize i wasn't the only one till i was about 18. now i would like to get it profesionaly done. it doesn't look and foreign and a tattoo (though i love tattoos and have some). it looks as if it's part of you and i love that.
I love how two people flipped out about the little girl with the purple marks on her head to match the fathers.
OBVIOUSLY those are not cut marks. Who bleeds purple?
I'm doing a senior project on scarification, so if anyone is interested in getting it done or has already gotten it done and wouldn't mind discussing why, please leave a comment following this one with an email address so I can contact you.
Well, clearly you have to be slightly insane to do this to yourself. Trying to pass it off as art is a joke, no matter how well done the actual images. This is a form of self-mutilation done by sad people who have no respect for their own bodies. There are better ways to make a point!
Beautiful work. [=
As someone who has a piece of scarification art (and yes, it IS art), I find many of these comments disgusting, narrow minded, and just plain ignorant. If you don't like the art form, fine; you're choice. However, that doesn't give you the ultimate right to pass judgement on those who do like this art form. We are not self-mutilators any more than the millions of people who have a tattoo. This is just another form of body art, and an ancient, beautiful, and very flexible one, at that.
Last time I checked naysayers their body is their choice it may seem taboo to you but to other cultures putting a hunk of metal into a Childs mouth to straighten their teeth is taboo so I think we should accept the way other people do things because these people didn't ask you same as I didn't ask the girl that sits next to me in 1st period if I could get one and she always tells me I'm gross but I don't care because its my body and if I want to wear crosses on my legs because i think they are beautiful doesn't mean I wanted your opinion I chose to do mine because it had historical value with cultures around the world and I think it is beautiful and so do they so leave them alone
I cant wait to start working on my piece, its beautiful, people seem to freak out over scars which i don't see why. chances are if ur alive you have scars why not try manipulating it into something of ur liking. I have the self mutilation scars there's a HUGE difference in those and these
Its just a form of expression. It may seem extreme to some, but that doesn't mean you have to put it down. I'm not religious, that doesn't mean I seek out blogs about religion to put them down. Respect, people. And acceptance.
I dont think the Dad is actually going to scar his daughter, hes only drawn on the same scars, its just pen!
I think these are beautiful! All of them.
Why does everyone say hes a bad father he used pen to copy his scars
I have a tattoo AND I have also had a skin graft done. The skin graft was EXTREMELY painful from the area where the skin was taken. (I had a s=huge skin cancer on the top of my head and skin from my thigh was taken to cover it, so I already have a huge scar on my leg and my head - head will NOT grow hair ever again so I have a large indented bald spot on the top of my head)
I am not sure if the same process is done basically for scarification, but there is NO WAY I would ever want to go through that again!
Ridiculous. Only a fool to call it art. Freak. Sick. Stupid.
The best bit about this, is you can actually do it yourself if you really want to. I myself have one on the back of each hand, which I did myself. I think it's beautiful
tdeek1768 & michelle
..if you really think that was a scarification on the little girl then you are retarded
anyone else who thinks that needs to take a closer look at the picture...
ITS PURPLE MARKER!
take your ignorance elsewhere
id rather have the regular tat in my opinion.. for me this is disturbing.. plus no colors for scars.. also can be a source of some diseases.. and look at the skin removed.. id fry it with flour.. yum.. :D
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=225713160801216&set=a.194148283957704.39308.185780044794528&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=249596558412876&set=a.194148283957704.39308.185780044794528&type=3&theater
I'm a piercer from Madrid (spain) and this is my last job.
completely nasty! and yes i can have my own opion and thats exactly it!!! you people are sick!!!!!!!!
To all of you who think it's so gross, think about this: It's traditional for the recipient to eat the pieces of discarded flesh.
Just because you wouldn't do it or just flat out don't understand it, don't hate it. I would never in a million years get botox or lip injections, but it's done all the time and is "acceptable" body modification. And YES, lip injections, breast implants, botox, all of that falls under the exact same category of body modification as scarification does. You can't hate one aspect and do another, it's not fair. You're fully entitled to your opinion, as we all are, but have just the barest amount of respect for the people who do this for a living, and who have chosen to do this to their bodies.
Again, just because you don't like it or don't understand it, doesn't make it wrong or those who get it "crazy". It makes you ignorant.
I love if you think it's nasty then you're automatically "ignorant". Wake up people, you're still carving out your own skin. if that's the choice you make, that's fine. but i'd hardly call it a respectable art form. it's just gross, take it for what it is.
Fascinating! Such beautiful designs in some of them too. I'll admit the process is horrifying and I'm too much of a whimp to get one myself, but I have to admit that there is a macabare beauty to it that really interests me. Though like most forms of tatoos, I have to wonder what those will look like once the owners grow older and their skin begins to sag...
All I can say is WOW, this is sooo crazy lol. Quite a cool idea tho and some of them look sooooo awesome. I dont think I would personally do it due to sickness and not healing as well as others so mine wud prob go wrong. Alltho im a fan of tats but even they stay raised for ever so imagine if i got that lol. As for sum one before saying he was proud of being a freak and not normal, well i dont believe there is such a thing as norma. Every one is different (especially personalities) and what one wants to do to there bodies thats there choice of style. Somw of it does look extream but ive seen crazier. Well good look with ur scars peeps, keep up the different trends.
People should stop whining about the little girl. It's clearly paint or something. Scars arn't purple like that. Dip Wits.
Seriously, look at the little girl.. it's purple face paint. He clearly didn't have scarification performed on her. Man, look before you judge. AT least have some slight basis to call everyone other than you a piece of crap.
lol the guy didn't get it done to his little girl, unless people bleed purple nowadays. Its just a marker.
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