WARNING: This article contains graphic images of scarification.
Tattoos may be pretty commonplace these days, but one age-old body modification trend is still shocking people after taking off on social media.
Instead of traditional tattooing, where ink is inserted into the skin, scarification is a process where the top layers of skin are removed in the shape of a particular design to create a detailed scar. Ink can also be rubbed into the wound to create a special scar tattoo.
See the whole process below, and definitely don't try this out at home. With all tattooing procedures, the NHS recommends taking care to avoid infection by finding a reputable, licensed practitioner who uses sterile instruments, then following their aftercare advice.
First the design is cut or branded into the skin.
Then, the wound is left to heal over.
Before eventually looking like this.
The open cut can also be rubbed with ink straight after the procedure...
To create a coloured scar tattoo.
Body Modification
(01 of14)
Open Image ModalThis chap has inserted ball-bearings under his skin to give his tat some impressive profile (Flickr: Izatrini_com) (credit:Flickr: Izatrini_com)
(02 of14)
Open Image ModalThis is beigel head and his mate doughnut fod and their impressive cranial implants are created via saline injections. (credit:Asylum)
(03 of14)
Open Image ModalLook mate, we all like a game of Kerplunk, but you only get one face in this life (Flickr: Izatrini_com) (credit:Flickr: Izatrini_com)
(04 of14)
Open Image ModalIs this sexy? We're really not sure (Flickr: Izatrini_com) (credit:Flickr: Izatrini_com)
(05 of14)
Open Image ModalEye tatting is a fairly new craze in the body modding community (Flickr: Izatrini_com) (credit:Flickr: Izatrini_com)
(06 of14)
Open Image ModalThis man has decided to hang himself up via fish-hooks inserted in his flesh. He'd look more menacing without that little paunch. (Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(07 of14)
Open Image ModalThis chap is a devotee of the Bank Neow Shrine. He's taking part in a procession to mark the annual Vegetarian Festival in southern Thailand's town of Phuket on October 13, 2010. Those who take part slash themselves with swords, pierce their cheeks with and commit other painful acts to purify themselves (Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(08 of14)
Open Image ModalImplants are one of the pillars of body modification, though we're not entirely sure what the point of this one is (Flickr: Izatrini_com) (credit:Flickr: Izatrini_com)
(09 of14)
Open Image ModalThis horny chap (wikicommons) (credit:wikicommons)
(10 of14)
Open Image ModalThis is body builder Gregg Valentino and those muscles ain't muscles. They're mainly a substance called Synthol which is injected directly into the muscle to make them appear larger. It's weird and it's sad (wikicommons) (credit:wikicommons)
(11 of14)
Open Image Modal"Mum, Dad, Gran, this is Medusa, and she is my girlfriend." That would be awesome (Flickr: Izatrini_com) (credit:Flickr: Izatrini_com)
(12 of14)
Open Image ModalWe can't help but think his cap lets the look down (Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(13 of14)
Open Image ModalZombie, as this chap is known, seems like an interesting bloke. "I wanna start getting like Frankenstein bolts around my brain, get my eyes tattooed black, sharpen my teeth," said Zombie. That'll be nice for his kids (Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(14 of14)
Open Image ModalThis is Snake Man. Or a man who likes to call himself Snake Man. What he actually is a man with a lot of green tattoos, a split tongue and eyebrow implants who doesn't look remotely like a snake. Still, he does look pretty awesome (Getty Images) (credit:Getty)