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| Body modification |
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| Removal of tissue |
| Modification of tissue |
| Addition to tissue |
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Body modification (orbody alteration) is the deliberate altering of thehuman anatomy orhuman physical appearance.[1] In its broadestdefinition it includes skintattooing, socially acceptable decoration (e.g., commonear piercing in many societies), and religiousrites of passage (e.g.,circumcision in a number of cultures), as well as themodern primitive movement.
Body modification is performed for a large variety of reasons, includingaesthetics, sexual enhancement, rites of passage,religious beliefs, to display group membership or affiliation, in remembrance of lived experience, traditional symbolism such asaxis mundi andmythology, to createbody art, forshock value, and as self-expression, among other reasons.[1][2]
What counts as "body modification" varies in cultures. In western cultures, the cutting or removal of one's hair is not usually considered body modification. Body modification can be contrasted with body adornment by defining body modification as "the physical alteration of the physical body [...] can be temporary or permanent, although most are permanent and modify the body forever".[3]