Since starting this webzine, I’ve delved into some of my more macabre and outsider interests. One practice that fascinates me is the extreme body modifications – they push the boundaries of what aesthetics are acceptable in society, and sometimes even what is acceptable for human beings. As body modification has become more popular, and even mainstream, tattoos and piercings no longer challenge our norms the way they used to in past decades. Plastic surgery has risen out of the secretive shadows and become something to aspire to publicly. But even as society has re-shaped its notions of how a human body can be customized, there are still many things that the masses are uncomfortable with, and even consider deviant. Today I wanted to explore some of the more unusual body modifications that are practiced by thousands of people worldwide, but that still live in the underground, and usually underpants. Let me be clear – I am not an expert on body modifications, nor am I judging any people who choose to do this to their bodies. Our body is our only true possession, and I fully believe in the right to choose what we want to do with it. These are body modifications that I was unaware of until today, and I think a lot of our readers are similarly interested in the extremes of physical modifications. That being said, I only linked to some of the more sensitive images because I didn’t request permission to put them in here. If you are queasy just reading about these modifications, I don’t recommend following the links.
Sounding:
Sounding is the act of using an instrument called a “sound” on the urethra. Apparently it is most frequently used on male genitalia, but female genitalia can also be stimulated via the urethra in some people. A sound is a long medical instrument with a rounded tip that is inserted into the urethra for stretching and stimulus purposes. It can be inserted all the way through the shaft of the penis into the area between the scrotum and the anus, where the urethra is very close to the surface of the body. Sounding is done for pleasure purposes and also to expand and stretch and dilate the urethra. Jewellery that incorporates sounds into them are the Prince’s Wand, which incorporates a longer sound, and a Pound Puppy, which uses a shorter sound and more piercings. These can be worn daily or only for play purposes.
Prince’s Wand
Urethral Reroute:
A Urethral Reroute is basically what it sounds like – re-routing the path of urine through a new hole in the urethra. This seems to be a practice for male genitalia because of the path of the urethra through the body and the proximity of it to the skin between the scrotum and the anus, making for an easy access point. A hole is made through the urethra and skin underneath the scrotum where urine can leave the body rather than through the tip of the penis. Many people DIY pierce it themselves, but a safer way is to have it done surgically to avoid infection. The urethral sphincter is not bypassed, so a person with a urethral reroute is still able to control their bladder.
See photos HERE.
Genital Bifurcation:
Genital Bifurcation is the partial or total splitting of the penis. The penis is cleanly cut down the middle into two halves. Head splitting is the most common, where the glans is split in half. Usually a meatotomy is performed prior to the head splitting; in this procedure, the meatus (or urethral opening) is split open on the underside of the glans. This can happen by mistake if a Prince Albert piercing is ripped out or grows out, or it can be done by choice. The entire penis is also sometimes split down to the bottom of the shaft, causing it to curl in on itself when erect. While this can make penetrative sex more difficult, it is still possible and enjoyable. A rarer form of genital bifurcation is known as inversion, where the glans is left intact and only the shaft is split.
See photos HERE.
Fingernail modification:
Fingernail modification can involve many different modifications to the area around the fingernail. Some variations include the removal of the nail, piercing of the nail or skin around the nail, or the removal of the skin at the base of the nail, exposing the nail past the cuticle area.
Blood Play:
This one also comes in many forms, some more common than others. It basically involves using ones own blood as a nonsexual or sexual stimulus. This can be through piercing play (temporary piercing), cutting or the use of needles and blood collection vials. Blood is either “played” with by the person letting or their partner, or sometimes consumed. It’s not just a vampire thing.
