Subdermal implant
Encyclopedia
A subdermal implant refers to a kind of body jewelry that is placed underneath the skin, therefore allowing the body to heal over the implant and creating a raised design. These kinds of implants fall under the broad category of body modification
Body modification
Body modification is the deliberate altering of the human body for any non-medical reason, such as aesthetics, sexual enhancement, a rite of passage, religious reasons, to display group membership or affiliation, to create body art, shock value, or self expression...
. Many people who have these implants use them in conjunction with other types of body modification to create a desired, dramatic effect. This process is also known as a 3-D implant or pocketing.
Types
According to the Church of Body ModificationChurch of Body Modification
The Church of Body Modification is a non-theistic religion with approximately 3,500 members in the United States. The church practices body modification in order to "strengthen the bond between mind, body, and soul" and to experience the divine.- Controversy :...
there are two main types of subdermal implants. They are known as subdermal implants and transdermal implants.
Subdermal
These are the kind of implants that are completely buried in the skin. These are used for both cosmetic and medical purposes. One of the most prominent medical uses for these is NorplantNorplant
Norplant is a form of birth control developed by the Population Council that was first approved in 1983 in Finland, where it was manufactured by Leiras Oy Pharmaceuticals...
, a contraceptive device consisting of “six levonorgestrel-releasing Silastic capsules” placed under the skin of a woman’s upper arm. The cosmetic ones can be used to create almost any desired shape. These implants are usually made of molded silicone, though you can find Teflon implants as well
Transdermal
These kind of implants are placed under the skin, but also protrude out of it. This is done through a process known as ‘dermal punching’. In an explanation of the process, The Church of Body Modification website explains that first the implant is placed in between the layers of skin. They state that it is necessary for the part of the implant that will be located under the skin to have a proper shape. This must be one with holes in it (like a figure eight) so that the body will be able to grow around it. Once the implant is placed, the part that will protrude out is exposed using a dermal punch.There are also kinds of subdermal implants that are magnetic.
Procedure
To have one of these implants installed, the procedure is much like widespread medical procedures, such as getting a pacemaker. To begin, the person performing the procedure will make an incision down to the subcutaneous layer in the skin. Then a widely-used medical instrument known as a dermal elevator separates the subcutis and the fascia which creates the pocket that the implant will be inserted into. The implant is placed where it is wanted and the incision is stitched shut. Surgical tape is often applied to minimize movement while skin fuses around the implant.Contraceptive implants in the UK and Australia are 'injected' under the skin using a special device similar to a large syringe or ear-piercing gun, and extracted through making a tiny incision at one end through which the implant is pulled out. Local anaesthetic is usually available for the extraction but is not required as the cut is so small.
History
The kinds of subdermal implants that are being done today are a fairly recent innovation. It is generally agreed upon the fact that they were pioneered as they are today by Steve HaworthSteve Haworth
Steve Haworth is a body modification artist based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is responsible for the invention and popularization of subdermal and transdermal implants, such as the "Metal Mohawk". He designed specialized medical instruments called dermal elevators for this process...
. In his shop, HTC Body Piercing in Phoenix, AZ he first began these procedures after being asked for a bracelet. He concluded that he could put a row of beads under the woman’s wrist to create the effect she desired. Since then, many different artists have done many different kinds of implants. Some of the well known names in the industry are Steve Haworth, Emilio Gonzales, and Stelarc who recently had a cell-cultivated ear implanted on his arm.
Applications
Like any body modificationBody modification
Body modification is the deliberate altering of the human body for any non-medical reason, such as aesthetics, sexual enhancement, a rite of passage, religious reasons, to display group membership or affiliation, to create body art, shock value, or self expression...
, subdermal implants are a form of self expression. Wearers choose modifications for a wide variety of reasons; motivations range from the aesthetic to the spiritual.
Physically some uses do have a functional aspect, though many subdermal implants are purely decorative.
Genital Implants
Subdermal implants placed under the skin of the penis can provide physical stimulation for both sexual partners. The most frequent form is genital beading, using small, round implants. Short, curved rods are also used, and are called "genital ribs".The "Braille Tattoo"
Klara Jirkova, a student at the Berlin University of the ArtsBerlin University of the Arts
The Universität der Künste Berlin, UdK is a public art school in Berlin, Germany, one of the four universities in the city...
raised the possibility of using subdermal implants to create "braille tattoos" readable by the blind. She proposes that small implants could be grouped to form braille characters, which she says “can be read by touch – stroke by blind people.” She suggests that, if located near the thumb where they could be read during a handshake, "braille tattoos" could help the blind recognise who they are greeting. She states that this will be a more meaningful form of body modification as it relates to the sense of touch instead of sight.
Despite the media attention Jirkova's proposal received, this application of subdermal implants is, at best, impractical. A "braille tattoo" as a form of identification between the blind would be simply gratuitous: the sightless can quite easily identify others by speaking to them. Blindness does not mean deafness and muteness. Additionally, such a procedure would have an unacceptably low success rate. It is virtually inevitable that implants will shift during healing. Shifting can be minimised by very experienced practitioners but the risk cannot be eliminated: subdermal implants should be planned with this in mind and undertaken only when the client expects and accepts this. The smooth, round implants Jirkova suggests are especially prone to shifting and it is likely that a "braille tattoo" would migrate to the point of being unreadable. The commonly seen "braille tattoo" image is a photo manipulated simulation from Jirkova's report, not a successfully completed modification.
Subdermal implants for such a purpose would be unnecessarily invasive and risky. Body art perceptible without sight has long been available through scarification
Scarification
Scarifying involves scratching, etching, burning, or superficially cutting designs, pictures, or words into the skin as a permanent body modification.In the process of body scarification, scars are formed by cutting or branding the skin...
.
Aftercare
Subdermal implants are treated like many other body modifications in their aftercare. According to the Church of Body Modification, “The most important part of aftercare is keeping your sutures clean and dry.” They also suggest strategies of using paper versus cloth products (as cloth products can hold many bacteria) to clean and cover the area of the implant and cleaning the sutures with solutions designed for sterilization of piercings. After 10–12 days, the stitches can be removed. They also say it can take up to 3 months for the desired effect to be reached. As part of their philosophy, they encourage all to “Use common sense; know your body and listen to what it needs! Take care of yourself and your modifications.” This can include seeing a medical doctor at the sign of infection or for help removing sutures. This emphasis is on making intelligent choices to keep body modifiers safe, before, during and after the process of getting a subdermal implant.Health Risks
With these kinds of implants, as with any other kind of body modification, there are associated health risks. These risks are somewhat elevated with this kind of procedure as it is similar to plastic surgery, making it more extreme and dangerous than many other kinds of body modification. Any time that the human body is opened, it must be performed in a sterile environment, in order to prevent infection. This has become a major source of controversy regarding subdermal implants.Many trained health professional are concerned for the welfare of such individuals that choose to undergo these procedures. The majority of these procedures are being performed by individuals with little to no formal medical training. They also frequently take place under less-than-ideal conditions. This concerns professionals as the risk of infection is very real.
The body modification industry is trying to make changes to the risky behaviors that are sometimes taken by unqualified people who are performing such implants. One such person trying to change things is David A. Vidra, the founder of Health Educators, Inc. Health Educators, Inc. is a company set up as “education for the modification industry.” It is set up as qualified instructors teaching proper sanitation, sterilization and other proper techniques so that these kinds of procedures can be performed safely.
Many medical doctors are still concerned, however. Dr. Phil Haeck states, “This is a deviation in surgery that has no place for someone that has taken the Hippocratic Oath
Hippocratic Oath
The Hippocratic Oath is an oath historically taken by physicians and other healthcare professionals swearing to practice medicine ethically. It is widely believed to have been written by Hippocrates, often regarded as the father of western medicine, or by one of his students. The oath is written in...
and wants to serve mankind” making it into an ethical issue.
See also
- Body ModificationBody modificationBody modification is the deliberate altering of the human body for any non-medical reason, such as aesthetics, sexual enhancement, a rite of passage, religious reasons, to display group membership or affiliation, to create body art, shock value, or self expression...
- Body piercing materialsBody piercing materialsIn modern Western body piercing, a wide variety of materials are used. Some cannot be autoclaved, and others are may induce allergic reactions, or harbour bacteria...
- Kevin WarwickKevin WarwickKevin Warwick is a British scientist and professor of cybernetics at the University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom...
- The Lizardman
- The Enigma (person)The Enigma (person)The Enigma, born Paul Lawrence, is a sideshow performer, actor, and musician who has undergone extensive body modification, including horn implants, ear reshaping, multiple body piercings, and a full-body jigsaw-puzzle tattoo...
- Microchip implant (human)Microchip implant (human)A human microchip implant is an integrated circuit device or RFID transponder encased in silicate glass and implanted in the body of a human being...