What is body modification?

Body modification refers to a number of practices that alter the body's appearance. Body modification is also called body art. Tattooing and piercing are common types of body modification. Other types of body modification include:

• Permanent makeup: tattooing on the lips or eyes that looks like lipstick or eyeliner
• Shaping: wearing a corset to change the body's shape or placing objects like marbles underneath the skin
• Body paint: a temporary tattoo that uses henna to dye the skin
• Branding/scarification: cutting or burning the skin purposefully to leave a scar.