Surgeon blasts new 'corset piercing' fad where pierced skin is pulled together with ribbons
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:54 PM on 5th May 2011
Forget tattoos, belly button piercings and Lady Gaga-style silicone implants - the latest craze in body modification is 'corset piercing' where metal rings are pierced into the skin and joined together with a ribbon to give a corset effect.
The 'decoration', which can cost up to £300, can be applied to any area of the body where the skin is loose enough to pinch in order to thread a needle through. Popular areas include the back, ribs and, in some cases, even the throat.
But a cosmetic surgeon has now warned of the dangers of the bizarre trend which is sweeping the UK, saying the scarring following the procedure can be 'absolutely horrendous'.
Body modification: 'Corset piercing' is the latest craze sweeping the UK. It involves sticking hoops into the skin and then threading them with ribbon
Some have endured an hour of pain to achieve the corset effect but it's only temporary - after a few weeks of wear they simply grow out, leaving scars in their place. It appears to be the latest in the 'body modification' phenomenon, which has seen people going to extraordinary levels in a bid to stand out from the crowd.
Today it's possible to be branded, scarred and even have silicone implanted under the skin to create bumps and 'horns'. Eccentric popstar Lady Gaga is just one celebrity who's jumped on the bandwagon. She sported bizarre flesh-coloured 'horns' on her face during a television interview in February this year.
According to piercing experts, the 'corset' modification is growing in popularity as more and more brave the pain.
But consultant plastic surgeon Kevin Hancock, a council member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons who works at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Merseyside, warned of the problems it can cause.
He said: 'I can't believe it's something that people would be attracted to. 'Any piercing, superficial or otherwise, produces a scar and different people scar in different ways. 'For some, the scarring may be slight but for others it can produce problems where the tissue overgrows and you end up with a red lump which is permanent.
'In some cases this can be absolutely horrendous.
'I have to say it seems absolutely barking to me. I was amazed when I saw pictures of this piercing - it would be extremely painful and it's only temporary.
Originally Posted by fettpett
