Outer Limits of Beauty

”Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” – Old Greek proverb

Among Koreans, the concept of body modification is becoming more widely accepted. One Pohang-born artist, Hyungkoo Lee, has embraced it as the inspiration of his series “Objectuals,” wherein familiar human anatomy is subjected to water, lens, and vacuum distortion, leaving viewers with a sense of being in an oddly evocative nightmare.

“Objectuals” sprang from Lee’s psychological and physiological rationalization of feeling incomplete, incompatible, and ultimately inferior to his Western counterparts while studying in the US. Dissatisfied with his comparably small hands, Lee imagined how he could alter his body. Achieving the purpose of exaggerating conceptions of beauty to the extreme, the images are disquieting as people depart from a zone of familiarity and enter into alien territory.

Though Lee’s work alters the human form using “harmless non-permanent” optical effects, most body modifications come with potential health risks. Here are some trendy body modifications and a discussion of their health implications.

Accessory Piercings

Misplace your reading glasses or watch? No problem! Eyeglasses, watches, rings, and even dimples can now all be semi-permanent fixtures on your body by having them pierced in. These are standard piercings that secure the eyewear, jewelry, or dimple mark by attaching them to the skin. They can be removed and put on with the ease of any other piercing.

Eyeball Bling

A trend started in the Netherlands has spread across the seas — eyeball jewelry! For that permanent twinkle in your eye, you can have a tiny heart, star, horse shoe, clover, or blue moon platinum stud implanted in your optic membrane. Physicians who perform the surgery say the implant could cause minor temporary bleeding and infection but poses no threat of blindness. However, the American Academy of Ophthalmology disagrees, citing that eyeball jewelry can cause blindness from infections, severe bleeding, puncture of the eye, conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), and scarring.

Stiletto Surgery and Foot Botox

87 percent of women have foot problems from wearing uncomfortable shoes, and many women say stiletto surgery is the answer to the battle between comfort and beauty. Dissatisfied with the fit of their pointed pumps, ladies are opting to either completely amputate their pinky toes or shave off part of the bone.

Rather than take away, foot Botox adds, as filler collagen is injected into the balls of the feet for extra cushioning. Clients say the modifications bring comfort and even prevent against future podiatric problems. However, the American Podiatric Medical Association suggests that foot surgery only be performed for medical reasons because there are real risks. For example, if a toe is shortened too much, the bones may not fuse, causing it to be “floppy.”

Facial Windows

 “Facial window,” while not a technical term, is the best way to describe this kind of piercing. It is basically a plug, tunnel, or expander-type piercing that stretches the skin. However, instead of a rubber or metal piece, it is a clear glass plate that lets you see through the plug.

Piercings that stretch the skin are extremely common and relatively safe. However, with any stretch piercing, there is a “point of no return,” past which the skin will never shrink back. The point of no return is dependent on location; for earlobes, for example, it’s anywhere from .3 to .5 inches. Windowpane plugs should be bought with care and be resistant to shattering. Again, location matters. With the example of the facial window in the space between the lower lip and chin, if impacted the wrong way, the glass plug could break what is behind it (i.e., your teeth).

Corseting

 Corset piercing consists of piercings of metal rings, usually in the skin of the back, so that a ribbon can be laced through them to simulate a corseted look. Though many beautiful artistic images of corseting exist, this piercing is associated with some important health facts. Theoretically, under the best circumstances and with immense amounts of vigilance and care, it is possible to have such a piercing long-term. However, it is so common for the back to reject piercings that practitioners will warn that these should be temporary installments (from a few hours to a week). Rejection of the piercing will lead to scarring and infection.

As you can see, what is considered beautiful or personally fulfilling depends on the individual and frequently pushes boundaries. Is it art, or is it taboo? You decide.