Body Modification Body modifications have been around for thousands of years. The oldest documented tattoo is from Otzi, the Iceman, dating back to 3300 BC, states fragrancex.com. Since then, many other body modifications have evolved, such as: scarification, skin stretching, forked tongue. “Body modification is the deliberate modification of human anatomy or physical appearance,” explains wikipedia.com. Many people believe that body modification is a way to enhance beauty, but that is not the only opinion on the subject. The three main reasons for body modification are to improve attractiveness, religious beliefs, and self-expression. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original EssayOne of the main reasons for body modification is to improve attractiveness. For example facial piercings, tattoos and plastic surgery. “Adults with tattoos have been shown to be more sexually active than non-tattooed controls,” says Huffiontonpost.com. Many people don't like the way they look and body modifications give them the opportunity to change that. It can also be due to social reasons. A certain body modification may be popular at that time and the person is in the process of adapting it. The reason can be social or psychological depending on the person. If someone doesn't like the look of their nose or breasts, a plastic surgeon can change that for them. “Both men and women had greater appreciation of their bodies, higher self-esteem and less anxiety immediately after getting a tattoo. Surprisingly, three weeks later, men continued to experience less anxiety, but women showed a large increase in anxiety, which could be associated with concerns about their body image,” explains Huffiontonpost.com. There are many different ways to modify your body. Some might be as simple as completing it in a day, but others have a longer process that could take years. Piercings are simple and only take a few minutes. Things like scarification could take years. “Scarification involves superficially scratching, engraving, burning, or cutting designs, images, or words into the skin as a permanent modification to the body,” states wikipedia.com. Where someone goes depends on what they get. If someone is getting a tattoo, the best place to go is a tattoo parlor. Many can be done at home, but the risk of infection is higher and the quality is not the same. Most piercings are done in kiosks or even at home. During plastic surgery, appointments are made months or even years in advance. “A survey of more than 1,000 undergraduate students in 2001 and 2006 found that about 22 percent of women and men had at least one tattoo, while 61 percent of women and 39 percent of men had at least one tattoo. a piercing,” says Valleylandalliance.org. Besides the fact that people feel more beautiful after body modifications, religion is another reason why this is done. Another reason for body modification is religious belief. “Practicing and engaging in body modification is a way to create connections between the mind, body, and spiritual soul,” states the google.com religion blog. There are many religious modifications of the body, but the most common are.