Implant (body modification)

Genital ribs are short, slightly curved rods of various materials such as stainless steel, titanium, teflon, or silicone placed under the shaft skin of the penis.

Subdermal implants, objects inserted under the skin, are used in medical applications such as pacemakers and the Norplant contraceptive.

There is also historical evidence that some tribal cultures would insert stones or metal underneath the skin for ritualistic purposes.

[citation needed] In the early 1990s, body modification artist Steve Haworth conceived of inserting 3D art implants in various shapes under the skin to create a decorative appearance.

Other artists have since manufactured silicone implants using water jet cutting or "cookie cutter", but these often have undesirably sharp edges which can damage the skin.

Subdermal implants are usually installed by creating a hole in the skin which is expanded to allow insertion of the object, and then sutured closed.

Surface piercings can be placed on nearly any area of the body, provided they are not subject to too much movement or the risk of impact damage or infection from contact with contaminants such as dirt.

Due to the fact that the skin is held open by the metal and a fistula must form around it, similar to a piercing on a larger scale, healing can sometimes be difficult or lengthy.

If the practitioner is skilled and the person receiving the modification takes good care of it, it can have a high success rate.

[6] Aylward retained his transdermal "mohawk" for almost a decade, until, for personal reasons, he asked Haworth to remove it.