YMA: Tell us a little bit about yourself? Sean: I had some childhood inclination towards body mod, for as far back as I can recall. It wasn't until I turned 16 that I partook in my first piercing, my nipple. Within a year or two, I read an article with Jon Cobb in "In the Flesh" magazine; it changed my views on piercing and my life’s goals almost instantly. I am 24 now; I finished my apprenticeship when I was 19 at a shop in SC. The apprenticeship was a good learning experience. My mentor, had studies under a 2nd generation Gauntlet "master". He had progressed a good bit from their initial teaching (example: properly sterilizing the jewelry and more knowledge of cross contamination). Aside from the business side and how to deal with problem clients and what not, I feel I have progressed and completely moved away from most of what I learned then, but I still value the experience thoroughly and wouldn't give it up for the world. I didn't get online until ‘98 or ’99. Body piercing was among my first web searches and that is when I discovered SPC, BME & RAB. These helped me find a whole world of body modification. They showed me what was out there and also helped to teach me more modern ideas on how piercings should be done and taken care of. With this new found knowledge, I was encouraged to seek out more information regarding all aspects of body modification. I started this quest at that moment by signing up for Red Cross first aid and CPR, then a universal precautions class and basic anatomy. I also hit up the library and the internet. I am still on the quest for new modification knowledge today and don't foresee an end in sight. I consider myself competent and good at what I do, but at the same time I am constantly humbled around other practitioners. I will not hesitate to pick someone else’s brain, when given the opportunity. YMA: Being a practitioner, could you define exactly what that is for our readers out there? Sean: Webster's defines practitioner as "One who practices something, especially an occupation, profession, or technique". So technically, ANY piercer is a practitioner. Our modified community has taken on the word practitioner to encapsulate the broad world of body modification techniques. It is true most modifiers out there are also piercers, but by using a more inclusive term, we are kind of trying to send out the message that not all piercers, do, or should do these more advanced procedures. YMA: So, I assume, being a practitioner is much more in-depth then a piercer. What I mean is, when you are a practitioner, you tend to perform pseudo-surgical procedures and other such procedures? Sean: To some extent yes, and for the most part that is what we mean when we speak of a "practitioner". However, let's say we are having a mod event with Phil Barbosa doing suspensions, Blair doing brandings, an anonymous man doing castrations and Joe Schmoe doing piercings. When describing the event you may say "The available practitioners will be, Phil, Blair, anonymous and Joe Schmoe". So in that instant Joe Schmoe, a very good piercer, but one who has no desire to partake in heavier mods is dubbed a practitioner, and fits the bill. Maybe we need a new word to describe practitioners of heavier mods, any suggestions???? A pair of off-center labrets pierced by Sean YMA: Have you ever been approached for surgical procedures, such as tongue splitting and meatotomy, etc? Sean: Yes, pretty frequently actually. I have even been asked to perform a finger amputation at one point, believe it or not. I try to take each request individually and make a decision that I feel is best for both me and my client. If there’s any question of mental stability, any mod would be put off indefinitely. I also take into mind there life's dreams and goals. I could not sleep at night thinking that the scar I put on that guys face is the only thing that will hold him back from his ambitions. YMA: Have you performed any of the pseudo-surgical procedures: meatotomy, tongue splitting, dermal punching, etc? Sean: Yes, all of the above and then some. A branding Sean did for one of his clients YMA: What would you do if a younger modder approached you and had consent, for a procedure such as dermal punching or even advanced piercing (nasallang, large gauge septum, etc.)? Sean: It would be a case by case matter depending on the client, I would definitely have to know them and know there experienced in healing piercings. I personally wouldn't even dare to consider doing any dermal punching above 10 on a minor, because of the permanence. However, I think saying "no dermal punches, but I'll use a needle" is just ignorant, why not give them the best method, if it's in regards to cartilage piercings where a dermal punch is so much better on the client? However, these examples are super few and far between, I only pierce those over 16 with parental consent (except lobes, which I will do as young as the actual piercee is able to ask for it themselves), the piercings I will do on them are heavily restricted, obviously genitals and female nipples are out for legal reasons. So as with most things it is strictly a case by case basis, it's easy for us as practitioners to say, "You’re not ready for this yet, you are too young", but in some cases the young modder is way more ready than the 20 year old kid who spontaneously got the same mod. YMA: Do you believe young modders are more able to get some advanced piercing in this day and age, rather then 5 years ago? Sean: Yes, but the only reason for that is that heavier mods are more available now than they were five years ago. My only advice to you, as young modders is, do not settle for an inferior practitioner, just to get it done now. If you respect and trust your piercer enough to let them do invasive, potentially dangerous procedures on your body, you should also trust them when they say, “Why don't you wait a while on this mod?" YMA: What fueled your desire to be a practitioner? Sean: That interview with Jon Cobb, I mentioned earlier, that did it. After years of searching, I found myself in that interview. It all blew up from there. YMA: Do you believe this desire goes back to childhood or was it something you came to later find? Sean: I trace my mod desires back to my BIG pirate fetish as a child. I actually tried to amputate my hand so I could get a hook at around age 10. Luckily, I didn't quite have the balls to go through with it. I remember, pulling my arm into my sleeve and pretending to be an amputee, even though, I didn't even know the word amputee then. After that, I might have carved Metallica into my leg once or twice, but that was probably just me being a lame headbanger. I had my nipple pieced by my girlfriend at 16 with a safety pin. My parents pretty much forbade me to have even my ears pierced until I was 18, so my nipple was something I could have and hide. YMA: Being a practitioner, have you suffered any type discrimination, towards your work and what you do for a living? Sean: For the most part, no. I had a non mod related job painting expensive neoclassical furniture and quickly worked my way up into management. I mean I get a LOT of shit from random strangers but it doesn't really faze me for the most part. I like to think that in some small way, maybe I can help change even just a few people’s perception of what a modified person is like. YMA: I notice you're heavily modified as a whole. What brought on these modifications such as a nasallang and your septum punch, etc? Was it something you thought of all your life or something that came to you later on? Sean: I saw the nasallang in a magazine; it was the first one on record, done by Cliff Cadaver. I loved the intricacy of it and the way from the outside it looks much simpler than what it really is. Also, I have had my nostril done regularly before and this is so much more comfortable than a big ring or a nostril screw. For the most parts, I didn't dream of my mods all of my life, b/c I didn't even conceptualize that they COULD be done. Usually, it is shortly after reading up on something and deciding I like it that I get it. One exception was my hand implants. I saw my first pic of these over 5 years ago, and it wasn't until last November that I finally got them. For years they seemed like the ultimate dedication to the field of piercing. I felt truly more whole as a person when I finally got them. Sean after getting his septum punched. (note the nasallang and vertical lowbrets) YMA: What method did you decide to use for your tongue split? Sean: I did my tongue split almost two years ago. At the time Steve Haworth recommended mono-filament, so that's what I went with. 11 agonizing days later, I finally got pissed off and finished the damn thing with a scalpel. I lost a good bit of length and plan to recut it back further using a heated scalpel. For the most part though, I am very happy with the results YMA: What about your head splitting? Tell me exactly what that is and how it was performed? Sean: I cut the top half of the glans back to an existing apadravya using an ESU (electrosurgical unit). An ESU actually causes the molecules to explode, which cauterizes as it goes. It still bled a good bit and hurt like all kinds of hell. Sean's fresh tongue split YMA: What about your subincision, how exactly was that performed? Sean: Using local anesthesia to perform a nerve block (only partially effective) I clamped the area for about 45 minutes, then cut it using both a scalpel and surgical scissors. I used a handheld cautery to try to stop most of the bleeding and stitched it all up. Sounds easy enough? It wasn't. I went into shock fairly badly at one point and my first stitches didn’t stay in at all. It was definitely a learning experience. YMA: Those seem like very advanced surgical procedures. How dangerous are these procedures to perform? Sean: With the tongue splitting, your main concern is bleeding control. It is risky, don't get me wrong, but it is a more controllable risk than with the sub. With a sub, you risk impotence obviously; scarier is the risk to your penis as a whole and potentially your life if the situation goes out of control. Let's not forget that ANY mod is an unnecessary risk, that could be potentially life threatening. Every time we puncture the skin, we take a risk. It is controlling these risks and knowing how to deal with the potential scenarios that separates the qualified practitioners from the hacks. YMA: In a worst case, for a subincision for example, what could go wrong in a worst case? Sean: How about death from blood loss, that's pretty bad isn't it? Sean demonstrating that you really can lose a lot of blood (from his dermal punched inner conch) YMA: There are some young modders out there who actually desire tongue splitting, meatotomy and so forth. They even try or some do, to take it upon themselves to perform them. What would you like to say to them? Sean: I'd say take a year, think about it, there are serious implications with these mods that extend well beyond the healing period. Is having a meatotomy going to affect your relations with future sexual partners? What about the tongue split, how will others react to it? Then there are the risk associated with getting these done as a minor, mainly who is going to do them. No respected practitioner will. So you go to a hack or you do it yourself. Know the risk. Know the consequences and know what you are getting into. YMA: Some people can say that on paper, you’re not a surgeon and what you do is dangerous and illegal. But you still perform these procedures I assume. What would you want to say to them? Sean: Suck my split open cock? Ok, maybe that's not the best answer. I perform risky mods on consensual adults who are willing to take these risks. I have taken most all of these risks at one point or another while performing these mods on myself. The world is a sheltered place, but would there be such objection to rock climbing, to car racing to sky diving? These are all also highly risky activities that the participants KNOW the risk, but choose to partake in anyway. Why is what we do so much worse? YMA: There seems to be politics in the modification industry. Some people shout that you should not perform this or this should be done like this, or even say, that piercing in general needs to be regulated. What do you think of this, and is this type of politics in the industry damaging to someone like you? Sean: Those political concerns can't damage me; I am a piercer, at my shop I pierce. Navels, nostrils and nipples pay my bills. Everything else is more of a hobby than a livelihood, and with the client base I have now, I don't see any slowing down in the near future. I think the industry does need some sort of minimal regulations (A basic health department inspection, quality jewelry, bi-weekly spore test and a few other technicalities). Too much regulation will be the death of progression and I fear that is what could happen from any government intervention. YMA: Do you believe young modders suffer because of the politics that exist in the modification industry? Such as, when they take a liking to a procedure such as meatotomy or even small limb amputation, adults or some are quick to jump on them. Even for the thoughts and so forth of it? Sean: Young modders suffer b/c they are young. Most people look back on there youth as a consummation of haste decisions, and changing ideals. Those who have defined themselves before 18 are a vast minority. Aside from that, adults in general would probably jump on ANYONE of ANY AGE who wanted these "outlandish" procedures. If you KNOW you want a very extreme mod as a minor, consider yourself lucky you have the time to research your decision fully. You will appreciate it that much more when the time comes. YMA: Being a practitioner and performing surgical procedures, do you fear that you may suffer criminal prosecution for performing these or are you safe from this? Sean: Of course, how can I not? I try to separate my piercing from my heavier mods and am careful who I discuss what with. In the same light I feel I can talk freely in an interview here, just as much as a rapper talks about killing someone on an album. Am I being real, or am I just trying to be kool? That question protects me. Aside from that, I have acknowledged the legal risk and have accepted them. I just bought the OZ box set to study up on prison life, just in case : ) YMA: If anyone has any questions about modification, how can they contact you? Sean: sean@beyondbodypiercing.com