User:Stevenarntson/group spaces/2009springanalytical/group 2

SaynaSalman

Amrut Saini

SamanthaLarson

Dougduin

Ceconley

Overview
In many cultures throughout history, individuals have felt the need to make permanent or semi permanent changes to their body for strictly aesthetic, non medical reasons. There are many reasons a person may choose to have a body modification performed. These choices may be mandated by their tribe or culture, their religions sect, cultural mysticism, sexual enhancement or merely for aesthetic purposes. In some situations, a body modification may be performed against the will or knowledge of the individual, and this may be perfectly acceptable in certain cultures where this takes place. Many body modifications such as piercings and tattoos could be considered artwork, in that the skin of the individual is essentially a walking canvas.

Certain conditions should be considered in relation to body modifications and to the general welfare of the person receiving the body modification. Because of the invasive nature of a great majority of body modifications, the overall health (both physically and mentally) should be factored before such a modification takes place. Due to modern medicine and antiseptic procedures, most of these modifications can be implemented with relatively little harm to the person receiving these modifications.

The real concerns with body modifications could be seen in how these modifications may adversely effect the individual, or how (positively or negatively) they may be viewed within the individual’s culture. It could be generally agreed that if a person receives a body modification that will improve the quality of life of that individual it will then be thought of as a healthy change. However, if the body modification is personally successful yet has a negative impact on our society can it still be considered a healthy decision?

Our society and culture is unique. It is truly a melting pot of differing ideals, values and cultural experiences. Considering this, the issue of body modification should be thought of as being open to interpretation and discussion. In regards to these issues, the benefits and risks involving body modifications should be categorized as being both personal and cultural in nature.we intend this diagnostic to be used for positive purposes, to help individuals live full lives. It should never be used in any way that is contrary to that purpose, or that denies the complexity and openness of these issues.

Personal Consideration
 * 1) Does it physically help or hurt the individual?
 * 2) Does it improve the quality of life of the individual?
 * 3) Does it improve the body image/self worth of the individual?
 * 4) What message does it communicate?

Cultural Considerations
 * 1) Does it positively or negatively affect body image in culture?
 * 2) Does it increase cultural awareness in our society?
 * 3) Does it create an environment of acceptance of other ideals?
 * 4) Does it help to advance a culture/society as a whole?
 * 5) Does a cultural trend have negative/positive impacts on individuals?

Types of body modifications that will be discussed are steroid usage, cosmetic surgery, limb replacement, tattooing and piercing, and gender transmutation.

Self Assessment
1) What went well

2) What went badly

3) Future strategies

Bodybuilding and Steroid Usage
Bodybuilding is considered to be a form of body modification that does not involve surgery or other similar invasive procedures such as piercings and tattooing. Bodybuilding involves a form of exercise known as weight training, which enables the bodybuilder to spur muscle growth through training. This is also known as muscle hypertrophy. During bodybuilding, an individual may choose to use anabolic steroids in order to achieve quicker results with muscle expansion.

Anabolic steroids are related to the hormone testosterone. The usage of this steroid increases protein synthesis within each cell, which in turn causes a build-up of cellular tissue. In addition to weight training, the usage of anabolic steroids can greatly enhance muscle building.

Although the usage of anabolic steroids has distinct advantages, many dangerous side effects exist. The evidence of these side effects prompted the US Government to add all anabolic steroids to schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act in the Anabolic Steroid Control act of 1990.

Some of the most common side effects are Aggression/hypo mania, virilization and high blood pressure.

Aggression/hypo mania
Increased aggressiveness is often claimed to occur with anabolic steroid use. Although its highly rare (less than 5%), significant psychiatric symptoms have been found in some steroid users, including aggression and increased violence, mania, and even psychosis. However, it must be noted that in the studies done without a control group, it can safely be assumed that naturally aggressive people may simply be more inclined to use steroids (type-A personalities). This would probably have an effect on incomplete or inaccurate survey data. Certainly, if someone takes the risk to use steroids to improve their performance in a sport or with their physique, they may have certain aggressive traits. Although it is possible that steroid usage may enhance aggressive behavior such as the antisocial, psychotic “roid rage”, sufficient evidence does not exist to support these claims.

A landmark study was performed which examined different doses of testosterone administration on men aged 20-50, who had a variety of experience with steroids from having used them previously to not at all prior to the study. A variety of psychological tests were performed at the outset of the study as well as at the end. What was found was that no participant in the study had become violent as a result of the daily testosterone injections that they had been receiving, although some individuals “felt” more aggressive.

This clearly indicates that there is a high level of control over possible violent or aggressive behavior that can result from steroid use. The researchers also noted that in terms of the psychological tests performed, some subjects showed little or no response to testosterone, with regards to psychological measures, while others experienced significant changes. Thus, general temperment clearly plays a large role in how one responds psychologically to steroid administration. In addition, when this study was compared with others, similar results were found. Out of 109 cases studied, only 5 people exhibited Psychological (manic or hypo manic) effects (Archives of General Psychiatry, Volume 57, February 2000).

Virilization
This term refers masculinization, or development of male sexual characteristics that females could potentially suffer from steroid use. This side effect on women is often reversible after the cycle has ended. Some typical signs of virilization are the development of a deeper voice, hirsuitism (growth of excess body hair), enlargement of external genitalia (clitoral enlargement), and possible male pattern baldness, or acne on the face or body. This is all dependent, of course, on the compounds used as well as the dosages employed. Personally, I have witnessed the most permanent of these effects to be the deepening of the voice due to the hypertrophy (growth) of the vocal chords. This is typically the most unwelcome side effect, as it makes it very obvious when a woman is using steroids. Of course, if this begins, the best course of action is to cease taking all steroids immediately. There are several ways to reverse this effect, the most common being to undergo a medical procedure known as vocal chord scraping.

High Blood Pressure
This problem is possibly the most easily remedied of all steroid side effects. It is very common for steroid using athletes attempting to gain maximum bulk to abstain from all aerobic activity. This causes the body to work much harder to circulate blood. Also, the typical water and sodium retention induced by certain steroids can contribute to this. If blood pressure is measured regularly to ensure that the value is not higher than 140/90, there should be no problems.

Considerations
The use of anabolic steroid can both physically help and hurt the individual. Outside of approved medical procedures and/or treatments, the bulk of the users of anabolic steroids will be body builders, individuals who have made the decision to use anabolic steroids, and who may be well aware of the risks. The fact that body builders know the risks involved and still feel impelled to use anabolic steroids may give us the answer to the question of anabolic steroid usage: the user will view the usage of anabolic steroids as a greater compliment to their perceived quality of life, performance and self image then as a determent to their overall health.

The message conveyed by all body builders in general is one of health, overall beauty of the human body, and in what can be achieved through rigorous training. The impact of anabolic steroid use on our culture is somewhat hard to define, because the individualist nature of bodybuilding. In many ways, the differences between a “natural” body builder and one who uses steroids may be extremely difficult to differentiate to the untrained eye. Between bodybuilders, whether or not to use anabolic steroids may be merely an academic question. It is a personal choice with little or no consequences on others.

Bodybuilding does not contribute to cultural awareness and acceptance; it is a culture all its own. Anyone can participate, man or woman, black or white. Bodybuilding in general can be seen as having an extremely positive impact on our society because of the fact that bodybuilding is a very healthy activity. Bodybuilding encourages healthy living and dedication, and in doing so, helps to advance our culture.

Cosmetic Surgery
The history of plastic surgery dates back to the early 800 B.C., when surgeons in India restored noses of individuals who had theirs taken off as a form of punishment. Plastic and cosmetic surgeries didn't become common until the 20th century. In the 19th century the first cleft palate was repaired in the United States by a surgeon who designed his own tools(The History of Cosmetic Surgery." e Breastaug. 3 Jun 2009 ). The first plastic surgery techniques were developed during World War I due in part to a large amount of soldiers receiving life altering bodily damage and disfigurements. From that point on, cosmetic surgery was generally reserved for the rich and famous, historically used to reshape society's elite. Today, cosmetic surgery is performed on a wide variety of patients from varying social classes. In 2007 alone, there was more than 11.5 million cosmetic surgery procedures performed, an increase of 50% from 2000 (The Cosmetic Surgery Directory 20 May 2009 ).

Why People get Cosmetic Surgery
No matter the procedure, any type of cosmetic surgery involves levels of physical pain. In order for people to decide whether or not to endure such amounts of pain merely to change their appearance, the reason to do so has to be, and usually is, greater than simply wanting a change in your everyday appearance. When you go to the extents of cosmetic surgery, it is not comparable to changing your clothes or hair style on a daily basis. People who turn to cosmetic surgery have greater needs of change than a new hair style or a different taste in clothes. For the 60 year old grandparent who would like to look 10 years younger, a face lift would be the answer for the satisfaction of looking 50 years old. For the mother who finds it an impossible task to lose her abdominal fat with diet and exercise due to her 4 children; liposuction and/or Abdominoplasty would be her last resort. For the ethnic girl in High School with a noticeably larger nose than her peers, Rhinoplasty would be her savior. For the 25 year old female who does not feel like a complete woman because of her A cup breasts which does not fully express her true age in any of her attire, her dream would be to have breast augmentation. If done for the right reasons, cosmetic surgery can help those who live a self-conscious life because of their major or even minor flaws.

Of course not everyone turns to the surgeon’s blade because they feel they have to; there are millions of people who get cosmetic surgery simply because they feel they can be more beautiful. The problem lies within the issue of when “beauty” is defined by someone other than those pursuing the surgery. Which leads to the con’s and negative aspects of cosmetic surgery. Those whom pursue cosmetic modification/surgery are more-than-likely, people who have endured some sort of traumatic experience regarding that specific area of their body. This is when “beauty” is defined by others. There is an entire broad spectrum to consider when going to such great lengths as surgery; brainwash. Patients are often asked as well as ask themselves, “why do I want to do this, what is the root cause”, although their response to these questions are often “because I want to be beautiful” or “because I have this flaw”. Although the issue is rarely examined under a microscope; which is partially the reason for the rise of cosmetic surgery has been so drastic. Major marketing companies spend millions to billions of dollars per year defining beauty for people. They are supported with massive amounts of investments to make sure that men and mostly women are insecure and unhappy about their bodies, whether it is their nose, lips, breasts, stomach and so forth.

Media
The media is by far the most powerful marketing tool in history. Major marketing companies have to keep creating new ways to bring in income, and as far back in history as one can research, women have been portrayed to be soft, emotional, nurturing, kind and beautiful. The marketing companies use several different means of media to communicate the point that “you are imperfect”, by presenting a woman with a specific look, body type, skin color, physique, etc., and portray her as being loved and self-confident for appearing in such a way. This advertising subliminally implants and gives birth to the insecurities within the viewer’s subconscious state of mind. The insecurities begin to grow and grow, until the person hates a specific part of themselves just enough to reach out for cosmetic surgery. The dramatic incline in cosmetic surgery is not a coincidence; rather it is in direct correlation with the amount of advertising and creating the definition for “beauty” and “perfection”. This is why a majority of people detest their skin color, texture of their hair, angle of their nose, shape of their breasts and so forth. The media plays one of the most significant roles in the decision making of cosmetic surgery.

Health Risks
With every cosmetic surgery there will always be a risk added to it. Some patients have serious reactions to the anesthesia or sedation used during surgery. Most anesthetic complications occur with general anesthesia.

Possible complications:
 * Abnormal heart rhythm
 * Airway obstruction
 * Blood clots
 * Brain damage
 * Death
 * Heart attack
 * Malignant hyperthermia
 * Nerve damage
 * Stroke
 * Temporary paralysis

Considerations
People who are for cosmetic surgery will always be for it. Those who are against cosmetic surgery have their minds set as well. There is no cure, answer or solution. It is within each individual themselves to decide weather or not to make such drastic changes in their lives, and with much hope and optimism the person does not find themselves later in regret.

Limb replacement
Body modifications that includes limb loss or replacement has been the subject of a great deal of medical research and advancements since the dawn of man. Before such medical advancements, the loss of a limb to a human being could result in a severe loss of life activities (J Trauma. 2007 Oct; 940-4). Limb loss or replacement may occur due to accidents or diseases, or even mental conditions which may inhibit the usage of a limb. In human culture, amputations have taken place due to punishment for crimes committed or as rites of passage and ritualistic ceremonies. Amputations have also occurred from wounds received during combat. As a result, the person receiving an amputation may have a feeling of grief due to the loss of a limb, and may even be viewed as an outcast in the person’s culture, because of their perceived disability or weakness. In some cases, the person with an affected limb may choose to have an amputation, in order to survive and/or have a better quality of life.

The history of amputation came about around the 15th century (A History of Limb Amputation, John Kirkup, 1-3). Although amputations had existed previously due to forced trauma, usually during combat, the idea of elective surgery came about as a way of fighting invasive infections, such as Gangrene. It was discovered early on that a limb infected with Gangrene could potentially spread from there, endangering the person’s life. Simple, somewhat barbaric amputation techniques were used which were able to fight the disease to a certain degree. Medical advancements in the fields of Hemorrhage and pain control soon followed. In the mid 1800s, anesthesiology was developed, which was followed by significant advancements in infection control.

Medical Amputations
There are many reasons a person may require an amputation, both medically and psychologically. The medical issues considered for elective amputations are trauma to the limb, circulatory issues related to diabetes, bone infections and cancer. Medical emergency operations are almost always done to save the live of the patient. Trauma includes heavy physical damage to the flesh and bone of the limb, so much so as to render the limb useless. The physical damage would be to the extent that open arties could never be properly closed and healed leading to heavy blood loss and/or infection in the limb. Improper control of Diabetes can contribute to Gangrene, which initially effects the limbs of the person with the disease. Gangrene has a tendency to move up the limbs of the effected patient to affect major organs, threatening the life of the patient. Other infections include Neoplasm (Cancerous bone Tumors). All of these diseases have the ability to eventually affect major organs, which necessitate the amputation of the limb to save the life of the patient.

Considering the overall quality of life for a person with either limb deformities or psychological disorders can be pretty tricky. Birth Defects (otherwise known as Congenital malformations) can be eradicated to some extent by amputation, although this is usually done with the knowledge and consent of the patient, when the person is of an age to understand the decision.

Psychological disorders
Another quality of life issue concerns the presence of psychological disorders in relation the limbs of the subject. Several known psychological disorders may affect the motor relationships between the brain and the limbs, inhibiting the usage of the limbs to varying degrees. These disorders include, but are not limited to Alien Hand Syndrome (AHS) and Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID).

Alien Hand Syndrome (AHS): According to the Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Alien Hand Syndrome includes the failure to recognise ownership of one's limb when visual cues are removed, a feeling that one body part is foreign, personification of the affected body part, and autonomous activity which is perceived as outside voluntary control (Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 1992). This provides unique challenges to the effected person, who may have incredible difficulties dealing with everyday situations, such as answering a phone, putting on clothes or writing a check. The effected person may even have difficulty using their unaffected limbs because of interference from the affected limb also known as inter-manual conflicts (Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2000;68:83-85). Because of this syndrome, the person with the affliction may opt for an amputation of the limb, in order to have a better quality of life. AHS is viewed as highly unusual Neurological disorder. Although the causes are not entirely known, many AHS cases have involved the surgical separation of the hemispheres of the brain to prevent severe incidents of Epilepsy, strokes, or other diseases (Oxford Journals, vol 124 #6). Although the person with AHS may have feeling in the affected hand, they do not have motor control over the limb. There seems to be a need for the patient’s affected limb to interact with any object within the grasping range of the person to interact with any and all objects, even though the patient may feel no ambition to interact with such objects in the area. This condition is referred to as “Utilization Behavior”.

Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID): BIID involves an individual’s urge to amputate his or her limbs. This also includes the individuals need for physical impairment through amputation (Neuroethics, 4 Nov 2008). Because few surgeons are willing to undertake these operations, the individual may be forced to perform the amputation on their own, usually by badly mutilating the limb to the point of amputation. Physicians treat people with BIID as a psychiatric disorder. According to people who have BIID, they have an "ideal body image" involving a missing limb, usually a lower left leg (www.biid.org). There is apparently a BIID community, where people who act as if they have an amputation (without actually having one) by using a wheelchair or crutches are referred to as "pretenders". BIID does not always include amputations. It may include other wishes to alter the look of their body significantly. There is a great deal of controversy involved with people afflicted with BIID and their need for amputations.

Aftereffects
The aftereffects of amputation can be very unpleasant to the individual, including psychological trauma and a great deal of emotional discomfort. Amputees also experience severe limitations to their overall mobility and day to day activities. Many Amputees experience what is known as phantom limb syndrome, where the amputee may have the feeling of a limb, even though no limb is present. Scientists think this has something to do with the neural network and how this network represents a map of the extremities of the body. The amputee may also have feelings of unexplained sensations to other limbs or other areas of the body after an amputation.

Considerations
An amputation is not often a choice for the individual involved. However, with regard to the psychiatric needs of a person, an amputation may indeed be a choice. There is a clear difference between AHS and BIID. Persons with AHS often have the ability to deal with the symptoms and learn to live with them. People with BIID often have the need for an immediate solution to their issue. A person afflicted with BIID needs serious psychiatric help. An attempted self amputation can end disastrously, possibly endangering the life of the person attempting it. Like many other forms of body modification, the individual may feel that it is a personal choice. However, the choice for elective amputation should never be made until all psychiatric counseling and treatments have been exhausted. An amputation is quite possibly the most life altering body modification possible, and once an amputation takes place, the limb is lost forever.

The effects of AHS and BIID on society are somewhat negligible. AHS and BIID are lesser known psychiatric afflictions and both are not fully understood. As our society advances, a better understanding for conditions such as AHS and BIID will unfold. Individuals with these conditions could (and often do) assist the medical and scientific community through cooperation in finding a cure.

Tattoo and Piercing
Though the word tattoo is of Polynesian origin, the art was common to many ancient civilizations. Some Egyptian mummies (2000 BC) carry tattoo marks. In India, a stone sculpture of 200 C.E. of Sunga period has tattoo marks on cheeks and chins. Decorating the body with mehandi or mixture of fragrant musk, saffron and sandal paste was very popular in ancient India, but it was temporary. Tattooing was permanent which one carried to graveyard with them.

In India, the tattoos have religious and superstitious significance as well. Women preferred tattooing for the welfare of husband, children etc. Some got to fulfill a vow or against dreaded diseases. But by and large it was to ensure non-widowhood. Cheeks, brows, neck, arms, shoulders, and wrists are the favored parts. Men get tattoos on arms, shoulders and wrists to ensure virility. Among tribals, it is a practice to get their entire body tattooed which enabled their bodies to camouflage with forest surroundings: The color of tattoo in India is green or dark green. Pricking the earmarked place with needles and then filling the pricks in holes with indelible ink (mainly prepared from herbs and carbon) forms the main process. Many castes in India do the job for their religious belief and hoping that they will be spared spared from the wrath of the god and they will be having a very good life and in some cultures they believe that this kind of modification will keep them away from the evil spirits, snake bites and other warm ful problems. Piercing in western culture is used for sexual pleasure which is nowadays done by lot of men and women. The woman’s nose is most commonly pierced in the left nostril in association with Ayurvedic medicinal principles relating to the female’s reproductive organs, enabling an easier childbirth and easing menstrual pain.The religious belief say that having nose pierced on the right side means that the women is submissive to her husband and have very calm and gentle personality and it is also told that if you are having a right nose pierced then that means that you are having your anger control.

Certain tattoos on Indian women can also represent fertility or to ward off bad spirits. Young women were often encouraged to be tattooed as it was believed to add to their attractiveness.There are many different tattoo symbols within the Hindu tradition such as:


 * Lotus blossoms - Associated with happiness.
 * Swastika - An ancient symbol which is opposite to the nazi swastika.
 * Dots - These are quite common and are believed to ward off the evil eye.

After continuous pricking and inking, the tattooed part is washed, and turmeric considered antiseptic is applied to wounds. Nowadays, more sophisticated equipment is used for tattooing.

Medical Issues
The question is now about cleanliness and hygiene.The survey by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine revealed a quarter of the 10,503 adults questioned had problems with their piercings.The people from the age of 16-24 year have been found that they have some complication with their and it is about 31 percent of them have major bleeding and some infections and swelling other problems included blood poisoning and serious bleeding.This new form body art have major disadvantages if not taken care in a proper manner.People who are getting their nose or any part of the body have to make sure that the needles and jewelery they are using need to got sterilize before put to use on yourself.There has been few cases in India where people who got their body pierced but did not asked for sterilized needles and due their lack of knowledge they are suffering from "HIV".Facial piercings: The risk here is blood vessels and nerves. They are all over your face. A good piercer will take a good look at the area, feel it, to see if there are any irregularities in the tissue, or signs of vessels or nerves in the area being pierced.Oral Piercings: This is another blood vessel/nerve area. Emphasis on blood vessels. The anatomy of the mouth also varies person to person. Some people just do not have the space to pierce their tongue. Clitoral Piercing:- It is one the most sensitive part of the women body and if not properly this can cause a terrible nerve damage.It is better to be done a very good professional who can understand your anatomy and can guide you what you can actually get pierced.


 * piercing dangers


 * The Case Against Body Piercing
 * Ticking Timebomb


 * 


 * 

Quality of Life
The Indian culture is penetrated by clerical symbolism. Colors, numbers and designed or from nature adapted shapes are used for cultural coherence same as for banal symbols. Scientists have observed the higher caste the and social position of the women the smaller and canny are the designs. As worshipers of Vishnu and Shiva, the two big Hindu divinities, or follower of a teaching which places the principle of the female energy above everything, Indians wear a tattooed or sometimes burned in point on their forehead, the only place on the body not bedraggled by any excrement, which coloration shows the wearers affiliation to the different religious communities. The point called Bindi stands for the "Third Eye", the connection between the earthly live and the divine beyond. The wearer of this mark is hoping for the blessing of the god worshiped by him.

People have this kind of modification in their body to look good or have different kind of religious belief which makes people to get there body pierced or get tattooed.Most of this is the personal choice of an individual whether He/She wants to get piercing or tattoo.Nowadays it has become a fashion symbol so people are just going along with the fashion so that they are able to get in with the crowd or one can say to look much better since piercing means a body art to look better.

It is still very hard to answer whether is it a personal choice or fashion trend or religious belief to have a piercing or tattoo.We know the cause and the consequences but still we are willing to go under needles and pain to get done what need to be done for personal satisfaction.The question we need to ask our self is that are we being very naive and don't think that if do our body modification which might look very cool to our self but not to family members or other close relatives or it has a long run disorder to your own body is it good to do it.What if you don't like what you got a tattoo on your back and want to get rid of it, which cost three times more money for getting pierced or tattooed.

Gender Reassignment
Like many forms of body modification, gender reassignment, is a complicated subject for people to understand, including those whose lives it affects. The reasons that cause a person to want a sexual reassignment are many. For some, it is often a lifelong and profound feeling that they were born as the wrong gender. Trapped within a body that seems almost foreign to them, they may struggle with how to act like the outer shell that society perceives and expects. How might a man act in the company of others, in every day situations like going to the store or to work, when inside he truly believes he is a woman? Naturally, this person may feel unable even to discuss their internal discord with anyone and wrestle with damage to their mental stability. For others, there are more medical factors, as with an inter sex, or hermaphroditic, individual.

Hermaphroditism
Hermaphroditism and pseudo-hermaphroditism occurs during the development of a fetus, and a child may be born with anatomical characteristics that are both female and male. Sometimes it is not always apparent at birth and may not be recognized until puberty or later in life. There are also cases in which the parents of an inter sex baby will feel the need to select a gender for the child and have characteristics of the unwanted gender surgically removed, so that the child will grow up without a gender identity issue. In these cases there are times when, as an inter sex individual reaches puberty, perhaps even into adulthood, the gender that was "chosen" for them at birth by their parents starts to feel wrong. For example, an infant born with both characteristics of male and female genders was surgically changed and raised to be female, and the internal feeling that they were supposed to have been born male arises over time. This can happen whether or not the child was eventually informed by her parents that she was born inter sex.

Gender Identity Disorder
It is believed that Gender Identity Disorder, in both inter sex or non-inter sex individuals, begins to manifest in early childhood (“Gender Identity Disorder.”Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology, 2nd ed. Gale Group, 2001. ). This can pose an issue for some parents, who might feel concerned or uncomfortable if their little boy would rather play with dolls. Parents will worry that their child will have a difficult time being socially accepted. In turn, the child may start feeling uncomfortable if a parent tries to force gender specific behaviors into them. If this compounds over time, the family relationships will deteriorate and cause an unstable household. A child may grow up feeling anatomically incorrect in the eyes of their family and the rest of the world. Unfortunately, many times this means a child with these questions or problems feel like they can’t even talk to their own parents about it. Unable to find help or begin to understand what they are feeling, they might withdraw from society all together or develop suicidal tendencies.

Considerations
Like any surgical procedure, medical complications are a consideration to be weighed carefully before a person undergoes a gender reassignment. In most cases, an individual will have had short or long-term therapy to discuss their feelings and help determine whether or not actual genital surgery is the right option for them, including a psychological evaluation ("Sex Reassignment Surgery." Aetna.com. 2008. ). People who have successfully undergone gender reassignment often live happy and productive lives. There are individuals who will have had a gender reassignment who still feel conflicted and continue to struggle throughout their years. Although public awareness and acceptance of transgendered people has risen ("Inter sex Awareness Day Celebrated Across the Country; Inter sex Initiative Hosts Film Event on October 28." Inter sex Initiative.org. Oct 25, 2004. ), there is still a heavy social stigma of what is expected behavior based on gender and appearance. There will always be people who refuse to understand or accept a person who is going through or has had a gender change. There will always be social ignorance to other ways of life. That being said, in today’s world, there is more publicity and willingness to speak out by those dealing with issues such as gender identity. The more we are willing to educate ourselves on not only the different ways a person feels about their aesthetic or biological identity, but also the medical facts of a condition we may not ever experience, the more well rounded our society will become. The truth is that a person, no matter how different they are from you, is still a human being and deserves to live and look the way they choose.

Solutions
Because of the individualistic nature of body modifications, there cannot be a “clear” solution to the ethical issues of body modifications. Our culture and democratic society affords us the opportunity to approach these issues with potentially unbiased opinions. However, we as individuals will always have a personal, preconceived bias towards different subjects due to our differing values. That being said, our values should have a stronger preference toward cultural advancement and acceptance than to personal expression that can be deemed detrimental to the overall benefit of society. A case in point would be this; tattooing in general can be seen has having neither a positive or negative effect on society. However, when a person displays tattoos that portray a negative message, such as neo-Nazi swastikas and imagery that could be seen as offensive to a race or culture, this could be considered counter to the good of society. But at the same time we need to be able to foster individuality.

When considering body modifications such as cosmetic surgery, what message does it portray? Do we all have to fit within a certain body type to be accepted? Do we all have to look a certain way? What about our individuality? The suggestion of an "ideal body type" may be one of the few examples of a cultural trend having a negative impact on individuals, especially in relation to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. In the case of BIID (Body Identity Integrity disorder), perhaps we should let individuals rid themselves of their limbs, so long as we have the medical apparatus to be able to use these healthy limbs for people who need them. On a personal and cultural level, we need to find a balance. The balance between the mental and physical health of a person and the complications a body modification may cause. The balance between what should be accepted and what should be curtailed (body modifications such as foot binding that have negative health effects on the individual). The balance between the rights of the individual and the good of society. There will never be a clear, black and white decision to be made when it comes to body modifications. If our society is going to advance, we should accept individuals as they are, regardless of outside appearances. We should also understand that our culture is never static. It is changing all the time.