Intentional modification of the human body for religious, aesthetic, or social reasons.
It is frequently performed for magical or pseudo-medical purposes, but cosmetic motives are equally common. The variability of the results in different cultures reflects varying ideals of beauty or morality. Modifications include head flattening, insertion of a lip plug, tattoos , scarification, and piercing of the ear and other parts of the body. Mutilations include male and female circumcision, foot binding, and amputation.