Tongue splitting

Tongue splitting (English tongue splitting, forking ) is a type of body modification. It is cut by medical intervention, the front part of the tongue from the tip in the direction of tongue root so that two tongue tips similar to a snake's tongue emerge.

History

In the Byzantine Empire the tongue split was a penalty that was applied to an emperor after his fall, so that he could not govern again after the mutilation. Alternatively whose nose was cut or caused blindness.

Starting from the Modern Primitive Movement tongue split from the 1990s was carried out in western culture as body modification.

Implementation

The procedure should be carried out by medical staff, because otherwise, not only the risk that the tongue grow back after the cutting, but it can also lead to serious complications.

For this purpose a two to five centimeters lower sagittal longitudinal section at the tip of the tongue is carried out starting usually after local anesthesia of the tongue with a scalpel. Characterized the septum lingual severed without damaging the individual muscles. For heavy bleeding, the use of an electric cautery or silver nitrate solution may be useful, usually the bleeding but easily manageable. The wound margins are often sutured to avoid postoperative bleeding and re- integration of the tongue. An alternative is the use of a completely healed, widened to several millimeters, or by means of large-diameter Scalpellings Zungenpiercings used as a base. The incision is then carried out by the tip of the tongue forth into the piercing hole. A merging of the halves, which takes place usually from the rear edge of the wound at the beginning of the fork, then very unlikely, and a sewing therefore unnecessary.

Another, less common method now used instead of a scalpel directly an electrocautery to divide the tongue. Due to the resulting damage to the surrounding tissue by the red hot metal, with the burned tissue is cut instead, but this method is controversial. It can result in permanent nerve damage, and the resulting smoke a health hazard. The advantage of the method lies in the fact that practically no bleeding occurs, the procedure can be performed faster and the risk of infection is much lower. A subsequent suturing is unnecessary, since the destroyed tissue can not grow together. This method is often applied without anesthesia, especially in the U.S., as well as the scalpel method. The electrocautery is here described as more painful than the scalpel; there is still frequently a cauterization is done after that, however, to stop bleeding, the overall procedure is ultimately with the cautery knife less painful. The cautery method is practiced mainly in France and the USA.

A few doctors, mostly oral surgeons, lead by tongue splits with an argon laser, although such is considered by many experts to be too weak for such a procedure. In the case of laser treatment rather a strong CO2 laser should be used. The first known tongue splits in the industrialized countries were carried out in 1997 by a oral surgeon in New York. The laser method has all the advantages of the electrocautery method, but is much less traumatic.

Last, but there is a modification of the scalpel method; surgical scissors is used here instead of a scalpel. Is optional, at extra cost, a subsequent suturing possible.

The cost of a tongue cleavage are in Germany between 250 and 450 euros. Doctors who perform the procedure are not known here. The above-mentioned American surgeon demanded a good ten years ago in 1000, - U.S. dollars for the surgery.

In the first days after the procedure are language and food intake by swelling and possibly severely limited pain, sometimes pain medications are recommended. After that soft foods (soup, porridge, tea) can be started. After two weeks the healing process is complete.

The tongue can also be cleaved without surgical intervention in their own work. In the so-called " Fishing Line Method" ( fishing line method), a nylon thread is passed through the bite of an existing tongue piercing and tight knotted stroke which in the long term a " cheese cutter effect" can be achieved by the thread cuts through the tongue. However, this process is very lengthy (several weeks) and painful. Throughout the time spent with impairments in speaking and eating.

Mobility of the tongue

After complete healing may be achieved by training the independent mobility of the tongue tips in the longitudinal and horizontal axis. For this purpose, exercises have proven before a mirror. Any damage to the speech disorders (eg Lisp ) which have arisen in the wake of a tongue splitting, can be also abtrainiert again.

Complications

After cleavage of the tongue can lead to bleeding and infection. There is also the risk that the tongue halves fused. Changes in taste and numbness and speech problems are also possible.

Reversibility

A tongue splitting can be undone. Normally, the tongue heals then from scarring.

Acceptance by the public

In some states of the U.S. tongue splitting is illegal and not allowed in the military service. Therefore, physicians in the U.S. reject the implementation from normally, thereby tongue splitting is mainly carried out under greater risk within the subculture.

In Germany is mainly expected social rejection, which could therefore be accompanied by professional disadvantages. Criminality is not fulfilled.

The radiated in America on 19 September 2003 episode of the television series Boston Public is about a group of students who could perform a split tongue, which was heavily criticized by the school administration.

Tongue split in the media

• The winner of the Akutagawa Prize novel Hebi ni PIASU ( a pierced snake) by Hitomi Kanehara treated the subject tongue splitting.
• The show artist Erik Sprague has a forked tongue.