This is a whole new level of body modification. It’s not uncommon for people to choose to have perfectly healthy limbs removed from their bodies, but they’re even doing the surgery themselves. Body integrity identity disorder, or BIID as it is commonly known, is what psychologist Dr. Michael First has diagnosed.

Tattoos and piercing are both popular methods of enhancing one’s body. People will often change the appearance of their bodies through plastic surgery for a variety of reasons. It is however a new procedure to us, elective amputations. Elective amputations have caused many people to feel alienated with their additional limbs. One individual explains that the additional limbs “feel alien.” He describes his experience with the first two, but then tells how now he works on the third toe.

Like those who have had a sexual realignment surgery, some people with BIID feel as if it’s exactly the way it should be. It’s hard to describe, but I think you get the drift. Although some people with BIID are doing their surgeries differently, others seem to be doing it the right way. Howard Bull, 54, an independent body moderator, says some people hurt themselves with guns or chainsaws. According to him, some have even fallen on train tracks. Is there an ultimate goal for Howard? In order to be amputated above the knee, his left leg must be amputated. You’re being oddly specific there. The topic is very fascinating, and since the condition is so rare and unique, there are still many things to discover

One minority is taking body modification to another level – by voluntarily removing their own limbs. Forget plastic surgery, tattoos and piercings – they are cutting off their own limbs. In an exclusive interview, a body modifier revealed his alien-like experiences with “extra” limbs, which in turn led him to resort to self-mutilation because he actually wants to be disabled. The Cornell University professor of psychiatry, Michael First, has pioneered investigations into this extremely rare and bizarre psychiatric condition that he has named body integrity identity disorder (BIID). It’s also known as amputee identity disorder, and makes people want to get rid of perfectly good limbs.