Father-of-two Marcelo “B-boy” De Souza Ribeiro from São Paulo in Brazil has spent years modifying his body.
Now he has over 1,500 tattoos – and a number of body modifications.
The 40-year-old is called the “most modified man in the world”, according to the Jam Press news agency.
“Devil’s Hand”
His very latest invention is what he calls a “devil’s hand”: He has actually had his hand split in two, and claims he is the first in the world to do so.
– Distances himself from society
– I have taken a modification that does not exist yet, he says according to the news agency, which quotes NeedToKnow.Online.
– I tried to investigate what body modifications exist already. From what I can see, no one has done anything similar, he says.
Two months ago, Marcelo and a friend, who specializes in body modification, began planning the procedure.
They did a lot of research before taking the plunge with the scalpel.
The friend operated
Marcelo has so far spent around NOK 360,000 on tattoos and modifications. He himself estimates that 98 percent of his body has been changed in one way or another.
Near death after silicone blister
He recently acquired eight new tattoos, one new implant in his arm and one in his forehead. “The devil’s hand” did not cost him a penny. He says his friend did the procedure for him free of charge.
– First we started by operating on the hand, we removed excess oil and fat from the sides to make it narrower. Eventually I saw opportunities to split it in half, so that I can open and close it, he says.
Marcelo, who originally comes from Bocaiuva in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil, says that the operation was done in three stages.
– I am pleased!
Each of the operations took an hour and anesthesia was used.
Shocked look in the mirror: – Shame on me
– People have already seen my hand and think it is interesting. But they say they don’t dare to do it themselves, he says, adding:
– I am satisfied with what I have done, and I don’t think it has changed the mobility of my hand. It is completely normal!
It’s not the first time Marcelo has made headlines. In the past, he has been in the media’s spotlight because he has so many tattoos, metal fangs, skin implants and a tongue split in two.
Marcelo, who is the father of a ten-year-old boy and a 20-year-old girl, as well as the grandfather of a four-year-old boy, has also tattooed his own eyeballs.
He himself sees his body as an art exhibition. His daughter Beatriz (20) shares her father’s fascination with tattoos – and has five of them herself.
– Risks permanent damage
Body modifications have become increasingly popular, but do not come without risks. In 2018, the health system in the Australian state of New South Wales issued a warning to the population, according to ABC News.
They had received alerts that such interventions were carried out by people who did not have the necessary approval to carry them out.
– I am a “genderless dragon”
The health authorities say that there is a high risk of complications, such as infections and damage to tendons, nerves and ligaments.
– Such complications can mean that you have to have immediate help, you may have to operate again to repair the damage and you run the risk of scarring or permanent damage, they warned.
