Matthew Whelan, also known as King of Ink Land King Body Art the Extreme Ink-Ite, is facing a pre-Christmas dilemma, urgently needing surgery to remove rotting implants.
At 43, Whelan, from Birmingham, has earned a reputation as Britain’s most tattooed man, known for his extreme body modifications, including the removal of both his nipples. His previous interest in amputation for radical body changes and his history with subdermal implants highlight his commitment to extreme body art, though it has come with significant risks.
Now, King of Ink Land King Body Art the Extreme Ink-Ite has stated that his sole Christmas wish is to have his “rotting” body modifications removed.
Whelan has called on the UK government to make body modification procedures, like the removal of implants, legal. He is seeking surgery to have the implants under his skin taken out but says no private clinics are willing to perform the procedure.
“No private surgeries are willing to work on this kind of thing, and it’s making body modders like me feel like we’re not seen as humans,” he told the Daily Star.
Just last year, Whelan paused his body modifications due to the cost-of-living crisis and soon after discovered that several of his subdermal implants were rotting.
“My body image and health are restricted by the courts, which could force me to go to the NHS. I don’t want to burden this essential service with something that was my own choice,” Whelan explained.
“All I’m asking for this Christmas is for the government to make amending my body legal,” he said. “Similar to how regulations like piercing and tattoo laws were established, it would help individuals like myself who are currently in limbo.”
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