Asianbangla Desk : People who have their tongues split deliberately are putting their health at serious risk, surgeons have warned.
The procedure involves cutting the tongue in half to create a lizard-like forked effect.
But experts said it came with the risk of significant blood loss, infection, nerve damage and problems with breathing and swallowing.
They also warned that tongue and lip piercings carry serious dangers, such as tooth fractures and gum damage.
Tongue splitting is popular among body modification enthusiasts – people who make deliberate changes to their anatomy or appearance, often with the use of plastic surgery.
In March, the Court of Appeal found tongue splitting to be illegal when performed by a body modification practitioner for cosmetic purposes, even in instances where consent has been obtained.
However, the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) said that across the rest of the UK its legal status was more unclear.
Courtesy: BBC Health