Body modification is the deliberate alteration of the body for non-medical reasons such as rites of passage, aesthetic reasons, religious reasons, and to show self expression. Body modification is a term that is generally associated with tattooing and piercing but can also include branding, scarification, surgical implants, and a number of lesser known procedures and practices. Not all types of body modification originated at the same time, while some practices have been around for thousands of years, others have just begun to gain popularity in recent years.