Intentional permanent or semipermanent alterations of the living human body is normally done for reasons such as ritual, folk medicine, aesthetics, or corporal punishment. In general, voluntary changes are considered to be modifications, and involuntary changes are considered mutilations. Common methods used are incision, perforation, complete or partial removal of body parts by infliction of physical pain upon a person's body as punishment for a crime or infraction. Modification of the torso focuses on the neck, trunk, and breasts. The above picture is a Padaung women of Myanmar who were famous for stretching their necks by means of coiled brass neck rings to a length of about 15 inches (38 cm), which was pushing down the collarbone, compressing the rib cage, and pulling up about four thoracic vertebrae into the neck. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-8274/body-modifications-and-mutilations
