When people think about body modifications, they usually picture tattoos, piercings, or cosmetic procedures meant to change someone’s appearance. But one chef in Mexico has taken things much further.
Keep reading to learn more.
Jesus, who goes by Amphibian Project, is trying to turn himself into a real-life version of The Amphibian Man, the creature from Guillermo del Toro’s 2017 film The Shape of Water.
His transformation has involved removing parts of his body, splitting his tongue, and getting implants beneath his skin. And he says he isn’t finished yet.
The chef says he has dreamed of transforming himself since he was 13
Jesus comes from Aguascalientes, Mexico, and reportedly has spent between 300,000 and 400,000 Mexican pesos (about $16,000 to $22,200) on his modifications.
He told the media that he first became interested in changing his body as a teenager. After reaching adulthood, he began with smaller procedures, including tattoos and facial piercings.
Over time, however, his modifications became increasingly extreme.
Jesus said his goal is to resemble the amphibious creature from The Shape of Water, rather than simply achieve a conventional beauty ideal.
He has split his tongue, removed his nose and ears, and had implants placed under his skin
One of the first major procedures Jesus underwent was tongue splitting, which divides the tongue into two sections.
“I liked how it looked. It’s something shocking but at the same time discreet,” he said.
He later went on to have his nose and ears removed, along with subdermal implants intended to alter the shape of his face.
But he said the procedure he considers most extreme involved removing two fingers; one from each hand.
Jesus described tongue splitting as the most painful modification he has experienced. He said having his nose removed was the most extensive, explaining that complications prolonged the healing process.
He says he is considering even more procedures
Despite the operations he has already undergone, Jesus says his transformation is ongoing.
He said that he is considering a procedure known as testicular bifurcation, which would divide the appearance of the testicles.
“There are no rules,” he said. “There is no limit.”
His willingness to continue modifying his body has attracted attention online, where viewers can also see videos documenting parts of the process.
The creature from The Shape of Water was created with extensive movie effects
The character Jesus is trying to emulate was brought to life on screen by actor Doug Jones, who wore a full-body creature suit for the film.
The production reportedly involved hours of makeup and costume work, mechanical features to animate details such as the creature’s fins and gills, and digital effects added during post-production.
In other words, the movie’s Amphibian Man was a carefully engineered character and not a human body permanently altered to look the same.
Serious body modifications can carry significant medical risks
Extreme modifications may have lasting consequences, and medical sources warn that some procedures can lead to serious complications.
According to Healthline, tongue splitting can cause heavy bleeding, infection, nerve damage, scarring, gum problems, and difficulties involving the airway. Some complications may affect a person’s ability to move their tongue or taste normally.
Subdermal implants can also pose risks, including infection and damage to nearby tissues, nerves, tendons, or ligaments, according to ABC News.
These risks do not mean every person who undergoes a modification will experience complications. But procedures that remove body parts or permanently alter tissue deserve careful consideration and qualified medical guidance.
Jesus shares videos showing parts of his transformation
Amphibian Project has posted behind-the-scenes clips of his modifications, allowing followers to see glimpses of the process.
He even posted about how he looked before he underwent the procedure to transform himself.
What do you think of Jesus’ transformation? Let us know in the comments section on Facebook and share this with others to see what they think.
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