Don't Try This At Home

Speaking with a forked tongue used to be a bad thing. Now it's apparently a rad thing among those who aren't content merely to pierce their tongue, eyebrows, nose, lips, nipples and other, more delicate body parts. Yes, a small number of thrill seekers and rebels — estimates range from 500 to 2,000--have slashed their tongues to try to give them a more serpentine appearance. And that has more than a few doctors and dentists worried.

Piercing the tongue is dangerous enough; splitting it is even more so and has the added disadvantage of being difficult to reverse. The major risks are infection — which can spread to the jaw and throat — and uncontrolled bleeding. You also have to learn to talk all over again. Proponents say it's no different from having a tummy tuck or a face-lift, but even professional piercers are not convinced. Legislators in Illinois are considering a bill that would require tongue splitting to be performed by a medical professional. So far, few doctors or dentists have signed up to do it.