Standing male figure wearing a turban headdress

Another way to modify a person's body alters the surface of their skin. Body painting, tattooing and scarification changes the body's skin temporarily or permanently. Mesoamerican skin when cut forms a swollen scar. This cutting is done with a design in mind. Juat after the skin is cut, a mineral was rubbed into the wound to enhance the scar. This male figure with shoulder scarification is a good example.