A man has revealed incredible before and after shots after spending over $62,000,(£50,000) on tattoos and extreme body modifications..
Drew Powell first became interested in tattooed warriors from the South Pacific when he was younger.
But it wasn’t until his 60s that he decided to embrace his own ink journey.
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Now 67, the retired telecommunications entrepreneur, has a unified bodysuit tattoo that covers ‘virtually every part of his body’, as well as 23 mm septum and nipple piercings.
“I have a Marquesan-inspired blackwork bodysuit tattoo that covers virtually every part of my body, with the exception of my hands, neck, head and face (for now),” Drew, from Washington D.C, US, told What’s The Jam.
“Starting [tattoos] later in life did have some advantages.
“I was fully funded (had the money), I had the time, I knew exactly what I wanted and being a “clean canvas” ended up with a unified bodysuit tattoo.
“Due to responsibilities and the stigma of tattoos and body mods during my younger years, I did not act on my desires.
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“Eventually the world caught up to my way of thinking so I decided that it was now or never.
“I did not want to die with regrets.”
His appearance isn’t the only transformation he’s undergone either.
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Ten years ago, Drew weighed 21 stone and claims his health was failing.
He lost a whopping eight stone and says he is “heavily tattooed and modified… and loving life!”.
Drew said: “I have a 23 mm stretched septum that I pierced at age 13, but did stretch up until 2020.
“I also have 8 mm pierced nipples and other assorted piercings.
“The first time I saw images of tattooed warriors from the South Pacific and indigenous people with cultural modifications, I wanted these for myself.”
And, the tattoo fanatic has splashed out thousands on his love for the needle, spending hours in the chair and months to complete his inkings.
He said: “I have spent more than $62,000 (£50,000) on tattoos and body mods.”
My tattoo bodysuit took 14 months to complete.
“I did this by getting tattooed in eight hour sessions every two weeks.
“Total time for my bodysuit was 220 hours.
“For all of my life, I wanted to be tattooed and modified, but until recently these things were not done in the west unless you were crazy or a criminal.
“When someone asks me how many tattoos I have, I can honestly answer, “One.” So I do not have a favourite tattoo.
”My bodysuit in its entirety is my favourite tattoo.
“I can’t say I have a favourite piercing.
“I like them all.
“What I can say is that in transforming, I become more me every day.”
And, as for pain, he says that the sensation is only temporary, but the lasting effects are well worth it.
“There are two kinds of pain: the immediacy of piercing pain and the pain marathon that constitutes tattooing.
“My nipples were tattooed black then pierced two weeks later at 4 mm. As far as piercings go, my nipples hurt the most.
“My most painful tattoos were mysternum, nipples, ribs, back of legs just below my buttocks, and feet.
“For tattoos and body mods, the pain is transitory.
“The aesthetic and pleasurable sensations last a lifetime.”
Drew shares his love for tattoos on Instagram (@septumdan )and has amassed over 1,000 followers, who are eager fans of his body art.
He says reactions have been mostly positive, with only the odd negative Nancy dropping their opinion.
His loved ones have rallied round too, although initially some family members found it hard to accept his new normal.
“Most of the reactions come from members of the tattooed and modified community.
“Occasionally, non-tattooed/non-modified people leave negative
comments, but tattooing and body modification is something they will never understand or accept.
“To each their own.”
“Although tattoos are not their thing, my partner was accepting, because they knew how important this was to me.
“And best of all for my partner is that while wearing long sleeves, I can still pass for “normal” (at least for now).
“Just remember while walking by people on the street, you never know what’s beneath.
“For some close family members, it was initially difficult to accept, because they were used to me with no body art for the first six decades of my life.”
Drew says that his tattoo artist Butch has been a pleasure to work with and his inkings have actually opened up new opportunities for him.
“We both feel the same way about respecting indigenous cultures.
“My bodysuit is all about cultural appreciation and the celebration of the world’s indigenous peoples.
“Being heavily tattooed and modified has opened up other opportunities as well.
“I am now an ambassador for Ink Models International, a UK based venture that matches people with businesses that want to advertise with tattooed individuals, as tattoos gain greater acceptance in society worldwide.”
He added: “I even do the occasional human hook suspension, where large hooks are driven through my skin and am then taken
aloft on ropes to fly through the air.
“Suspensions, like tattoos and body modifications, are a kind of rite-of-passage, something missing in our western, “instant gratification” society.
“It’s quite freeing and beats waiting to die, while rocking on the porch.
“For anyone that has considered getting a tattoo or piercing… Just do it.
“Life really is too short!”
