Tongue split: how to do it, contraindications, care and possible complications

The division of the tongue (snake, forked tongue) is called splitting (from the English split - “to separate”). This is an extreme type of body modification, which involves surgically dividing the organ into two parts along the midline, from tip to middle. The purpose of this procedure is self-expression, emphasizing one’s own individuality. Some people resort to this type of body fashion to match fashion and youth trends. Another meaning of splitting is to increase sensuality and expand opportunities in intimate relationships. Kissing and caresses with a forked tongue evoke more vivid sensual sensations in your partner. Most people who decide to split can control the two halves of the tongue separately using muscles.

Features and Precautions

Split tongue is a more complex type of body modification than puncture (piercing). It requires the participation of a qualified performer, preferably with medical, and even better, surgical education. It is not recommended to perform the manipulation at home or in “handicraft” conditions; this task should also not be entrusted to a first-year medical student. To avoid complications, sterile conditions, special drugs (anaesthetics, hemostatic agents) and professional surgical instruments are required. At home, these requirements are difficult to meet.

Before undergoing the splitting procedure, it is necessary to study the contraindications. They are as follows:

Allergy to anesthetics is very dangerous, because... During the operation, anaphylactic shock and Quincke's edema may develop (an increase in the volume of the larynx and, as a result, the inability to breathe);
problems with blood clotting, a tendency to bleed, taking anticoagulants (even simple aspirin) can lead to blood loss and require more complex manipulations;
high temperature, fever and other acute conditions are a general contraindication to any interventions, including surgical division of an organ;
Oncological diseases are also a general absolute contraindication.

Complications and health consequences should also be kept in mind. If the procedure is performed by an unqualified doctor, this can lead to unfavorable developments:

infection and tissue necrosis;
nerve damage.

While the infection is a reversible process that can be stopped with antibiotics, damage to the nerves responsible for sensation and movement is difficult to reverse. This will require more complex and expensive surgery, but a positive outcome is not guaranteed.

When the halves heal, the person still expects specific consequences:

poor diction (usually it becomes more difficult for a person to pronounce the sounds D, T, R and other fricatives);
increased hissing and whistling sounds;
spitting saliva while speaking.

If the procedure is performed professionally, then the taste of food does not change during bifurcation.

Postoperative period

It is not characterized by too complex restrictions or deprivations. The main thing is to prevent infection. To do this, you need to wash the seams with chlorhexidine. To avoid tongue fusion, you will have to wear a tampon with a special medicine. Drinking alcohol, smoking and eating a lot is prohibited.

If you do everything exactly as the specialist recommended, then in a week you can begin to return to normal life.

How is splitting done?

Division into two halves is a surgical operation, it is performed under local anesthesia using a scalpel. Technically, this is a simple operation, although the preparation for the operation and the method of making the incision depend on the experience and chosen technique of the specialist. The standard bifurcation steps are:

Before surgery, the patient is recommended to brush his teeth and remove white plaque with a brush, then rinse his mouth with an antiseptic solution;
the doctor injects an anesthetic directly into the tongue;
With a special surgical instrument, the master clamps the tongue in the middle and leaves the clamp for 30-45 minutes to stop the blood supply at the incision site;
Using a sterile scalpel, the doctor cuts the tongue into two parts;
A piece of gauze with an antiseptic is placed between the halves of the fabric.

This algorithm may vary depending on the skill and experience of the performer. Applying a clamp helps keep blood loss to a minimum. Other specialists, in addition to the incision, sutured the two halves to stop bleeding and reduce the risk of tissue infection.

In rare cases, splitting can be performed with a laser, but for this you need to find a specialized medical institution that provides this type of service. In practice, it is very difficult to find, so in most cases, bifurcation is performed surgically.

Background

Surprisingly, such an operation is not something new. It has its own many-thousand-year history, which began literally from the moment of the advent of human civilization. Take yoga, for example. In this teaching, there are ancient practices when the tongue was cut and pulled out in order to later use it in specially designed breathing exercises that allowed a person to cross the line between life and death. In this way, yoga followers could get closer to the so-called Primary Source of all things. By the way, if you look at the images of various ancient Indian deities, you will notice that many of them have forked tongues.

Care, healing time and possible complications

The most difficult period after cutting is the first few days. At this time, a natural reaction of the body is observed - inflammation and swelling. The tongue will hurt and increase in size, making it impossible to speak and eat normally. Within 1-3 days, body temperature may increase - this is a normal phenomenon that can be controlled with antipyretic or anti-inflammatory drugs.

During the first week after the incision, you will have to eat pureed or liquid food. Sour, salty foods (marinades, sauces, tomato juice), spices and other foods that cause irritation will have to be excluded from the diet. After each meal, you should rinse your mouth with an antiseptic solution without alcohol.

To ensure healing occurs faster and the halves do not grow back together, it is necessary to use a special homeostatic sponge, which must be placed between the two parts and changed every 4 hours.

If all recommendations are followed correctly, healing occurs without complications within 1.5-2 months.

Cons of the operation

No matter how beautiful everything sounds, there are still disadvantages to this operation. And there are many of them.

Blood loss . If the cutting process is unsuccessful and an artery is hit, the person may lose a lot of blood, which can even lead to death.
Painful sensations. Although the operation is performed under anesthesia, the effect of the painkiller soon wears off. The tongue swells and hurts for a long time.
Inconveniences in everyday life . Split prevents a person from talking at first. Speech becomes whistling and lisping, and some letters cannot be pronounced at all. The man begins to speak slowly. You will literally have to learn to talk all over again. This will greatly interfere with work or study, but over time, speech will be restored. You can only take liquid food so that nothing gets into the wound. Drinking alcohol and smoking are also prohibited for a long time.
Long healing . The incision takes about a month to heal and requires constant care. Frequent rinsing and changing tampons make life a little more difficult.
Repeat the operation . There are cases of split fusion by a few centimeters, but not completely. In this case, you will have to contact the specialist again to correct the cut.
Infections . During the operation, it is possible that an infection may be introduced into the wound by an unscrupulous technician. Or, if the split is not properly cared for, a person develops inflammatory processes, suppuration and other unpleasant consequences that require treatment.
Damage . An inexperienced technician can damage the tonsils or nerve endings in the client’s mouth.
Non-acceptance by society . Not everyone will accept such a modification from another person. This may cause some conflicts and misunderstandings on the part of relatives and superiors.
The order is not executed nicely. The client may remain dissatisfied with the result if the specialist did not fulfill his specific request (for example, the cut was not the right length) or made the cut crooked.
Price . A split is more expensive than a regular piercing. This is logical, because the operation is quite serious. On average, the cost of the service ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles. Do not forget about possible correction, which is also not free.

How to choose a specialist for splitting?

Typically, this type of service is provided by specialized salons that perform other cosmetic and minimally invasive operations - piercings, tattoos. Well-established large salons with a good reputation are the best choice. Before starting the procedure, check how sterile the instruments are. You have every right to do this, do not be afraid to offend the master. In self-respecting offices this should not be a problem, and a specialist will be happy to tell you and even demonstrate tools and equipment for sterilizing instruments. If you have the slightest doubt about the reliability of the master, it is better to refuse his services.

Pros of the operation

Uniqueness . A person decides to take such a step in order to be different from other people. All for the sake of the so-called emotional uplift.
To attract attention. Anyone who sees such a modification on someone will definitely not remain indifferent. Riveted glances are guaranteed. For young people, this is, in a sense, a manifestation of protest against society, the destruction of stereotypes.
Popularity. A person with a split will definitely become famous in his circle, since the operation, although fashionable, is quite rare.
Self-determination . This operation is also performed by people in order to maintain their status as a certain subculture. Most often, punks, emo, and followers of body mod apply for this modification.
Aesthetics . For some people, a split is a decoration of the body for the soul.
New sensations. The operation is sometimes performed in pursuit of something unusual that will dilute the gray everyday life. It even becomes possible to control each half of the taste organ.
Possibility of reverse action . The tongue can always be sewn back together.

To decide or not

If a person doubts whether or not to make an incision, then... Uncertainty will only hinder your ability to survive the subsequent days of recovery. But it is absolutely clear that if a person finally decides to split his tongue, then no shortcomings and possible consequences of the operation will stop him. In this case, you need to look for one, preferably with a medical background, to avoid unnecessary damage. You can't put your life in danger for the sake of a fashion trend. You need to read reviews on the Internet or from friends to be sure of the result. After surgery, the main thing is to monitor your health and disinfection of the oral cavity. Then you can enjoy the result.

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Possible consequences

The procedure must be carried out in a medical environment, in complete sanitation, by an experienced, qualified specialist. First, the specialist must provide you with a paper describing all possible consequences and risks. The master should also familiarize you with all contraindications for the session and provide further recommendations for care.

It is extremely important to go to a proven specialist in whom you are absolutely confident. When cutting the tongue, there is a high risk of blood loss, because the taste organ is filled with a mass of blood vessels. Without experience and the necessary tools, control over the situation is easily lost, in which case it is necessary to immediately hospitalize the client in the hospital.

In addition, there is a possibility of damage to the tonsils, but this risk arises only with a deep incision. The procedure is performed very carefully so as not to touch the nerves of the tongue or damage the tonsils and oral cavity. Infection and scarring are possible, but they are extremely rare.

What is lingual frenuloplasty?

The frenulum is a small membrane that connects the lower part of the tongue and the mucous membrane of the lower jaw. Despite its small size, it performs very important functions: it is responsible for the formation of dental occlusion, controls the mobility of the tongue and the functioning of the facial muscles.

There are three main pathologies of the tongue frenulum that require surgical correction.

Wrong shape.
A healthy frenulum is a fold of mucous membrane in the shape of an arc.
Small size
(in medical terminology - ankyloglossia). The average length of the frenulum of the tongue in an adult is 3 centimeters; in a child it is shorter. In the case of ankyloglossia, the frenulum will not allow the tongue to be raised completely upward.
Incorrect mounting location.
A healthy frenulum is attached to the middle of the tongue, and with pathology it can be shifted to the tip.

In some cases, it becomes necessary to perform plastic surgery of the lip frenulum - the fold of mucous membrane connecting the lip and gum. The operation is performed to avoid impaired diction and the formation of malocclusion. Read more about lip frenuloplasty here.

Exercises

The lengthening of the tongue depends on the condition of the hyoid frenulum.

If it is not developed and is short, then the following exercises should be used:

“Mushroom” - you need to open your mouth wide and smile. Then suck your tongue to the roof of your mouth so that the tip does not curl up. And you still need to smile. Exercises should be done for one minute, then increase the time every day. This way, the ligament will gradually stretch and will not be damaged.
“Painter” - you need to open your mouth and smile. Run the tip of your tongue across the roof of your mouth from your teeth to your throat and back. And this needs to be done several times without moving the lower part of the jaw.
Smiling, open your mouth. You need to stretch your tongue to your nose, then to your upper lip. The tongue should not be constricted; it should be in a relaxed state. It won't work out right away, but over time everything will work out. During this exercise, you need to make sure that your lips and lower jaw do not move.
Smiling, place your tongue as in the “Mushroom” exercise and open and close your mouth. There may be some pain in the ligament area, but this is normal as this exercise helps stretch the hyoid ligaments.
“Horse” - you need to put your tongue in the “Mushroom” position and click your tongue, as if imitating the clopping of a horse. You have to suck your tongue and click, suck and click. In this exercise, only the tongue works, the lower jaw is motionless.
"Kitty". This exercise is reminiscent of how a cat laps milk. So a person needs to try this, sticking his tongue out.

All these exercises will bring results only when a person does them every day and several times.

If you don’t want to perform this complex, then you can simply stretch your tongue to your nose. This exercise should be done frequently over a long period of time. It’s not for nothing that they say: “If you suffer for a long time, something will work out.” Therefore, you need to put in as much effort as possible.

This is the main way to lengthen your tongue at home; exercises can be done at any age. Kids will be able to cope with them from the age of two years.

Consequences

If you decide to have your tongue cut, you should also be aware of all the possible consequences:

Once your tongue is cut with a scalpel, the tongue will not be able to return to its original state unless you resort to special surgery. But here it is worth noting that it will be more painful and expensive.
A forked tongue will affect your diction. You will begin to lisp when speaking and will most likely spit.
The first time after the incision, it will not only be painful to talk, but also to eat. After a few months, the pain will go away.
If the work is done poorly by a master or if you decide to cut your tongue (under no circumstances!), it can fester, so splitting can only be carried out in a medical institution (a good BM studio must have the appropriate license).

Symptoms of a shortened frenulum

How to determine if your baby needs surgery? It is necessary to seek specialist advice. However, you can notice signs of a defect in the frenulum of the tongue yourself by paying attention to some details.

The frenulum resembles a transparent film and does not have a vascular network.
The tongue is inactive.
The child cannot reach the upper palate with the tip of his tongue.
When you move your tongue, clicks are heard.
Chewing and swallowing are difficult.
Diction is broken.
The lower front teeth are turned towards the tongue.

Temporary inconvenience

First of all, they are that it will be painful to eat for the first few days. Most people do not eat anything at all during the first 24 hours after surgery. Later, you can take liquid food, for example, meat or vegetable broth, drinking yogurt, etc. But the main aspect is oral hygiene, which must be done after every meal, even liquid food.

Temporary inconveniences also include the effect of a cut tongue on diction. Until it heals, some sounds will be a lisp, which is quite natural. To restore normal speech, you will have to do various articulation exercises in order to learn again, as before, to cope well with your new model of language. Over time, diction will certainly acquire the same clarity of sound.

Painful sensations

As mentioned earlier, tongue splitting is performed under local anesthesia, so you will not feel anything during this procedure. Painful sensations will come only after 1.5-2 hours, when the effect of the drug wears off. Most likely, they will be accompanied by swelling with possible bleeding. In order to relieve such unpleasant symptoms, you need to brew immortelle, nettle and yarrow (1 tablespoon of herb per glass of boiling water), then strain and cool the liquid.

It is best to prepare the decoction in advance, since every hour you will need to take two sips, while alternating infusions - take the liquid into your mouth, move your tongue and swallow. It should be noted that the above herbs have wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties, so they are recommended to be used both externally and internally for at least a week.

It is important to know that healing occurs differently for each person. Therefore, there is also a special solution that prevents inflammation and infection, and also promotes faster healing of wounds.