A 23-year-old woman removed her belly button and gave it to her ex-boyfriend as a present.
Body modification fanatic Paulina Casillas Landeros, from Jalisco, Mexico, underwent numerous surgeries such as a 'back corset' - which involves piercings on either side of the spine - and a split tongue.
She later decided to remove her belly button as it is "what makes us human" before giving it as a present to her then boyfriend Daniel Ramirez, in 2015.
But following the removal three years ago, she says she ultimately regrets her decision describing it as "reckless" and "impulsive".
The HR intern and tourism student said: "I have always had problems with my family, I was not very close to them at the time.
"Body modifications fascinated me, there is something very transcending about them.
"I was very angry, I wanted to cut all unions from everything and everyone.
"I wanted to dehumanise myself in a symbolic way, I wanted to do something controversial.
"I underwent an 'operation' done by a professional but he gave me very bad advice on how to take care of the trauma so it got infected.
"I was suffering, I spent days in bed as if I were quarantined, I couldn’t stretch, push, stand up or laugh.
"It gradually healed itself but not 100 per cent - it will never close entirely."
Paulina said she knew she wanted to give the body part to Daniel as an ultimate token of love.
She said: "I was very much in love with my then boyfriend, he supported me through many difficult times, and he is one of the most influential people in my life.
"It was something I did in the spur of the moment, we were young and stupid but that’s the way I felt.
"I put it in a small bag along with a note saying 'I love you', it was very emotional.
"He has kept it and he will keep it forever because he knows the meaning behind it.
"We are good friends now but we will always love each other."
Paulina says her relationship with her family has now improved.
"I do regret it when I put myself in my mum’s position, it must have been devastating for her, she was so sad," she said.
"I can’t imagine how it must feel, your own child wanting to break all their connection to you.
"If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t do it again, it was impulsive, reckless and I hurt a lot of people.
"Even though I did it for the wrong reasons, it has now taught me I should think things through before acting and it’s a nice reminder that characterises me."
Would you like to get published on Standard Media websites? You can now email us breaking news, story ideas, human interest articles or interesting videos on: standardonline@standardmedia.co.ke
