 | Carl Ferdinand von Graefe Carl Ferdinand von Graefe (March 8, 1787 - July 4, 1840) was a German surgeon who was a native of Warsaw. He earned his medical degree from the University of Leipzig, and afterwards practiced medicine in the duchy of Anhalt-Bernburg. In 1810 he moved to Berlin, and became professor of clinical surgery and director of the ophthalmogical institute at the University of Berlin. After his death in 1840, he was succeeded by Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach (1792-1847) as director of the surgical clinic. He was the father of ophthalmologist Albrecht von Graefe (1828-1870). Carl von Graefe was a pioneer of plastic and reconstructive surgery, and a founder of German rhinoplastic surgery. He developed his own techniques regarding rhinoplasty, which were modifications of the Italian methodology of Gasparo Tagliacozzi (1545-1599) and the Indian surgical practices that dated from antiquity. Graefe also performed one of the first operations for treatment of a congenital cleft palate, and was a pioneer of eyelid surgery. | |
 | Harold Gillies Gillies was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. He studied medicine at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University, where despite a stiff elbow (sustained sliding down the banisters at home as a child) he was a rowing blue. In addition to his career as a surgeon, he was also a champion golfer and inveterate practical joker. For many years his home was at 71 Frognal, in the heart of London's Hampstead village. A blue plaque on the front of that house now commemorates his life and work. In 1946, he and a colleague carried out one of the first sex reassignment surgery from female to male on Michael Dillon. In 1951 he and colleagues carried out one of first modern sex reassignment surgery from male to female using a flap technique on Roberta Cowell, which became the standard for 40 years. | |
 | Tom 'The Leopard Man' Leppard Tom Leppard, more widely known as Leopard Man or the Leopard Man of Skye, was formerly considered by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the world's most tattooed man. Leppard, now in his sixties, fled society years ago after spending £5,500 to have his body covered in leopard-like spots. He now lives in a small cabin on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Once every week, the ex-soldier travels by canoe to buy supplies and pick up his pension. If he went back to civilization, he says he would be plagued by 'interfering busybodies' and kids throwing stones at his window. | |
 | Michael Jackson Although it is unknown if he did so on purpose or because of a 'rare medical disorder,' Jackson is the most notable example of someone changing his or her race. There may be other examples, but he will probably go down in history as being the first to do so. Besides the change in skin tone, he has taken advantage of other benefits of morphological freedom, including changing his hair and several plastic surgeries. Jackson's successful career has made him a part of pop culture for almost four decades. Inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984, Jackson has had a notable impact on music and culture throughout the world, breaking down racial barriers and paving the way for modern pop music in his own country. He transformed the music video into an art form and a promotional tool through complex story lines, dance routines, special effects and famous cameo appearances. The popularity of his videos aired on MTV, such as 'Beat It' and 'Billie Jean', helped to put the relatively young channel 'on the map', while videos such as 'Black or White' and 'Scream' made Jackson a staple on MTV into the 1990s. | |
 | Eric 'The Lizardman' Sprague Erik Sprague, better known as The Lizardman, is a freak show and sideshow performer, best known for his body modification, including his sharpened teeth, full-body tattoo of green scales, and bifurcated tongue. The Lizardman makes his living as a freak, performing before audiences all over the world. He also makes numerous paid television and public appearances. He has mastered and regularly performs many classic sideshow acts such as the human blockhead, fire eating and breathing, gavage, sword swallowing, the bed of nails, the Human Dartboard, and the insectivore. He also participates in many public and private flesh hook suspension groups and events, and is highly involved in the body modification community. He also writes articles on the Body Modification E-zine. The Lizardman was a Ph.D. candidate at the University at Albany before beginning his transformation. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. The Lizardman currently lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Meghan and their pet ferrets. | |
 | You? Could you be the next person to make it on the Transformation Hall of Fame? Will you help us in our mission, and perhaps be the first to enter into a whole new level of self-modification? Or will you be here as the one who contributed the crucial idea that eventually became true morphological freedom? That is for you to decide, but neither will happen unless you help us work towards this goal. Remember, even helping in the smallest ways still counts. | |
