STATE COLLEGE, PA. Officials consider limits on branding

The branding instrument leaves a third-degree burn on the body.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Officials are considering an ordinance that would strictly limit the practice of branding, the latest wave of body modification that involves burning the skin to create scars.
Under the proposal, branding would be allowed to be performed only by a "medical professional" -- a stipulation that branding enthusiasts say would effectively amount to an outright ban.
The council's ordinance, as it is now written, would stymie free expression, said Chris Prybyla, a brander at Tattoo Marks Studio II in State College. He said he is unaware of any licensed medical professional who would perform the service.
Richard McCarl, the borough council president, said he would prefer if branding was banned outright. The ordinance, drafted by the borough's health department, will be discussed at Tuesday night's council meeting.
Branding involves heating metal, usually platinum, to between 2,500 and 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit and using the hot metal to trace a design on the skin. The instrument leaves a third-degree burn wherever it touches.
Who gets branded
Prybyla, who has brands on his forearm and the back of his neck, said there is no specific social group or subculture with which branding is particularly popular.
Some fraternities engage in the practice, he said. The practice also has gained some popularity among athletes -- Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith and Penn State defensive tackle Anthony Adams both sport brands.
"We're witnessing the birth of an industry, and with birth comes pain," Prybyla said. "That's why I wanted to get involved now. It's much easier to guide legislation than to change it once it's been put into effect."
Prybyla has branded 11 people in the eight months he has been in practice. To date, he said, no one has notified him of any complications.
Dr. Kathryn Bonnett, a State College dermatologist, told borough council that infection is a potential complication of branding. And Dr. Mark Kozminsky, a dermatologist with the Geisinger Medical Group in State College, said there are also cosmetic concerns for those who change their minds.