What is “cautery” branding?
Cautery branding is the use of a more modern tool such as soldering iron-type devices to apply the burn. Some smaller medical cautery units can be used to create very small precise brands. What is “laser” branding? “Laser” branding is a term coined by Steve Haworth as an easy way to explain his electrocautery unit to the general public. Although medical lasers could certainly be used for scarification, this branding is done using a device similar to an arc welder for skin. The body is grounded, and a spark jumps between a cutting electrode and the skin, vaporising tissue in its path. An electrocautery device offers the ability to exert very precise control over the depth and nature of tissue damage, allowing the experienced artist to build up a texturally diverse scar. What does a healed brand look like? Ideally a healed branding looks like a pattern of thick raised lines, slightly lighter than skin colour. However, the amount of raising or keloiding varies greatly, dependant on a larg
