Ethan Bramble, known widely online as ModBoy, is in the middle of a remarkable physical and personal change. After spending years and tens of thousands of dollars covering his body in over two hundred tattoos, including many on his face, he is now using laser surgery to remove them. His journey into body modification started young, at age eleven, and escalated to include stretched ears, a removed belly button, and even a split tongue. But today, his motivation for change is rooted not in rebellion, but in love.
The catalyst for this painful and expensive reversal is his young daughter. Becoming a father shifted his perspective entirely. In a recent interview, Bramble spoke about the regret he feels, not necessarily for the art itself, but for the way the world perceives him because of it. He worries about the challenges his appearance could create for his little girl and admits he wouldn’t want her to make similar permanent decisions on her face while young. For him, the face tattoos became a source of unexpected anxiety.
The process of removal is a long and arduous one. He has been undergoing laser treatments for about a year, going over each section of his face repeatedly. It’s a stark contrast to the years spent adding ink, now focused on erasing the very identity he once built. He believes that much of the social anxiety he experienced was directly tied to having a heavily tattooed face, and he is seeking peace as much as a cleaner appearance.
Bramble’s life hasn’t been without controversy, adding complexity to his story. He recently joked online about an arrest warrant issued for him in Victoria, Australia, playfully suggesting he was evading authorities. This flair for drama has made him a polarizing figure on social media. Yet, even amidst this, his focus on fatherhood remains clear. His past includes extreme procedures like eyeball tattoos and nostril punches, experiences he describes as intensely painful.
Now, looking forward, Ethan Bramble’s narrative is transforming. It’s no longer just about the shock value of modification or the thrill of defiance. It’s a story about sacrifice and growth. The man who once defined himself by his altered body is now redefining himself through the lens of fatherhood, hoping to present a different face to the world and, most importantly, to his daughter.
