A 33-year-old body modification enthusiast from France underwent surgery to remove two fingers in order to turn his hand into a more claw-like shape, in a bid to transform more fully into his “black alien” persona. Anthony Loffredo documented his surgery, which he says took place in Jalisco, Mexico, on his Instagram page.

The procedure is part of a series of body modifications he has undergone, including tattooing his eyeballs, removing parts of his nose and upper lip, and having his tongue split.

Extreme cosmetic body modification surgeries are illegal in France and many other countries. Body modifications range from piercings to sub-dermal implants, with some enthusiasts saying the alterations help them to express their individualism.