A cut too far?

So I'm a total proponent of tattoos, piercings, and most cool looking bodily mutilations. I had my ear pierced as early as the sixth/seventh grade. I got my chin pierced within two months of being in the States. I admire original, creative and artistic tattoos. Although I'd never get any myself - just because I am a little fickle, and think I would get bored with, or lose significance of whatever I've gotten permanently stamped on myself. Yet, I still think that maybe some day I would lose this caprice, and find something worthy enough to ornate my skin.
This being said, I recently discovered some cool scarification pages. This is a process of carefully cutting out sections of your skin to form a scar. So its basically like a tattoo, but instead of using a needle to insert ink under the epidermis, you pretty much remove the epidermis (and maybe more) altogether!! Sounds cool, right? I tried doing something similar on myself a couple years ago... except I did not have the right equipment, and it came out more like a significant scratch that healed and disappeared in around two weeks. And thank god for that!! (told you I was fickle). Anyhow, the point is generally you see small patterns and designs, like a four leaf clover or a yin and yang or a random simple pattern. But then I saw this...





At first, I didn't even realize that this was a 'scar'... I thought to myself... 'Hmmm... interesting tattoo... could use a lot more detail'. Then as I peered at the picture more intently, I noticed the carvings in the skin, and realized that it actually had immaculate detailing. And as I observed in splendorous awe, I also shuddered and winced, as a chill ran down my spine, and I said to myself, "Ouch!"
I reckon this is art. But also wonder when it stops becoming art, and verges on mental instability? What is the line between such 'art', sado-masochism, and just plain insanity?

To learn more about scarification, visit BMEZine
If you want to read about the experiences of the phoenix scar patron on BMEZine, click here