For many years, humans have been intentionally altering their anatomies for various reasons. Some cultures trace it back to pious and spiritual beliefs. For others, it's a mere intention of appearing more (or in few cases purposefully less) attractive to the opposite sex.

Such is the case for the women of the Apatani tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, India, they traditionally wore nose plugs to curtail their beauty and make them less susceptible to abduction by men from other tribes, although in recent days it's a dying tradition.

Teeth sharpening is an old practice that can be traced way back to early man. While some cultures file down teeth because they believe it to harness negative energy, other traditions opt to sharpen to imply social standing, age, or to emulate ferocious animals.

Women in the Ethiopian tribe of Mursi wear huge circular discs in their lips. This is achieved by piercing their bottom lip and then fitting it using plates of increasing size. It might look startling and painful, however in Mursi tradition, if the plate is larger the more alluring the woman is.

H/T DailyMail