Cutting artist Keith Kennedy would like to see stronger regulations for scarification, which he offers at his piercing shop. (CBC)

A Calgary piercing shop owner is pushing for more regulations for an extreme form of body modification.

Scarification continues to grow in popularity, but Keith Kennedy of Tribal Expressions says it's not always being done safely.

A quick search of scarification on Youtube pops us some pretty graphic images — a scalpel digging into the skin carving out an image, with blood all over the place.

Something tattoo artist Steven Peace says he would never do.

"I just don't think it's safe at all," he said. "That's a medical instrument, not a needle — which is what we use, so it goes too far over that line."

Scarification uses a scalpel to cut about a 16th of an inch into the skin to create a permanent design, and can also include burning or branding.

Kennedy says it's safe when done right using sterile techniques.

"If you are going to someone who doesn't know what they are doing it is dangerous, so my suggestion is do your homework," said the cutting artist, adding some people operate underground.

Kennedy has been professionally trained in San Francisco in piercing and sterilization techniques, branding, scarification and suspension, and has more than 18 years of full-time piercing experience.

He has been working with the province to get some rules and regulations in place.

Right now the province considers it similar to tattoos, which is under the public health act.