body modification does not represent indivduality as much as it does an identification of some other social group, think army rangers tattoo. It harkens back to the marking or colors worn to identify which tribe a person belonged to. Body modification also does not have to be as drastic as getting wings it can be as simple as putting on black mack up it all depends on the level of commitment.

As far as the fluid nature of "fashionable" trends, we have always been fical. This is a mojor problem in that there is no continues stable sociatal standard in which to identify with.