But I find that the guilt simply becomes a part of what you are doing. So to alter oneself in an extreme way might be an expression even of self-hatred. But I think it is deep-rooted in human beings to desire to alter one's natural self. We are prepared to push through all barriers, sometimes in extreme ways. In the positive sense, this is art.
Alteration is often for aesthetic reasons.
My Mistress would agree - as she alters herself to be more aesthetically pleasing. Ladies have different intentions than a gentleman in altering themselves. It is attached to wishing to be other than what one is, both physically and psychically. Self-hatred enters into it, but, in service to Art, must not dominate. Unfortunately nowadays one too often performs the alteration only for oneself.