Tattoos have the potential to totally transform someone’s look.

This is the reason it’s so intriguing to view the pre-inking photos of the world’s most inked individuals.

The mom with over 800 tattoos, Australia’s most tattooed model, and the notorious “Black Alien” have already left us in awe.

However, the man known as “Britain’s most tattooed man” has since revealed an unrecognizable photo of himself from before he earned the title.

Known as the “King of Inkland King Body Art,” Matthew Whelan is more than just a body painter.

.

He’s a fan of other forms of body modification, telling his social media fans (as per the Mirror): “I alter my body, that is well established.”

His unusual appearance has, however, been putting his health at risk.

He explains: “My transdermal implant (not micro dermal skin nip) surgical procedure is and has always been a 24/7 open wound and from time to time can bleed, get inflamed, scab, or seep plasma.”

“I don’t believe it to be an infection; however, the body is trying to heal an unwarranted hole punctured in it and a foreign object (a titanium disc and body jewellery), so it could just be the body mod version period just at that time of the month.”

“Jokes aside, ladies, I know some of you suffer really badly in those.”

“I will be OK, and if I’m not, I’ll go down in history like Jack Daniels, some monarchs from many centuries ago, and some other people dying from an unusual circumstance.”

In addition to having several tattoos, Whelan has also sliced his tongue in half, removed his nipples to make room for them, colored the whites of both of his eyes black, and carved “teeth marks” into his ears.

His name has also been legally altered to “King Of Inkland King Body Art.”

However, it’s some recent throwback photos that the tattoo aficionado shared on Instagramthat have tattoo enthusiasts buzzing.

In one, he captions a picture of himself flexing his muscles with: “This is a throwback to the time of my skin only having one #tattoo. I was in better condition back then too and would have probably been on the wrestling team had we had one in high school.”

“Sporting off a British Bulldog on my right arm at the age of 16!”

One fan comments, “Hardly recognised you lol!”

In another shocking before picture, he writes the caption, “WHO [duck]-ing HECK IS THIS?”

“This foreign-looking guy was found in Cypress back in 1998 or 1999. I can’t actually remember just one of the many different faces of myself before the #tattoos. I was not a plain skin; I had my 1st, possibly 2nd and even 3rd #tattoo by this time.”