Experimental Piercings

Not a week goes by that I don't get a call, e-mail, or someone stopping by the studio asking to get a piercing that I've either never heard of or that is just simply not a good idea. As professional piercers, we continually struggle between what we know is ethically correct and the need for financial income. The truth is that I have the knowledge and skill to put a needle through just about every part of the human anatomy and then insert a new piece of jewelry. However, part of my job and commitment to my clients is to create a piercing that, with proper care, can last a lifetime.

The internet has dramatically increased the demand for experimental and cutting-edge piercings. Not only because a significant part of the public is exposed to this type of piercing, but also through social media, where a piercing worn by one person can often be found in hundreds of locations. This gives the impression that the piercing is commonplace. When the reality is that the reason you don't know anyone who has one is that they are simply rare. The truth is that since piercings are extremely anatomy-driven, there may be very few people who have the anatomy that can heal that piercing. So, yes, you may have seen thousands of photos of that piercing on several different sites, but the reality is that only a handful of those piercings exist in the first place.

An often overlooked part of the act of piercing is the piercee's body's willingness to accept a foreign object and how it will react to this object. Healing a piercing provides insight into the adaptability of the body. As a professional piercer, you quickly come to realize that even if the piercing is done correctly, with the correct placement and jewelry, and the person follows proper aftercare, problems still arise. It could be anatomy, it could be the client's habits, but often for one reason or another, the body decides it will not accept the jewelry, regardless, or will react strangely, which points to the fact that in some cases due to health, body anatomy or some other unknown reason, regardless of best intentions that person's body will not accept and tolerate the piercing. Sometimes, clients will heal multiple piercings without issue, but suddenly experience problems with a new piercing in a different area of the body. Then some can't seem to do enough wrong during the piercing and healing, but still manage to heal out a piercing without issue. These super piercees are in an extreme minority. Most of us fall somewhere in the middle.

Another thing to note about photos is that often there is no description or reference to the piercing or piercer. This is quickly stripped away when the photo is shared in multiple social networks. Frequently, the photo has been taken minutes after the piercing was done or months and months before the piercing has healed. Like family photos, people rarely take and share pictures of piercings that are going through a bad time. Usually, the images are of the best times when the piercing isn't infected or the body isn't trying to reject the piercing. This gives the misconception that the piercing is easy to heal with limited side effects and risks. I think the most common and oldest of these has to be corset piercings, where two groups of piercings are done along each side of the back, and then a ribbon is threaded through them to give the effect of the back of a corset. The complex reality is that these piercings are "Play Piercings" or temporary. Done for a show or photo shoot and then removed shortly afterwards, but an image search will yield thousands of results. Most are professional photos taken right after or during the procedure. Still, none seem to show the scarring from piercings, the rejection experienced by those who tried to heal the piercing, or the other issues that would go along with any surface-to-surface piercing. 

One should always consider how often they have seen a piercing on the person. Chances are that if you haven't seen a lot of them in your daily life, there is more than likely a reason for that. That reason is that they are rare, and there is only a small percentage of people who can successfully heal the piercing. One of the strongest motivating factors behind getting a piercing is the desire for individuality. To set yourself apart from others by customizing your body. So the drive to have something that no one else has is understandable, but it is your individuality that may keep you from having a piercing. The human body comes in many shapes, styles, and sizes, and that is the soul of our individuality, but also what makes some piercings impossible altogether.

The danger with the misconception that these piercings are good ideas with a high success rate is that not everyone that hangs out a single stating they are a professional piercer is willing to take the time to explain to person coming in off the street, the chances of failure and the possible risks involved with the piercing. Oftentimes, it is because the piercer themselves are inexperienced and possibly uneducated about the dangers and failures of these experimental piercings. To make a name for themselves or feed their own ego and bank account, they are willing to do piercings that are beyond their skill or that are simply unsafe or will not heal. I always make a point of telling anyone who contacts me about a piercing that I'm unwilling to do so, and I provide the reasons why. Then stress that if they can find someone who is willing to do the piercing and doesn't volunteer the risks, they should move on. Either that piercer is unethical, unconcerned about your health, or entirely clueless about the dangers. If a piercer is experienced with experimental and extreme piercings, they know the risks the piercing may present and know firsthand the importance of the client knowing them beforehand. Not only to cover their own ass when things go wrong but because they have the ethics driving them to make sure that the client makes an educated decision about getting the piercing.

Now you may be asking yourself, what is the difference between experimental piercing and other body piercings?

• Common Piercings - A majority of the piercings that a studio offers are piercings with long track records of healing successfully, with an extensive range of anatomy. Most of these piercings date back to the 1970s and before in some basic form. The rule was if it protrudes, pierce it. Most are through areas of the body that have two sides and are through tissue that projects from the body. The reason is that it is easy to place the piercing deep enough in the tissue to the sweet spot where it is easier for the body to encase the jewelry in tissue than for the body to reject the jewelry thoroughly. Additionally, there is no outward stress on the tissue, and it hangs freely from the body. Like any rule, there are slight exceptions, but if you begin to think about a majority of common piercings, they are all through three-dimensional protruding parts of the body.
• Experiment Piercings - These are piercings that are often done in areas of the body that do not protrude or have clearly defined facing sides. Think of the difference between your ear lobe and the top of your forearm. However, some may protrude from the body and have two sides but are at high risk:
  • Surface to Surface Piercings - A majority of these are what are called surface-to-surface piercings, which can be performed just about anywhere on the body's surface. Because there is often a great deal of outward pressure on these piercings with limited loose tissue, the body will completely reject the jewelry. Over the years, various methods and jewelry have been developed to reduce migration; however, the reality is that for the majority of people, the jewelry will be entirely rejected within a few years.
  • Pocketing and Micro Dermal Implants - Developed as an answer to the rejection problems with surface-to-surface piercings. An oval-shaped disc is placed below the dermal layer, and the body then grows a "pocket" of tissue around the disc. The problem is that due to location, often on the face, chest, back, or arms, contact and trauma are common, leading to tearing. Combined with the trauma and contact, over time, the body begins to squeeze the "pocket" in an attempt to force the foreign object free of the body. So rejection within a few years is common. Other issues include the increased risk of infection from inward traveling and the difficulty in removing the jewelry in an emergency situation.  For more information, go to my piercing blog on the subject 'Pocketing and Rejection Dermal Implants Dirty Little Secret'
  • High Risk Piercings - This incudes several oral piercings like horizontal tongue piercings, labret piercings or cheek piercings located on the corner of the mouth, off center tongue piercings, smiley piercings, Frowny piercings, etc... All oral piercings have risks that involve damage to gums, teeth and bone structure but piercings that with increased contact with gums and teeth are asking for problems. Other piercings, like piercing the Clitoris itself, have a high risk of causing nerve damage. While others may increase the risk of infection.
  • Implants and Pearling - This is where a foreign object is placed below the surface of the skin. This is a high-skilled procedure and involves minor surgery. Though the internet and media have been flooded with photos over the last couple of decades, there are, in fact, only a few people with the resources and skills needed to do this. Therefore, research the procedure and the person performing it thoroughly.
  • Scalpelling and Dermal Punches - As a way to avoid the long-term period needed to stretch a piercing, either the piercing is cut to a larger size with a scalpel or a dermal punch is used to create a large hole at the time of the piercing. Also, scalpels are used to enlarge piercings that have already healed. The biggest issue is that even if the piercing is abandoned, it will require elective surgery to close the piercing.  The main difference between scalpelling and dermal punches is that with a dermal punch, a circle-shaped piece of tissue is completely removed. While scalpelling, the tissue is simply cut. Both will, however, create the same situation. Before considering either, I would first like to point out that large jewelry was traditionally a sign of wisdom and standing that was earned over time. You will learn a great deal about your body and yourself by slowly stretching the piercing. The other thing is that at some point in your life, for a job or some other reason, you may wish or need to abandon the piercing, and this will require surgery to reconnect the tissue. I've heard of a few "piercers" who claim they can easily reconnect the tissue but lack the skill or access to medical equipment and medication to ensure limited scarring.
• Play Piercings - I mentioned them briefly before and felt that I should explain them a little more in detail. Play piercings are piercings done without the goal of healing into a permanent piercing.  Often, they do not involve the insertion of jewelry at all and are done with only needles. To some, this might seem odd or pointless, but the piercings are done for the purity of the piercing experience, to make a design, or for some kind of ritual experience. The primary concern is cross-contamination; however, having access to an autoclave, knowledge of cross-contamination prevention and anatomy, and correct disposal of needles and other contaminated items as medical waste should be considered. 

I know that there will always be those who, regardless of the risks and failure rate of the experimental piercing, that they desire, will still want it. In the past, I have done a few low-risk experimental piercings, but only on clients that I had already built a relationship with. This was because I had a clear understanding of how their body reacted to piercings and how they would take care of their piercings. Even then, it has been rare and only done after they have a clear and complete understanding of the risks that were involved. Here is a short guide and some things to consider before turning into a piercing experiment:

1. Research, research, research. Read everything you can find on the subject of the piercing. If you can locate someone who has the piercing, ask them about their experience with healing the piercing, including the piercing itself, problems that came up, and other issues.
2. Research your piercer. Seek out reviews, but take them with a grain of salt. If you know anyone they have been pierced, ask them about their experience. Visit the studio beforehand and discuss the risks, procedure, and aftercare with the piercer. Tour the studio and get a feel for not only the piercer but the studio. If he claims to have done the piercing in the past, ask for photos of HEALED EXAMPLES OF THE PIERCING. It is easy to make a freshly done piercing look good with a bit of cleaning and the proper lighting, but it's another thing to have photographic proof of a well-healed piercing. Ask if there is anyone who has healed out that piercing that you might be able to talk to. This is a hard one, but if the piercer has done a number of them, chances are there is going to be someone who is willing to talk to you.
3. An ethical piercer tells you about the risks beforehand. Remember, you are going to a professional instead of letting your weird uncle pierce you with a leather punch. Firstly, the piercer possesses the necessary tools and skills to perform the piercing, but more importantly, they have the knowledge, experience, and expertise. With piercing, the customer is not always right, and if a piercer has an ounce of ethics, they will refuse to perform a piercing that they know will be rejected, not heal, or put the piercee at risk of infection or cause damage to their body.  Regardless of what a stranger that you have chatted with on the internet has told you about the piercing, a Professional Piercer has firsthand knowledge of what is going to work and what is not. There might be several reasons that a piercer will refuse to do a piercing, but the most common will be risks of rejection, risks to your health, or they lack of experience and proper training to do the piercing correctly. Before getting an experimental piercing, consider what those piercers who have refused to do the piercing have said before letting the first one to say, "Yes," do it.
4. Wait and think it through. There is a misconception that piercings are not permanent, but the fact is, you are permanently altering your body. There will be scarring that will be with you for the rest of your life. With piercings that are prone to rejection, there is often increased scarring. Consider the lasting effect that the piercing may have on your body, especially if it is an oral piercing. Understand that damage, such as scarring, will not go away. Be aware of the risks and consider whether the risks outweigh your desire for the piercing.
5. Commit to the risk of losing the piercing. This is an experimental piercing, which means that even under ideal conditions, it may not heal or may need to be abandoned. Are you prepared to go through the pain of the piercing, commit to the aftercare, and still not get the reward of that new piercing? Now this is always a risk with any piercing that you do everything right and still, for one reason or another, have to abandon the piercing, but with common piercings that risk is much, much, much lower.