Dangerous Piercings & Body Modifications - Risks and Explanations

You may want to have the latest and most extreme piercing, but it's essential to be fully aware of the risks beforehand. In this blog, I will cover several dangerous piercings, modifications, and other piercing-related activities that I don't offer, and explain why. Yes, I'm going to cover everything from Subdermals and Microdermals to Achilles Piercing and Subincision.

When I first started piercing back in 1994, I wanted to be on the bleeding edge of piercing. Part of me wanted to have the reputation of breaking new ground and being an innovator. However, one of the first lessons I learned was that clients were paying me to give them a piercing that I could ensure would heal well, not cause harm, and last the rest of their lives. Although there have been advancements in piercing over the years, the reality is that a majority of the piercings I perform today were already being done all those years ago, and many of the more extreme body modifications were also being attempted back then, often with inferior results.

Yes, the methods have gotten better, and so has the success rate. The thing is that even in the best cases, most of the more extreme modifications do not have nearly the same success rate or longevity as even the most problematic of traditional piercings. When I say traditional piercings, I'm talking about those piercings that were commonplace 20 years ago and even then had a success rate. Standard piercings like Ear lobes, Nipples, Navel, Nostril, lip, labret, and tongue have been done safely on millions of people, and a large majority of them have healed with little or no issue.

With the internet, I have noticed that piercing and other extreme body modifications, which are rare and in some cases downright dangerous, appear to be increasingly commonplace. This is partly due to social networks, where we share almost everything, and we have all experienced seeing the same image repeatedly shared by multiple people. It can give the false impression that something is commonplace, even when there is only one photo of the same person's modification.

As a professional, it is part of my responsibility to provide a service and a safe product that I feel confident in my ability to perform, that I believe will promote healing and longevity, and that will not harm or cause damage to the client's health, well-being, and self-image. When considering what piercings I'm willing to perform and offer to the general public, I always consider those four things. There are piercings that many may consider standard, everyday fare, which I will refuse to do. Things like Tongue Webbing/Frenum, Smiley, Horizontal Tongue Piercings, Snake Eyes, Clitorus Piercings, Isabella Piercings, Princess Albertina, Nape, Fourchette, etc Then there are piercings that I don't feel comfortable doing, like Ampallang, Apadravya, because I simply wasn't trained to do the piercing and don't feel comfortable doing them. Then there are piercings and other modifications that have a bad track record, such as microdermals and surface-to-surface piercings. The reality is that I rarely have a client who comes in and requests any of these piercings, which only shows how scarce they are.

Now you may be thinking, "Well, that is well and good, DaVo, but I'm going to find someone else that will do the ________ piercing." The problem I have is that, based on my experience, the less experience a piercer has, the more likely they are to try something that is entirely beyond their skill level. In many cases, some piercers haven't even mastered the most common piercings that they attempt to do, instead opting for very complex procedures. Now I could go on and on about how to find an experienced piercer, but that may not be the answer either. They may not have an issue taking your money, regardless of the outcome, or are so full of themselves that they think they can do anything. 

The reality is one of the most complex skills to learn as a piercer, and the skill to say, "No" when you know it is going to be a bad idea. Piercer's income, in almost all cases, relies on the number of piercings they perform. Turning away income because they don't feel comfortable doing the piercings or because the person's anatomy isn't a good candidate, says a great deal more about the piercer than a thousand likes and reviews on social media.

The other things you should consider are whether the piercer feels comfortable performing the piercing or modification, and whether they have covered the risks and success rate with you before proceeding. Did they educate you sufficiently to make an informed decision about getting it done? Over the last 10 years, I've removed hundreds of microdermals, and I always ask if the piercer talked to them about the risks of migration and scarring or removing them for medical and employment reasons. Only about 1 in 100 said yes; the rest had no clue. An ethical professional piercer wants you to be aware of those risks before you proceed. At the same time, an unethical person may not mention this because they might miss out on a sale.

OK, so enough, let's move on to some of the more common dangerous piercings to get done:

Micro Dermal, Dermal Implants, and Pocketing:

I wrote a blog on the subject years ago, and if you're considering getting one, I highly suggest reading it: 'Pocketing And Rejection Dermal Implants: A Dirty Little Secret.'

Here is the short version: They are prone to rejecting, which usually starts when the jewelry becomes entangled with clothing, bedding, etc. The jewelry is not easily removable for medical procedures or if an employer requires you to remove it. Although there are always exceptions, most individuals will encounter the body pushing the jewelry out and rejecting the piercing within 3 to 4 years, requiring it to be redone. Since scar tissue is softer and offers less resistance to rejection, the more the dermis is redone, in most cases, the faster the rejection will occur and the more visible the scar will be.

Snake Eyes, Off-Center Tongue Piercings, and Horizontal Tongue Piercings:

I can go years without having one person walk in the studio doors and request any of these, and then I'll have a month where it seems like I get 50 requests. Tongue piercings in the midline or center were developed not only because it looked good but because it is the placement that has the least amount of contact with Teeth, Guns, and the bones of the mouth. Almost every case I've come across involving tongue piercing damage to the mouth's structure was caused by the piercing being at the wrong angle, with placement too far forward, being off-center, or with the jewelry being too long. Of course, the other most significant cause was piercings being done on anatomy that wasn't a good candidate in the first place. 

Now, when you consider that knowledge and start moving the placement to the sides of the tongue or further forward, you are just increasing the risks of damage. If you don't believe me, close your mouth and consider how much contact your tongue has with teeth, gums, and the roof of your mouth. The space is even tighter when you move forward in the mouth or a side. 

The other issue is that, regardless of how much you adapt to having the piercing or piercings, they will still affect eating and speech. How you move food around in your mouth and the shape your tongue needs to be in to make sounds will be impaired more with the jewelry off to the side or through the tip. The same can be said of having multiple midline tongue piercings. The further you move forward with the placement, the more issues you will encounter.

Tongue Splitting:

This is one of those things that seems to come up repeatedly and is a common question I'm asked. Firstly, it is not a new phenomenon and has been around since the late 1990s. Although this will not cause the same damage as a tongue piercing, it can still affect eating and speech. It also comes down to a procedure that is not in my job title. I'm not a plastic surgeon or an oral surgeon, I'm a Body Piercing Artist. Meaning that my expertise is injecting a needle through tissue and then inserting a piece of jewelry, not cutting, scalping, or stitching any part of the body to alter it in an unnatural form permanently. Nor do I advise that someone without proper training do the same. 

The other issue is that even after you have gone through the pain and discomfort of cutting the tip of your tongue in two and the stitches without anesthesia, the tongue can grow back together and will continue to do so. 

Additionally, I do not recommend doing this to yourself by using fishing line or string through an existing tongue piercing and then tightly tying it to the tip of your tongue. Then, slowly increasing the pressure over time to split the tongue. Not only is it dangerous, but it could cause unforeseen damage to the tissue.

Gun Piercing:

Do I even need to explain how much of a bad idea this is? Consider this: you are placing a metal object as the base of your teeth. Not only is there the issue of infection and damage to the root and gum, but it can also cause the teeth to expand and become crooked. 

Mandibular Piercing:

Before moving on to other parts of the body, I have to bring up one more oral piercing. To save you the trouble of looking this one up, the piercing goes through the bottom of the mouth and out the bottom of the chin. This is an extremely dangerous piercing to get done. There are several vital Nerves and Veins in the area, and due to the depth of the location, internal bleeding could occur. There is the added risk that an infection could develop deep within the piercing and require surgery to end. There is also the lasting effect on the salivary ducts and saliva leaking out of the bottom piercing hole even after the piercing has been abandoned. Much in the same way that cheek piercing runs that risk.

In my professional opinion, the piercing shouldn't be done at all. However, it should never be attempted by anyone who doesn't have a strong and well-educated understanding of the anatomy of the area, as in a Doctor or trained medical professional.

Dermal Punches:

This isn't a piercing as much as a method for getting a piercing or other modification. I've never used one and never seen the need to use one. They were first used as a way to create large-gauge piercings quickly. The main difference between a needle piercing and using a Dermal Punch is that the needle cuts the tissue, while a punch cuts out a round section of tissue. Much of this stems from my conviction that one should "earn" large gauge jewelry by stretching the piercing. There have been a number of claims that dermal punching doesn't cause the thinning that stretching causes and that the dermal is more likely to shrink when it the piercing is abandoned. However, I doubt either claim. As far as safety on earlobes, they can be used safely; however, in other areas of the ear and especially with thick cartilage, they shouldn't.

The issue is that it can cause lasting damage to the ear's structure or elsewhere, where cartilage is essential in supporting the shape of the area. Removing a large chunk of cartilage can cause the surrounding tissue to collapse. With conch piercings, having a hole in the area can affect hearing. In the mouth, for example, a Labret Piercing can create a permanent hole. There is also the issue of whether the use of a dermal punch is considered a medical procedure or not. It varies from state to state and country to country, and can be regarded as doing an unlicensed medical procedure.

Sub-Dermal and Trans-Dermal Implants:

For those who don't know, a subdermal implant is a device that is inserted under the skin in a specific shape. While Transdermals have part of the implant outside of the body in much the same way as micro-dermals are. The most significant difference is that with Trandemals, the depth of the implant is deeper. Both are minor forms of plastic surgery and involve an incision, separating the tissue, and then stitching up the area. If you have seen horns on someone's forehead or spikes across the top of their head, then you have witnessed Subdermals and Transdermals.

First off and foremost, I did not become a piercer to do plastic surgery, and I do not even begin to have the skill set to know how to do this. This should only be done in a sterile environment, comparable to a surgical operating theater. There is such a high risk of infection and possible complications that I highly suggest that you thoroughly verify and research anyone offering these.

Uvula Piercing:

I recall seeing the interview from '95 or '96 with Jon Cobb, featuring all the extreme piercings he was doing. He was pushing bonds of what most people at the time considered possible. Yes, a lot of it was feeling around in the dark, but it created the foundation of many of the more extreme forms of Body Modification. 

That said, much of it was not well thought out and downright dangerous. Add to that the widespread distribution of images of his work, and it created a situation where several inexperienced "Professionals" experimented on unknowing customers at their request. For a decade after his interview, and media attention, a week wouldn't go by that I wasn't asked to do a Uvula piercing. 

Those that aren't in the know, the Uvula is the hanging tissue in the back of your throat, and a Nape piercing is on the back of your neck. I highly doubt there are more than a few Uvulas that were ever done.

Nape Piercing, Bridge Piercing, Anti-Eyebrow, Ring Finger Piercings, Surface to Surface, and Pocketing:

Every few years, it seems like these come back into fashion. I learned long ago that piercing trends are primarily affected by fashion. Each new generation seems to try to find some "new" way to mark out their path. The reality is that it is usually an older trend that has been abandoned because it didn't work. Surface to Surface is like a nasty rash that never seems to go away, only to return with a slightly different appearance. 

One of the earliest guidelines for piercing is that if it protrudes and has two sides, pierce it on both sides. Most piercings are done through pieces of flesh that hang or protrude from the body. However, there are exceptions where the tissue doesn't protrude that far or doesn't have two sides that seem to heal very successfully. A couple of examples include eyebrows and various genital piercings. So, the ridge under the eyebrow, the back of the neck, or the bridge of the nose? Well, because they don't work. The tissue, blood flow, structure, location, and movement of the area are different. 

Before I even considered piercing, I saw photos of surface-to-surface piercings. They were all taken moments after the piercing was done, and not months later when the piercing refused to heal or was growing out of the body. Some have better luck than others, and for some reason, have become commonplace.

The bridge of the nose, or Ear piercings, first started to appear after a film from around 1995, which featured characters with multiple piercings along the bridge of their nose. I had never seen a photo of the piercing before. Since I've seen countless examples in person, with a few looking straight and healthy, but a majority crooked and rejecting, much of this comes down to the location, having the correct anatomy, and a piercer with experience in the piercing technique.

The nape of the neck seemed to gain popularity around the same time as Jon Cobb, and raises some issues. The most significant being the location and the fact that the wearer can't see the piercing area. The piercing is located extremely close to the spine, which means that if the piercing is done too deeply or an infection develops, it can turn the piercing into a perilous situation. That and they are very prone to migration and rejection.

The Anti-Eyebrow is relatively new, but I have yet to see one that looks healthy and hasn't migrated within a year. I guess that the tissue is much tighter than the eyebrow and experiences a great deal more movement with facial expressions.

The ring finger piercing appears to be the latest addition to a long list of piercings that have gained popularity due to social media. It isn't the first-hand piercing. Many people have tried to pierce the webbing between their fingers with little or no success. That is, unless you consider scarring and infections a success. The hand has one of the most complex anatomies of any part of the body. A lot is going on there, and even slight modifications to the area can have lasting effects. Additionally, consider the frequency of contact your hands have with unclean surfaces daily. It's an infection just waiting to happen.

Surface-to-surface piercings are done in any area of the body that doesn't naturally protrude from the body. While this opens up the ability to pierce pretty much any part of the body, the reality is that they are prone to migration and rejection. Pocketing is an early form of Dermal and Microdermal Implants. Done with two anchors that are connected to a post, think two microdermals with a bar connecting the two anchors.

Genital Beading / Pealing and Braille Tattooing:

This is the same thing as subdermal implants, but it is done in the genital region and usually involves some form of ball or bead being placed under the skin of the genitals. The legend is that the Yakuza add a pearl for each year they spend in prison. It shares the same risks and concerns as any subdermal implant.

Believe it or not, a few weeks ago I was asked about this, and I'm guessing that a photo is being shared around. A Braille Tattoo or Braille Implants is a grouping of several Ball Sub-Dermal Implants in a Braille Pattern. The outcome creates a word or phrase that can be read by running one's fingers over the area. It is not a special method of tattooing, but rather the insertion of a foreign object under the skin. 

Penile Subincision:

Though there has been a tradition in some ancient tribal cultures of doing Subincision, the fact is that it wasn't beyond the gland area of the penis. The modern version is often the full length of the penis and is self-performed. I would highly advise against having anyone but a licensed medical professional do this procedure. Doing this incorrectly can lead to infection, impotence, and blockage of the urethra. Even after the penis is healed, you are more susceptible to STDs, and it can reduce your ability to impregnate a woman, mainly because it impairs the delivery of sperm to the vagina. 

Achilles Piercing:

This piercing is located between the Achilles Tendon and the bones of the leg and ankle. Once again, it's not a piercing I would recommend getting done. There is the location of the piercing, and the fact that feet and ankles come in contact with a lot of contaminants daily. Everything flows downwards, including pathogens, which is one of the reasons we avoid using the floor of the kitchen for cooking and preparing meals. Feet tend to come in contact with more filth than any other part of the body. One trip to a public restroom on a business day should give one a clear understanding of why your mom always told you to throw away the candy that landed on the floor. Now add to the length of time it will take to heal a piercing this deep.

Perhaps a greater risk is the impact the piercing may have on your ability to walk if it is done incorrectly or becomes infected.

Crucifixion Piercing:

When I first heard about this piercing, I thought it was where the crucifixions were done, which is through the cartilage between the lunate and scaphoid bones and the radius bone in the center of the wrist. That would be an even riskier location. That said, it is located in the middle of the hand, and to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever healed this piercing out. It is considered a play piercing, which I will cover next.

If someone were to try to heal this piercing, the chances of infection would be high due to the fact that our hands come into contact with many surfaces. One needs to consider the potential damage this could cause to the structure of the hand. As I mentioned earlier with finger piercings, the hand is a highly complex arrangement of nerves, tendons, and bones. Anyone who has gone through a hand injury knows that it can be complicated to overcome, and often, in the end, they are only left with limited use.

Lastly, back to placement, the reason that crucifixions were done through the wrist is that the soft tissue between the bones could not support the weight. So, if it got caught on something and with enough force, it could rip right through.

Corset Piercings and Play Piercings:

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked about corset piercings... The thing is that they are a piercing play. What is a Play Piercing? You ask. A play piercing is a temporary piercing done for the experience of getting pierced. It's about what the person getting the piercing experiences, not about wearing jewelry. They are surface-to-surface piercings, and the body would reject them over time.

In case you don't know what a Corset Piercing is, it is a grouping of piercings done in a row, usually on each side of the back with captive bead rings, and then a ribbon is laced through the rings. Thus, visually, it appears that the person is wearing a corset. The piercings are often done during a session frequently involving BDSM and/or a photo shoot, and then removed shortly afterward. 

Play Piercings are often considered an activity or form of play within the BDSM community. However, those who enjoy the sensation of piercings but have no interest in BDSM have done it as a form of body play. The same could be said of suspensions. Usually, it doesn't involve any jewelry and only uses hypodermic or piercing needles of a small gauge, like 20 or 22 gauge. The needles are inserted through the skin and are often shallow, only penetrating the epidermis and dermis layers. They can also be done in patterns that can be very interesting.

Play piercing should always be performed by someone who has a basic understanding of anatomy and knows which areas of the body to avoid, such as major blood vessels. Also, they should have a basic knowledge of cross-contamination prevention, be trained in first aid, know how to disinfect and prep the area, use only brand-new sterile single-use needles, and dispose of all materials as medical waste.

Suspensions:

For some reason, everyone assumes that since I have a piercing, I would be into suspensions. Yes, I will admit that when I read Modern Primitives, I was intrigued by Farkir Masafar's interview on the subject and the Sioux Sun Dance. However, I'm a big fellow, and the idea of hanging from large hooks seems significantly painful and not something I want to go through willingly. What interested me most was the ritual and spiritual aspects of the experience, as well as the connection to ancient cultures.

I have also never really considered being involved with others doing it, though I have been asked several times. The thing is that the piercing part involves an entirely different type of anatomy and tools. Then there is the rigging of the ropes. The key to the whole thing is to have a balance of the person's weight to reduce tearing and ripping of the piercings. This involves a skill level and knowledge of math that I don't have and have no interest in learning.

Conclusion:

I believe that you should have the right to do just about anything to your body, as long as it doesn't negatively impact others and is done with a focus on your safety and the safety of others. To me, that involves not only ensuring that the person performing the procedure is well-educated and has the necessary skills to do it correctly, but also being responsible in how you share your experience. Meaning that you shouldn't just post a video, photo, or blog about it, but should include what the risks and concerns were involved in getting it done.

The general public doesn't often understand how rare and extreme many of these piercings and body modifications are. Usually, their only exposure to the industry has been through TV and Movies, or watching their friend get a tattoo on their forearm. It is the ethical responsibility of those who are willing to undergo these procedures and those who have had them done on themselves to educate the public about the risks involved.

If you are considering getting anything done on the list or even a standard piercing, it's essential to do your research beforehand. Research the modification or activity, the professional who is involved, and anything you can find. When you select your professional, understand that there is no such thing as a dumb question and that if someone is genuinely passionate about what they are doing, they are not only going to be willing to answer any questions you may have but will be genuinely excited to share their knowledge.