Surface piercings are piercings that are found on flat parts of the body, giving a double-pierced look that sits flat against the skin. A surface bar follows the plane of skin, while a standard piercing is pierced through the plane. Standard piercings have an entrance hole with an exit hole that is usually directly behind the entrance hole, whereas with a surface piercing the entrance and exit holes are next to each other on the skin surface.

Types

Some examples of surface piercings: *

Corset piercing A corset piercing is a body piercing that consists of multiple piercings in rows, usually on the back, with ribbon or string laced through to mimic the appearance of a corset. Two rows of bilaterally symmetrical piercings are performed and can b ...

: a series of bilaterally symmetrical piercings, normally done on the back, intended to be laced like a corset. * Christina piercing: located at the

mons pubis In human anatomy, and in mammals in general, the ''mons pubis'' or pubic mound (also known simply as the mons, and known specifically in females as the ''mons Venus'' or ''mons veneris'') is a rounded mass of fatty tissue found over the pubic symp ...

. *

Madison piercing A Madison piercing is a body piercing going through the skin at the front of the neck. They are surface piercings, and have a high rate of migration and rejection. They have a long healing period, if they heal at all. The Madison piercing is nam ...

: a horizontal piercing located just above the collarbone, at the base of the neck. * Nape piercing: located on the back of the neck. *

Neck piercing A neck piercing is a series of surface piercings done to emulate the appearance of a bite on the side of a person's neck. A barbell is placed in the skin of the side of the neck. When the earring/barbell is removed it looks like a vampire bite. ...

: located on the side of the neck. It is also called "Vampire Bites". *

Hip piercing A hip piercing is a piercing in the pelvic area through the skin near the hip bone. Hip piercings are often done in couplets with one on each hip, but it is not unusual to see only one. Hips piercing are a type of surface piercing. Microdermals ...

: located on or beside the hips (on the pelvis near the hips bones). *

Wrist piercing A wrist piercing is a piercing through the surface of the wrist, first popularized by Jon Cobb in PFIQ. Wrist piercings are a type of surface piercing. They carry a high rate of rejection and migration,Anti-eyebrow: located under or beside the eye. *

Bridge piercing A bridge piercing is a facial piercing through the skin on the bridge of the nose, usually directly between the eyes of the wearer. A variation on this piercing, the vertical bridge piercing is a surface piercing, with all of the risks or potentia ...

: located horizontally at the bridge of the nose. *

Pubic piercing A pubic piercing is a body piercing in the pubic area, on the mons pubis in females, or at the base of the penis in males. Healing times are at around 3–4 months. The rejection rate is around the same as well - that is, higher than most "conve ...

: located in the area/ pubic bone for both men and women. * Belly button piercing: located around or through a part of the

navel The navel (clinically known as the umbilicus, commonly known as the belly button or tummy button) is a protruding, flat, or hollowed area on the abdomen at the attachment site of the umbilical cord. All placental mammals have a navel, altho ...

* Eyebrow piercing: this goes through the eyebrow or through the skin around the eyebrow.

Rejection and migration

Surface piercings can be difficult to heal. They are the most likely to be rejected as they only break through small amounts of skin. This leaves less skin to keep the piercing secure. The body will push it to the surface of the skin causing it to "grow out".About: Tattoo/Body piercing
/ref> Proper placement and jewelry selection by an experienced body piercer can help alleviate this problem. A healed surface piercing can last from a few months to a lifetime.

References

External links

BMEZine page on Surface Piercing Rejection
- Explanation of various types of surface piercing techniques and rejection with several photos of piercings in the process of being rejected.

- How to properly care for new piercings.
Cleaning body jewellery

Surface Piercings: Everything You Need to Know

Body Piercings: Cleaning and Healing
{{Body Piercing Surface piercings