Surface piercing

An anti-eyebrow piercing is an example of a surface piercing

Surface piercings are any body piercings that take place on the surface sewn into the body through areas which are not particularly concave or convex, where the piercing canal transverses a surface flap of skin, rather than running completely through a piece of body tissue from one side to another. A surface bar follows the plane of skin, while a standard piercing is pierced through the plane.

Sometimes surface piercings are difficult to heal, because, as the body rejects the body jewelry as a foreign object, the jewelry is pushed to the surface, causing the piercing to grow out (also called rejection). Proper placement and jewelry selection by an experienced body piercer can help alleviate this problem. A well done surface can last anywhere between 3 months and several years.

The best jewelry to be used in a surface piercing is a surface bar, though some might have success with PTFE bar due to its flexibility.

Types of Piercings

Some more common, surface piercings are:

• Corset piercing, a series of bilaterally symmetrical piercings, normally done on the back, intended to be laced like a corset.
• Madison piercing, a horizontal piercing located just above the collarbone, at the base of the neck.
• Vertical Tragus, in front of the ear through the tragus.
• Nape piercing, located on the back of the neck.
• Neck piercing, located on the side of the neck. (Also called 'Vampire Bites')
• Hip piercing, located on the pelvis near the hips bones.
• Sternum piercing, located vertically or horizontally on the sternum.
• Wrist piercing, located on or near the wrist, generally on the upper side.
• Stomach piercing, anywhere on stomach but is usually close to the navel.^{[citation needed]}
• Anti-eyebrow, located under the eye, or beside

Rejection

The body resists foreign objects inside itself, and that includes piercings. Rejection occurs when it is "easier" for the body to push the piercing out like a splinter than it is to heal a fistula (skin tunnel) around it. Rejection is common among surface piercings as well as navel piercings and eyebrow piercings among others.

Rejection is affected by placement, blood flow, irritation and abuse, as well as general health. The healthier a person is, the less likely problems may arise. Commonly known as piercing rejection syndrome.^{[citation needed]}

Cleaning

To help decrease the chance of rejection, cleaning a surface piercing regularly is a good idea. The best way to clean it is to use a saline solution or non-iodized sea salt solution. Be careful not to agitate the piercing. The piercing should be cleaned a few times a day for the first few weeks. Here is how to make non-iodized sea salt solution (1/4 tsp sea salt + 8oz warm water), dip a fresh gauze or a fresh cotton ball (beware of the cotton ball as it might leave fiber behind) then hold it against your piercing 5 minutes twice a day. Simply Saline or Wound Wash Saline comes in spray bottle will also be useful but the soaking method is much more effective because you will benefit from the heated solution.

You should do the sea salt soaking/saline solution soak as long as it takes, even after it heals; continue to soak twice a week to prolong the piercing existence.

References

Surface piercings are best left alone to heal themselves, constant cleaning only serves to irritate the piercing and actually hinders the healing process.

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.
• Body piercing aftercare