Surface Piercing 101- What to Know Before You Pierce!

Lets talk about surface piercings! These fun little piercings came about in the 90’s and 2000s’ after years of experimental R&D to discover what works. During that time the industry tried a whole mess of things to see what worked. From coiling up nostril screws to pierce with, to using plastic weed wacker line and trimming it down, even trying with Cather tubing. We were determined to make something that allowed us to pierce parts of the body we never before could have. Ad eventually, we settled on two different things! The Microdermal, and the Surface Barbell. They were the results of years of trial and error, and much experimentation. Both have their own pros and cons, and their own limitations. Let’s look at surface work in general, and then delve deeper into these two choices.

What makes a surface piercing different from a standard piercing? Well, a standard piercing goes through a defined piece of tissue- your earlobe, your nostril, your tongue, etc. A surface piercing goes along the surface of your skin, entering and exiting along that same plane. This makes surface piercings distinctly less stable than a standard piercing, and for that they are considered long term temporary. That means that the average lifespan of a surface piercing is 5-7 years, unlike standard piercings which can last a lifetime. That said some folks get lucky and have their surface work for much longer, and some get unlucky and it never makes a year. There are ways to ensure your piercings last longer.

Get them done in a low movement area, with stable tissue

Surface work does it’s best in areas that don’t move a whole lot. That means hands and feet, arms and legs, are off the table to start. Often, areas around the forehead and eyes, along the side burns, back of the neck, some chest placements, hips and lower back are the areas where these work best. That said, there are exceptions to every rule, and occasionally a more unusual placement can heal well and last with hard work from both the client, and the piercer. The most important thing going into these piercings is to accept they are long term temporary, and go into them understanding they won’t last you forever. Particularly if your goal is more unusual placements. Finding a piercer well versed in surface work, comfortable with it, and listening to their guidance about proper placement is key as well. These can’t just be done anywhere, contrary to popular belief. And even with a phenomenal piercer hand and foot placement should be avoided, simply because of how often you use your hands and how many things they come in contact with (for for feet, well, we all enjoy wearing shoes I presume.)

Find a Piercer using Materials you trust

I’ve written an entire article specifically about Microdermals (here) but the same applies to surface barbells. Being that the bases of these piercings can’t easily be removed or changed, they need to be the correct material. Ask good questions, and make sure you trust what your pierces uses.

Don’t pack a lot of product around them, even after they heal

This applies primarily to surface piercings on the face, but can apply anywhere you wear makeup, lotion, etc. These products can build up around the base and eventually cause irritation and issues. As tempting as it is it just keep packing products right over these piercings, it can cause issues. Avoiding the area when you do makeup, or cleaning the piercings throughly, regularly, is important. If you know you wear a lot of makeup consider seeing your piercer for regular more in-depth cleanings.