Possibly. But not well enough for us to put too much faith in them.

We will install surface piercings for you if 1) you have a history with us, and 2) you understand that they might not work out.

Based on our years of experience and review of surgical and clinical studies, our first instinct is to immediately convince people not to try surface piercings. We respect and understand your interest in unusual forms of self-expression. In the past, we performed surface piercings until our experiences taught us that the results were not reflecting our high caliber of work.

Instead, we look forward to experimenting with jewelry that is softer than skin in the future. We believe that could be a solution to healing and avoiding some of the major long term problems with damaging surface piercings.

We have consulted with hundreds of individuals who have received surface piercings implemented in nearly every imaginable way and with exceptionally creative methods for jewelry, and have discussed every part of the procured, including the initial insertion as well as the aftercare and healing. Here is what we learned so that you may make an informed decision:

• A superficial piercing creates no more significant or immediate danger for infection than from any common earlobe piercing. When you pierce through a flat area of skin such as the back of the neck to wear jewelry, the complications are similar to the application of sutures or surgical staples assuming the appropriate level of safety precautions are taken.
• The jewelry we recommend is the most common and seemingly feasible choice known as a “surface bar.”  This is a close-fitting bar, shaped to your anatomy, perhaps even flexible or shaped similar to an upward turned staple. The jewelry must be critically tested and certified for human implant applications in both material and surface finish for it to be suitable for healing and wear.
• Aftercare is even more important than with other piercings, as any irritation can start things down the road to rejection.
• Within two weeks, the first layers of skin should have sealed the wound around the jewelry.  This seems to begin the circulatory problems for superficial piercings like the neck or any other flat area of skin, including some flatter eyebrows, navels, and nipples. Excessively granulated scar tissue from overgrowth of capillaries tries to feed new skin at the edges, while the skin on the inner edges dries and sheds as its circulation is cut off. Further inflammation and irritation sets in after a few more days, followed by further granulation of scar tissue along the outside of the openings trying to fill in the recently vacated spaces the jewelry once lived in. As all of this occurs, acute cellulitis sets in, causing the area to redden significantly and swell. At this point the risk for infection increases greatly as more raw tissue is exposed and shedding cells feed scavenger organisms. Unattended cellulitis or further infection in the area may harm the thyroid gland, lymph nodes and major blood vessels. Severe infection can mean a trip to the emergency room, and the grave risk of emergency medical treatment. Timely antibiotic treatment often will temporarily reduce or get rid of any infection, but the process continues unabated. Hot compresses or soaks do not reduce the rate of tissue loss significantly, nor does any application of chemical or natural substances.
• Piercing underneath the scar tissue formed does not make a more sturdy foundation for a second try, or third or fourth.
• Again, we have tried just about everything we know to encourage this type of piercing to work, including efforts to “trick” the body into letting it live there. We will perform surface piercings as long as you understand that they might not work out.

Our experience is similar to that of some of our colleagues with similar levels of expertise. Isolated piercers may still exist who try various methods for surface piercings.  But we assure you that the probability of a surface piercing looking attractive and healthy for more than a scant few days or weeks (long enough to get a picture taken for a portfolio, the Internet or magazine) is too low for us to suggest it as a viable adornment. The all too rare occasion when a superficial piercing lasts longer and still looks and feels good is cause for celebration and amazement. There are a few people who happily wear their scars, and others who may even have a bit of tissue left in which to hold a piece of jewelry, but not enough to suggest that this type of decoration is at all stable enough with current methods and technology.

The art and science involved in this pursuit are constantly changing, and as the interest persists, it is possible that the future will bring new techniques and materials that make it fun and easy.

We only want the best for you, and will be happy to give you a great number of other suggestions for unusual decoration with body jewelry. Please feel free to call, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or drop by the studio if you would like to discuss this or other possibilities further.

Seriously, WTF- Start doing CORSET PIERCINGS properly - an article at BME about corset piercings.