Education About Body Piercing and Modification

So you like art. That may include painting, sculpting, wood burning, or airbrushing. However, let's say you aren't satisfied with using a canvas. Why not use the human body?

Now, of course, many people have their ears pierced, particularly women. Some girls may even have it done as infants. If you're interested in taking your body art a bit further, however, what are some options? In this piece, we shall explore the widespread art of body piercing, and the many variations therein.

By the way, just for reference, "gauge" refers to the size of the jewelry; the larger the number, the smaller the actual jewelry. For example, a 20-gauge piercing is 0.032 inches ( or 1/32 of an inch) in width, according to Steel Navel.

Nose Piercing

According to Painful Pleasures, the first recorded instance of piercing dates back to about 4000 years ago in the Middle East. It is mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 24:22, in which Abraham instructs a servant to find a wife for his son Isaac; the servant finds Rebekah. One of the gifts Isaac gives to Rebekah is sometimes translated as "golden earring"; however, the site says, the original Hebrew word was shanf, which translates to "nose piercing."

India adopted nose-piercing in the 16th Century, for physical beauty as well as a symbol of social status, according to Wikipedia's entry Nose Piercing. It was also intended to honor Parvathi, the Hindu goddess of marriage at the time. This style remains popular in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.

Nasal Septum Piercing

The less-popular septum piercing is sometimes referred to as a "bull-ring piercing," for obvious reasons. According to Body Modification Ezine, the nasal septum is "the cartilaginous tissue between the nostrils" (for clarification). In truth, it is not the actual cartilage that is usually pierced; rather, it is the space between the cartilage and the underside of the nose.

BME also notes that severe stretching of the septum will cause deformation of the nose, so care must be taken in performing such piercings. Generally, nose piercings are done with a needle, sometimes using a septum clamp as a guide. While some experienced piercers choose not to use the clamp, BME says that choosing to do so is not indicative of a lack of skill. It's merely a preference.

Nipple Piercing

Generally thought of as one of the most painful body piercings, Karen L. Hudson of About.com: Tattoos says that it's somewhat of a myth.

"I have my nipples pierced, so I am speaking from experience. Getting them pierced was a breeze...the first one was so easy I told him to go ahead and do the other one, too." Hudson admits, however, that "by then my endorphins had run down and the second one hurt a bit."

Hudson advises that if your nipples are abnormally shaped (e.g. flat), then the piercer should decide whether or not it will be safe to have them pierced.

Why Do Men Get Nipple Piercings?

Though nipple piercings may be slightly more popular in women, men have theirs done for a variety of reasons. To some, it may be purely aesthetic; others say it enhances sexual pleasure. The best answer is that the number of reasons for getting a particular piercing are as varied as the types of piercings available.

Genital Piercing

This, in a sense, is a different kind of piercing altogether, as we don't usually display our genitalia to the public (though there may be a few exceptions). Therefore, genital piercings may be regarded as meant for our sexual partners or spouses.

Elayne Angel, the webmaster at Rings of Desire and a professional piercer, says of them: "Unfortunately for us, our culture does not support genital pride! As a result, many of my female clients do not even know what the particulars of their private parts are called." She says that a number of women come to her requesting a "clit piercing," only to realize the actual location of the clitoris, and react in horror!

Angel considers genital piercings to be about "pleasure, stimulation, and celebrating the body." The Association of Professional Piercers at Safe Piercing details many of the health concerns that come with genital and other types of piercings, as well as explaining the safety procedures and aftercare.

Wait...Is There More Than One Type of Genital Piercing?

Karen L. Hudson says that "it seems to be the general idea that a 'Prince Albert' is one term used for all penis piercings." In her guide, she details the many variations on male and female genital piercing, simply to avoid confusion.

Hudson explains that the Prince Albert is done as follows: "...inserting a needle receiving tube into the urethra and then starting the needle from the outside and feeding it through the tube." She adds that there are fewer snags (no pun intended) involved with the procedure than one might think. There is the possibility that the body will reject the piercing (as with any body jewelry), but the chance is small.

There is also the "Reverse Prince Albert," which is similar, except that the piercing circles to the top of the penis head (glans), as opposed to the bottom.

And What Are My Other Options?

The ampallang piercing, according to Hudson, is made horizontally through the head of the penis. It can be made through the urethra, and also above or under it (highly dependent on the person's body).

Hudson notes that the actual piercing process for the ampallang is slow and painful. She also warns that it can bleed for up to five days, and takes longer to heal than most (6-12 months). As for the actual jewelry, she recommends a 14, 12, or 10 gauge straight barbell.

Foreskin Piercing

For uncircumcised men, there is the option of having the foreskin pierced. Hudson says that in ancient times, the foreskin was pierced to ensure the chastity of slaves; today, as you might guess, it is quite the opposite.

Hudson says there are "not too many complications" with the foreskin piercing, although intense sexual behavior may cause it to tear. Therefore, if receiving this piercing, precautions should be taken to ensure that the wound has recovered enough before resuming sexual intercourse.

Female Genital Piercings

In the case of women, again, the reasons for having the genitals pierced are many and varied. Hudson explains that some couples choose to do so in celebration of a slave/master sexual relationship; others do so for stimulation or simply adornment.

One variation is the Christina, located where the outer labia meet. Hudson makes clear that the Christina is not suitable for all body types; the piercer, or a doctor, should determine whether a woman has the correct "anatomic criteria" for this jewelry.

Of note: Tom Brazda, a Czech body artist, is credited with coining the term Christina, according to BME. In Illinois, it is sometimes called a "Catherine Piercing"; for women with "underdeveloped, missing, or removed clitoral hoods" it is called a "Rageina."

Among female genital piercings, arguably the most popular is the horizontal hood piercing. Hudson notes that unfortunately, unless the piercing is placed precisely and the wearer's anatomy is appropriate, it will not provide much sexual pleasure.

On the upside, if done correctly and safely, pressure to the pierced area will add stimulation to the clitoris. As with any body jewelry, it's entirely up to you!

There are many other variations on the female genital piercing; for more information, see the links below.

Body Suspension

Of all types of body piercing, "Modern Body Suspension," as it is sometimes called, is one of the more controversial. It involves the insertion of hooks into various parts of the body, followed by the lifting of the body off the ground, "suspended" by the hooks.

As with the above piercings, there are a number of methods through which you can achieve body suspension. According to The UK Body Suspension & Suscon Website, these include the "Superman," "Suicide," "Coma," "Chest," "Knee," and "Lotus" suspensions.

A suicide suspension involves the body hanging vertically, with hooks placed in the upper back. The number of hooks used ranges from 1-8, although beginners generally use 4 or 6. Hooks may also be inserted into the arms to form a "Crucifixion" suspension, because of the resemblance to the ancient execution method.

A superman suspension uses hooks along the back and legs; the number tends to be 10 or 12, although more may be used. This, and the suicide position, are often used for beginners.

Chest suspensions, in which 2-6 hooks are placed in the top of the chest, are considered the most painful, according to The UK Body Suspension & Suscon Website. People have reported that this position restricts breathing to some degree. Some also refer to this type of suspension as O-Kee-Pa, due to a similar ritual debatably performed by Native Americans; some consider using this name for the modern ritual offensive.

A knee suspension uses 2-6 hooks, placed above or around the kneecap. It may look painful from photos, but those who have undergone it say it's comfortable, once they adjust to hanging upside down.

Finally, a lotus suspension is done in the "lotus position," with the legs crossed. The most common hook placement involves 2-6 hooks in the back, and two in each leg. In some respects, it is similar to a "suicide" suspension; however, the support on the legs relieves some of the exertion on the lower back.

Again, like other forms of piercing, there are many reasons given for undergoing body suspension. Some see it as a spiritual practice; others have reported doing so to strengthen a romantic relationship.

If you'd like to try it...there are many places available!

Thanks, But...I Don't Like Holes in Myself

Any sort of body modification is entirely up to the individual. Some feel it is too painful; some are concerned about the health risks; others are restricted from doing so by religious law.

For those of you, however, who are not intimidated by the above reasons, go for it! You never know what you might experience.

Resources:

Rings of Desire: World Renowned Master Piercer, Elayne Angel's Body Piercing Studio
Body Modification Ezine Encyclopedia
Karen L. Hudson - About Guide to Tattoos & Bodypiercings
The UK Body Suspension & Suscon Website