When you mention getting a piercing these days, most people no longer just think of the classic earlobe piercing. While nose and belly button piercings remain popular choices, many people use body art as a way to express their individuality and try something new.
But for some, piercings have gone beyond the traditional and into more unconventional territory. People are now opting for piercings in more unexpected and daring locations, such as the smiley piercing, transverse lobe piercing, anti-eyebrow piercing, mandible piercing, scrotal (or ‘hafada’) piercing and even the uvula piercing.
The Smilie Piercing is hidden and placed in the small piece of skin that connects your upper lip to your gums.
It’s called a ‘smilie’ because you only see it when you smile, making it a surprise. This piercing seems simple, but it can potentially harm one’s gums and teeth if one uses the wrong jewellery and fails to take good care of it.
Another is the Transverse Lobe; everyone knows about the regular earlobe piercing, but this one goes sideways through the lobe. Instead of going from front to back, it uses a straight or curved bar that goes from one side of the earlobe to the other.
The Transverse lobe usually creates a remarkable, bold and modern look. Unlike the regular earlobe piercing, the transverse lobe requires careful placement of the jewellery and a longer span of healing. If one plays the cards right by taking good care of them, it expresses a cool final look.
This next one is not so popular: the Anti-Eyebrow Piercing. Also referred to as ‘tears’, it is the exact opposite of the eyebrow piercing. It’s placed just below the eye on the upper cheekbone, appearing like a teardrop. The technique used is surface piercing. This means getting a piercing through a flat area of the skin. This particular piercing requires a lot of care since it is hard to heal and often gets pushed out of the body.
The Mandible Piercing comes with a truly unique look. It is a horizontal piercing that goes through the chin, either in the middle or on the side.
Being very rare amongst piercing enthusiasts, it generates attention once someone gets it. This piercing takes a long time healing and due to its location, it requires a lot of thought and is done by a piercer who is an expert.
Another is the Scrotal or “Hafada” Piercing. The term “hafada” is Arabic, and the piercing involves one or more rings or bars on the loose skin of the scrotum.
This piercing is private and mostly special and culturally based. For some people, it is a key part of cultural traditions and also for beauty and pleasure. It is important to note that this piercing must be done by an experienced professional and must be clean and safe.
This piercing is most likely one of the most extreme and rare piercings in history.
The Uvula piercing goes through the small, tear-shaped piece of tissue that hangs at the back of your throat. The piercing requires a very risky procedure because of its location.
When getting a uvula piercing, there is a danger of swelling in the throat that could block someone from breathing. One could also choke on the jewellery dangling near your throat.
In fact, most professional piercers do not recommend this piercing because of its obvious health risks. One might wonder if people really get pierced in such unusual places. Well, they do and even Guinness World Records recognised two individuals for the most piercings on their bodies.
Elaine Davidson holds the record for the most piercings on a woman. The Brazilian-Scottish former nurse and performer didn’t stop at that but continued adding to her collection.
In May 2000, Elaine Davidson had 462 piercings, with 192 on her face alone. The number quickly grew and by August 2001, she had 720 piercings.
A report by The Guardian from 2005 mentioned she had reached 3,950 body piercings. In 2003, she had over 200 piercings in her private areas.
The Guinness World Records gave her a lifetime award for “Most Piercings in a lifetime (female)” for having 4,225 piercings as of 2006. The jewellery she wears inside her body weighs about 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds).
By February 2009, her total had reached 6,005. She has updated her latest number to 15000 on her website as of 2023 and hopes to one day have a total of 20,000 piercings.
She also sleeps on a bed of nails, walks on fire and lies on broken glass. She also holds a black belt in Judo, which she earned in Japan.
Rolf Buchholz of Germany holds two world records: most piercings, single count (male), as verified in 2010, and most body modifications (male) as verified in 2012.
The 62-year-old has 516 body modifications, among which are several implants and 481 piercings (278 alone on his genitals), but the number has increased over the years.
Some of his body alterations include a split tongue, tattooed eyes, magnetic subdermal implants on his fingers, horn implants on his head and subdermal implants in his arms and chest.
Speaking to the Guinness World record, he said, “A lot of people think I’m the devil, but I don’t believe in the devil. I started with the body modifications because I liked them. They were fun, so I started doing more and more. One day, I saw I could break the record because I met other record holders and realised I had more piercings than they did. I think my most famous body modifications are my horn implants. They are really big. Other than that, I have a lot of implants, as you can see, on my arms and on the back of my hand. I also have a star under my chest.”
He was asked whether they were painful; he insisted that he didn’t feel them at all.
The computer scientist professionally pointed out how he operates with magnetic implants on his fingers.
“I have magnets on the tips of my fingers. Sometimes, if I press the wrong part on an iPad, it switches off, because they also use magnets to switch it on and off,” he stated.
Both shared that there were no specific inspirations regarding the numerous piercings, but just passion.
“It’s only to do it, and to show that you can do it. I did it for me,” Rolf said. PULSE interviewed professional body piercer and tattoo artist Austin Bafflon, who shared tips for people before getting a piercing. According to him, it’s important to choose the right place and prepare yourself.
“Look for a clean studio with a good reputation. A professional piercer will use a new, clean needle for each piercing, not a reusable piercing gun, which can cause harm and can’t be cleaned properly,” he said.
Bafflon added that the quality of the jewellery also matters to avoid allergic reactions and potential infections. He advised taking a healthy meal before the procedure.
“The jewellery they use should be made of a safe metal like titanium to prevent allergic reactions. Also, be sure to eat a meal and get enough rest before your appointment to avoid feeling dizzy. You should also stay away from alcohol and medicine that thins your blood for a full day before you go,” Austin said.
The professional piercer also pointed out how to maintain a fresh, new piercing. He insisted that taking proper care of the piercing helps in the healing process.
“For the first few weeks, clean the piercing twice a day with a sterile salt water solution. Don’t use strong chemicals like alcohol or peroxide, as they can hurt your skin. Avoid touching or twisting the jewellery. It’s also important to protect the piercing from being bumped or rubbed by clothing, and make sure to wash your hands before touching it. You should not go swimming in pools or lakes while your piercing is healing,” Bafflon stated.