Surface piercings are piercings that are made across a flat plane of skin, rather than through a fold or outcropping of tissue or cartilage. They’re composed of two separate punctures, connected by a channel below the skin’s surface. This means that two balls, spikes, or decorations will be visible above the skin rather than one. The methods that piercers use to create a surface piercing vary, and can include punch and taper technique (employing a dermal punch), or the use of two piercing needles to puncture and lift.
The jewelry used in a surface piercing is a surface barbell or “surface bar,” a staple shaped solid barbell with two interchangeable ends. To accurately measure surface jewelry, length and gauge (thickness) are required just like a regular barbell, but the rise or “depth” of the bar is also a factor. Rise is the distance from the base of the decorative tip, to the curve or angle of the staple.
Because a portion of the jewelry will rest beneath the skin, surface bars are most often made of hypoallergenic solid titanium or surgical grade stainless steel, and are generally tipped with small balls, spikes, or flat discs.
Many of the popular contemporary piercings are commonly worn as surface piercings including the nape piercing, clavicles, sternum, third eye, bracer (wrist piercing), anti-eyebrow piercing, and several others.
