Venom piercing happens to be one of the piercing types applied in the tongue. People have been getting piercings of different types, only now it has become even more famous and people pierce on any part of their body, from the ear to their belly button. One type of piercing that has become famous over the years is venom piercing.
WHAT IS VENOM PIERCING?
Venom piercing is a double tongue piercing. It consists of two smaller-sized piercings, on each side of the tongue, but closer to the tip. Although this piercing mimics the placement of the teeth of snakes, hence the name, it is also sometimes called “frog eyes piercing” because the balls on the jewelry used in the piercing look like the eyes of frogs when you open your mouth.
JEWELRY USED IN VENOM PIERCING
The most common type of jewelry used for venom piercing is the straight barbells. It has two ball ends that thread into place at the entry and exit points. After the piercing, you can decide to explore different jewelry for your venom piercing. The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) recommends that you use jewelry made of gold, biocompatible plastics, or metals with specific designations for your venom piercing.
For your venom jewelry you should choose jewelry made from either of the following materials:- Surgical steel- 14 karat or higher gold- Niobium- Biocompatible plastics
PROCEDURE FOR VENOM PIERCING
The process of getting a venom piercing is not so different from other types of piercing. Here are the simple steps that are taken to give a venom piercing:
i. First, your piercer will examine your tongue to make sure there are no injuries to reduce the risk of getting an infection or inflammation.
ii. Then you will be given an antiseptic mouthwash to rinse your mouth with to reduce the bacteria in your mouth.
iii. Your piercer will mark the entry and exit point of the area to be pierced using a body marker.
iv. He will then use small forceps to hold your tongue steady for the needle to be able to penetrate safely.
v. Make sure he uses a new sterilized needle to do this. A sterilized needle is inserted from the underside of your tongue up through the first marking that was made on your tongue. This is repeated on the other side of your tongue.
vi. The barbell will then be pushed through the opening that has been made and the ball is screwed.
vii. Finally, you will be given an antiseptic to use and rinse your mouth again and any bloodstain will be wiped off.
Read Also: Piercing Bump vs Keloid: Differences & Similarities
HOW MUCH DOES A VENOM PIERCING COST?
The actual cost of a venom piercing depends on the location and popularity of the piercing studio. It also depends on the piercer’s level of experience and the material used in making the jewelry used for your piercing. Overall, the average cost for a venom piercing can cost from $60-$100, with exception of the jewelry cost.
HEALING TIME
Given that there are two piercings, healing time will be a bit slow. This is also because of the presence of bacteria in your mouth. With proper aftercare treatments, you should be able to recover after 6-8 weeks. Keep in mind though that healing differs for everyone.
RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH VENOM PIERCING
Venom piercing is usually accompanied by pain, swelling, bleeding, and bruising. But in the process of getting the piercing done or during the healing time, certain factors like bacteria can cause you to be at risk of any of the following:
1. INFECTION: As stated, a factor that can cause this is the presence of bacteria in the mouth, either during the procedure or after, due to poor aftercare treatment.
2. BLEEDING: You may experience severe bleeding if a blood vessel is damaged during the procedure.
3. DAMAGED NERVE: This is a rare case, but it can happen regardless. It happens mostly during the piercing process. The jewelry used in the piercing can irritate the tongue connected to the trigeminal nerve and cause trigeminal neuralgia.
4. SWALLOWING OR CHOCKING ON THE JEWELRY: this is a common risk. It can happen in the cause of eating or drinking. You may accidentally swallow or choke on the jewelry.
COMPLICATIONS OF TONGUE PIERCING
The common pain, swelling, and bruising that come with venom piercing are expected to improve gradually while you heal. But where this is not the case, you may have complications.
You should seek medical help when you experience any of the following:
– Redness around the piercing may be a sign of inflammation.
– Discharge from the pierced site that may be thick yellow or green.
– Foul smell from the piercing site.
– Fever
– Continuous severe pain, bleeding, and swelling.
AFTERCARE OF TONGUE PIERCING
To reduce the chances of experiencing any risk or complication from a venom piercing, here is a guideline on things you should and should not do to ensure likely risk-free healing:
i. Use diluted mouthwash or lukewarm saltwater to rinse your mouth after and before going to bed.
ii. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to brush your teeth twice a day.
iii. Dissolve ice in your mouth or drink ice water to help with the swelling.
iv. Rest your tongue by not talking much during the healing time.
v. Do not engage in any sexual activity that involves using your mouth, such as kissing, as it may increase the chances of inflammation.
vi. Do not play with or touch your jewelry while you are still healing.
vii. You may take an over-the-counter medication, like ibuprofen to help with the pain.
viii. Do not chew gum, but eat only soft foods for the first few days after the procedure.
CONCLUSION
Venom is a type of tongue piercing that has become famous over the years. A piece of barbell jewelry that appears like the eyes of snakes is usually used for this piercing.
If you stick to the aftercare guidelines, you reduce the chances of experiencing any risk or complication that follows a venom piercing.