What Are the Different Types of Body Piercings?
From belly button and nipple piercings to dermals, surface piercings and beyond: a complete guide to every body piercing placement with pain levels, healing times and jewellery advice.Body Piercing Types Explained
Body piercings encompass every piercing placement below the face and neck, covering areas from the chest and torso to the hips, back and beyond. The category includes both conventional piercings that pass through a fold of tissue with an entry and exit point as well as single-point surface modifications such as dermal anchors.
Body piercings generally require longer healing times than ear piercings due to movement and clothing friction during daily life. Anatomy also plays a more significant role. Navel piercings, for example, are only viable on certain navel shapes and the success of a surface or dermal piercing depends heavily on the flatness and flexibility of the chosen area. This guide covers every mainstream body piercing type with placement details, pain ratings, healing windows and jewellery advice.
Every Type of Body Piercing
Body Piercing Types: Pain, Healing and Jewellery
| Piercing Type | Placement | Pain | Healing Time | Best Jewellery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belly Button | Upper navel rim | 3/10 | 6–12 months | Curved barbell, dangle rings |
| Nipple | Through nipple base | 7/10 | 6–12 months | Straight barbell, captive ring |
| Dermal | Any flat surface | 4/10 | 1–3 months | Dermal anchor with gem top |
| Surface | Any flat skin area | 5/10 | 6–12 months | Surface barbell |
| Sternum | Between breasts | 5/10 | 6–12 months | Surface barbell, dermal anchor |
| Nape | Back of neck | 5/10 | 6–9 months | Surface barbell |
| Hip | Hip or pelvic skin | 5/10 | 6–12 months | Dermal anchor, surface barbell |
| Christina | Pubic mound, vertical | 5/10 | 6–9 months | Surface barbell |
| Jaw | Lower jaw, surface | 5/10 | 6–9 months | Dermal anchor, surface barbell |
| Corset | Back, multiple paired | 6/10 | Often temporary | Captive rings, surface barbells |
What Is the Difference Between a Dermal and a Surface Piercing?
These two piercing types are often confused because they look similar on the skin but they are fundamentally different in how they are performed and retained. A dermal piercing has a single entry point and no exit. A titanium anchor sits beneath the dermal layer of skin and the decorative top sits flush at the surface. Dermals can be placed on almost any flat body surface.
A surface piercing has both an entry and an exit point, with a surface barbell connecting the two openings. The bar runs parallel beneath the skin. Surface piercings are more prone to migration and rejection than dermals because the body treats the bar as a foreign object and gradually pushes it outward. Both types carry a higher long-term failure risk than piercings through folded tissue such as the navel or nipple.
Looking for a full overview of every piercing type? Visit the Piercing Types Explained hub page which covers all placement categories from ear cartilage and nose piercings through to body and specialist piercings in one central guide.
Book your body piercing at OSCO London
All piercings at OSCO London are just £10, performed by professional piercers using implant-grade titanium as standard.
OSCO London is a professional piercing studio in Northwood, London. Visit the OSCO London homepage to find out more about the full range of body piercing services available and to book your appointment online.
How to Care for a New Body Piercing
Body piercings require the same core aftercare as other piercing types: clean twice daily with sterile saline solution and avoid touching the jewellery unnecessarily. However, body piercings face additional challenges during healing including friction from clothing, pressure during sleep and exposure to sweat during exercise.
Loose, breathable clothing over the piercing site is recommended for the first few weeks. Avoid high-waisted waistbands over a healing navel piercing and tight bras over healing nipple piercings where possible. Swimming should be avoided until the piercing is fully healed due to the risk of bacterial contamination in pool and natural water.
Surface piercings and dermals require additional vigilance. Any persistent redness, swelling beyond the first few days or visible migration of the jewellery toward the skin surface should be assessed by your piercer promptly to determine whether the piercing is rejecting.
For more information on all piercing placements and aftercare, visit the Piercing Types Explained hub, the central resource covering every piercing style available in the UK.