AMPALLANG*​

A horizontal piercing through the head of the penis. Said to have originated from Borneo.

This piercing is done with a 10ga or 8ga barbell placed either through the urethra (European  placement) heals faster.

or above the urethra (American placement) thru the solid part of the head, slower healing. 

The initial barbell will be slightly longer to allow a comfortable fit during erection, once healed a shorter barbell that fits snug when erect is ideal.

APADRAVYA*

A vertical piercing through the head of the penis. It passes through the urethra, possibly of Indian origin as it is written about in the Kama Sutra. An Apadravya can be done as an initial piercing, or an existing Prince Albert can be extended. Usually Apadravyas are pierced at 10ga or 8ga, or larger if desired. The barbell is longer to allow for a comfortable fit during erection, and a shorter barbell that fits snug during erection can be fitted after the piercing has healed.

BRANDING – Strike or Cautery

Design applied to the skin via heat, resulting in a scar of the image used.

The most common branding methods are:

Strike branding uses pieces of steel heated and applied with one or more strikes. Results are less detailed and more painful.

Cautery branding uses a Medical Cautery Unit (used in surgery to stop bleeding, adjustable temperature control) The hand-piece hold a platinum tip to draw the design onto the skin. This is how we do branding at Flesh Wound.Results achieve a finer detail and feels similar to tattoo line work… post branding sensation is warm, not blistery like being burnt on a stove.

CHRISTINA* 

The Christina piercing is a surface piercing travelling from the small ridge of the pubic mound where the outer labia meet down to the very top of the clit hood. This piercing is anatomy dependent and prone to rejection even when flexible biocompatible material is used.

CLITORAL HOOD HORIZONTAL*

A 14ga or thicker ring is placed horizontally through the clit hood so that the bead/ball rests over the clitoris. This is an anatomically dependent piercing; the hood must be exposed (like a hump not a valley) during natural body movement so the jewellery sits comfortably without undue stress.

CLITORAL HOOD VERTICAL*

A 14ga or thicker ring or curved barbell is placed vertically through the clit hood so that the bead/ball rests over the clitoris. Jewellery makes contact with the clitoris with pleasing results, The different style of jewellery create rather differing sensations and can easily be swapped after the hood has healed. The most popular of the female genital piercings. Very fast healing and very little discomfort. Very decorative and sensual.

CLITORIS (gland)*

A very rare piercing of the actual clitoris. Most women’s clitorises are too small to support this piercing. As an example if it is smaller than an eraser on a pencil it is probably too small. Pierced either horizontal or vertical through the base of the clitoris. Vertical placement is best with a barbell and a ring for horizontal placement.

The best initial jewellery thickness is 14ga, however women with smaller but suitable clitorises are best to start with 16ga.

CONCH  

A piercing of the inner shell of the ear, which suits a barbell or flat back stud as the initial jewellery. Various placements are suitable to this area, planning for a Ring style that hugs the ear, will be placed towards the outer edge. The Conch is be pierced from 14ga, to 4mm- larger sizes are done with a dermal punch.

CUTTINGS

Designs cut into the flesh with a blade; usually a scalpel. Once healed the resulting scar will be a raised or flattened representation of the chosen design, depending on the individual’s healing tendencies.

Skin Removal Cutting is a method that removes entire sections of skin from the design. The immediate results look very impressive, the healed results cannot be predicted and may be flat, recessed or overly keloided.

See also Scarification.

DAITH

Often referred to as the Migraine piercing....altho there is NO medical proof it stops migraines. This piercing is tucked inside the ear, between forward helix & ear canal , above the tragus and below the rook. This piercing suits either a 16ga or 14ga ring or curved barbell.  Decorative jewellery is best suited to a healed daith, healing can be slow and prone to piercing bumps.

DERMAL PUNCH

A disposable medical biopsy punch useful for dermal anchors, large lobe piercing, and larger gauge cartilage piercings

Sizes range from 1.5mm-8mm, a twisting motion cuts out a core of flesh leaving a very clean hole.

DERMAL ANCHORS aka Microdermals

A single point piercing that installs a tiny titanium footed piece of jewellery.

Dermals may be inserted using a 2mm dermal punch or 12ga needle.

The post is generally internally threaded 14ga and 1 – 2.5mm long, the top and post are threaded to allow the tops to be changed.

Tissue grows through the holes in the foot, securing the jewellery.

Dermal anchors can be placed in areas of the face and body, healing is slow and even healed dermals can reject due to trauma, removal is done by cutting thru the tissue at the base with a piercing needle. These piercings are considered to be Long Term Temporary.

DOLPHIN*

A Ring or Curved barbell placed through a Prince Albert and exiting 12-16mm down the shaft. Initial jewellery is a 10ga or thicker curved barbell. Once healed a 10ga or thicker ring may be worn. A difficult piercing to heal and only suited for a circumcised man.

DYDOES*

Placed through the rim of the penis head, often in pairs. Most suitable jewellery are 14ga barbells. The piercee needs to have a well-defined rim around the head to support these piercings and circumcised to help with healing.

EARLOBE

The most common piercing of all. Either a single lobe or both lobes.  Multiple options and placement, Initial, 2nd, 3rd, & Stacked. Piercing from 16ga and larger. Many options for jewellery: Rings, Studs, Tubes and Plugs. The lobe can be pierced, stretched or scalpeld depending upon the size the piercee desires.

Left or Right ????  Once upon a time..... an ear ring in the RIGHT ear, was a subtle indicator the wearer was interested in people of the same gender. A pierced ear Does Not make you gay nor do you have a Gay ear.

ERL aka BRIDGE 

Horizontal piercing located through the soft tissue at the bridge of the nose, It Does Not go thru bone. Originally named after a man, named ERL, thought to have been the originator of this piercing

 A 14ga Barbell is generally the best jewellery to heal this piercing. Rings or Barbells can be worn in a healed Bridge.

EYEBROW

Generally placed towards the outer side of the eyebrow, however multiple piercings and placements are viable.Curved Bars or Barbells can be worn in sizes from 18ga, 16ga and 14ga. Urban Legends regarding a nerve running through the eyebrow that can cause facial paralysis if pierced are just a myth.

​FORESKIN*  

Single or multiple piercings through the foreskin on an uncircumcised penis. 14ga or thicker rings are the best choice for this piercing. The foreskin piercings can be stretched to a considerable size or used for infibulation if the foreskin has 2 piercings, placed opposite each other.

​FOURCHETTE*  

Located through the bottom edge of the vagina and exiting at the perineum. This is another anatomical dependent piercing, eg a pinchable ridge. J Bars aka L Bars from 14ga and thicker are the best choice for initial jewellery. Rings or Curved bars can be worn once healed. A very pleasurable piercing in an often-overlooked area.

FRENUM*

Located on the underside of the penis shaft close to the cock head, this is a very popular “first genital piercing” Barbells are the preferred jewellery from 10ga and thicker. Multiple frenum piercings along the shaft are called a Frenum Ladder. Placement can also be along the top of the shaft and even the sides when worn as a ladder. Placement on the underside of the shaft close to the scrotum is called a Lorum.

Circumcised men have more options for a ladder, Uncircumcised men may be limited due to 

frenulum web and the natural rolling back and forward of the foreskin and shaft skin.

GUICHE*

Pronounced Geesh not Gooch.

Located behind the scrotum ,thru the perinium. Single or multiple piercings can be done with 10ga or thicker rings. Once healed weights can be added for stimulation and play. Another often overlooked location. Said to have its origins in the Pacific Islands. 

HAFADA aka Scrotum Piercings*

Multiple placement options however the most popular are in the centre at the underside of the penis, or in the upper corners where the scrotum has a natural fold.

Rings from 12ga or thicker are suited to this piercing. Said to be of Arabic origin, the piercing only passes superficially through the skin it doesn’t penetrate the scrotal sac.

HELIX aka Ear Rim

A very popular outer ear rim piercing through cartilage. The placement can be anywhere along the ear rim and at many different angles. Rings or Flat back studs from 16ga and thicker can be worn. 2 piercings opposite each other in this area when lined up can take a long barbell that is known as a Scaffold or Industrial.

LABIA INNER*

  The inner lips that protect the vaginal opening. Single or multiple piercings in either of the inner labia. Decorative and Playful.  14ga or thicker Rings are the most suitable jewellery. If placed opposite each other a padlock can be worn as a chastity devise. A very fast healing piercing.

LABIA OUTER*

The outer lips of the vulva. 10ga Rings are the best option for these piercings. Placement can be single or multiple in either or both sides. Barbells or Curved Bars maybe worn when healed, Inventive play can be done with both sides connected with a short barbell

 A slower healer at 8-12 weeks.

​LABRET  

General placement is below the lower lip and centrally placed. A flat back stud or ring of 14ga or thicker can be worn. A variation is the Vertical Labret with a curved barbell so the top ball rests on the to edge of the lower lip. See also Lip.

LIP  

Located along the lower edge of the lower lip most often at the sides or corners of the lip. 16ga or 14ga rings are a popular choice, once healed.

All lip piercings will swell for the first few days to a week...initial jewellery must be longer to allow for this....Your piercer will advise you when to comeback and downsize to a shorter piece.

This is important to prevent gum/tooth damage.

Snake Bite is a popular term for 2 side lip piercings. Other variations with 2 piercings are Spider Bite and Angel Bite.

MADONNA  

Located above the upper lip in the corner. A 14ga flat back stud is the most suitable jewellery. The placement replicates a beauty spot. Aka a Crawford or a Monroe named after the celebrities own beauty spots.

MEDUSA aka Philtrum

Upper lip piercing placed centrally between the lip and nose. 14ga flat back stud is the must popular jewellery for this piercing.

This area tends to swell considerably more than other lip piercings, and is more sensitive to stretching to larger gauges... placement is vital to avoid gum damage.

MADISON

A throat piercing placed in the soft recess above the collarbone. A tricky piercing to heal as it can reject easily. The best results tend to be with a 16 or 14ga Surface bar worn until the piercing has healed and toughened up. Then rings or curved barbells may be worn.

MIGRATION  

When initially pierced some piercings will do a little migration. This is the body adapting to the piercing and the jewellery will move and settle into place. Common sites for migration are navels, nipples  and helix, possible cause being sleeping on the piercing, waist bands, hats, helmets, however other piercings can also migrate; sometimes the jewellery may be the cause of this. See Rejection.

NAPE

 Located at the back of the neck, this piercing sits horizontally and best suited healing with a surface bar. Single or multiple placements are possible for this piercing. 14ga surface bars are best suited to this area....Napes tend to be the longest lasting surface piercing.

Navel 

The most popular piercing other than earlobes. 14ga Jewelled curved barbells are the most popular with females and 10ga or thicker jewellery for males. Traditional placement is vertical through the upper navel fold,  an Inverted navel piercing is placed on the bottom of the navel and generally with a curved barbell. Not everyone is suitable for a navel piercing and some are better suited to a Floating Navel Bar ensure healing. This can be a slow piercing to heal due to the location, bending, movement, and clothing that may cause irritation.

NIPPLE*  

Horizontal placement is the most common for a nipple piercing 14ga or thicker Rings or barbells can be worn, although Vertical and Diagonal placement is another option this is more suited to wearing a Barbell from 14ga or thicker. Placement for males is deeper into the surrounding areola and for females at the base of the nipple where it protrudes from the areola. Healing is slower for nipples, however women tend to heal faster due to the function of their nipples for breast-feeding. Healed nipple piercings will not hinder a mothers breast-feeding.

NOSTRIL  

After earlobes this is the most popular facial piercing, suitable jewellery 18ga – 14ga ring or 18ga-16ga nostril stud. Threadless Flat Back Studs are ideal for initial healing and the tops are easily switched out to to change the look of this piercing.

Placement is best in the crease of the nostril flare. If a ring is chosen the placement is such that the ring sits parallel to the face, and a stud sits perpendicular to the nose. Either side can be pierced without any significant meaning. Symmetrical Nostril piercings are becoming very popular, best done in the same session to ensure all angles match the piercings.

ORBITAL

An ear piercing where a ring follows through 2 piercings, most commonly seen in an earlobe, but can be through any 2 piercings in the ear. An appropriate diameter ring can be worn once both holes are fully healed.

PLAY PIERCING  

Temporary piercings usually performed in multiples with fine gauge hypodermic needles. Originally an S/M activity piercing the nipples or genitals for heightened awareness or genitorture. More commonly seen in live piercing shows where numerous needles are placed in patterns anywhere on the body arms or legs. 

PRINCE ALBERT*

The most famous of all male piercings. Queen Victoria’s husband was rumoured to have this piercing and its name was adopted due to this. A ring 10ga or thicker enters through the underside of the penis head and exits out the urethra. A fast healer and easy to stretch up to thicker jewellery. Suitable for circumcised and non-circumcised men. With a little practice a cut man can still stand to urinate, he doesn’t need to sit every time he needs to urinate.

PRINCESS ALBERTINA*

The female equivalent of the Prince Albert. Very rare and one to avoid for those prone to urinary tract infections. A speedy healer, this piercing enters the urethra and exits just below the urethral opening. 12ga or thicker rings are the most suitable jewellery.

PUBIC*

 More decorative than functional this is placed in the dip of the pubic area above the penis. Options for a healed Pubic are rings, barbells or curved barbells. As this is a surface piercing the healing is better if a surface bar is fitted as the initial jewellery. 12ga or thicker is suggested. Larger men with a fattier layer in this area are less likely to heal this piercing.

REJECTION  

The worst part of healing a piercing is that suddenly there is very little flesh left supporting the jewellery. The piercing is rejected and your body is trying to heal itself as quickly as possible, so pushes the jewellery out somewhat like a splinter. Rejection can be the result of illness, harsh cleaners, trauma to the piercing or constant infection.

 If a piercing is rejecting it is advisable to remove the jewellery to reduce scarring.

​ROOK/Faux Rook/Hidden Rook   

A vertical placement thru the upper most cartilage ridge running diagonally above the tragus. This piercing can be done at 16ga or 14ga, curved barbells are ideal, Curved Barbells are more comfortable to heal and wear, once healed ring style jewellery is an option.

Variations are Faux Rook....a single jewel on the top edge of the rook with at flat back stud behind the ear, and Hidden Rook, a single jewel on the underside of the rook ridge, with a flat back stud behind the ear.

SCAFFOLD aka ​Industrial

Is the name given to 2 ear rim piercings with a long Barbell linking the 2 together. Placement can be a matter of choice and anatomically suited. Correct alignment is necessary to so the piercings aren’t distorted when the barbell is worn. A 14ga barbell is the most common sized used.  

SCARIFICATION

See Cuttings. Traditionally a method to enlarge or raise cuttings by irritating the healing scars. People with higher melanin levels are more likely to heal a raised scar that those with lower melanin levels.  

SCALPELLED LOBE

This method is used to make a very large sized stretched earlobe. Generally for 10mm and larger a line is marked along the lobe close to the cartilage, an incision made and the jewellery is tapered through the slit. No flesh is removed, thereby allowing plenty of lobe to accommodate larger sized jewellery. Scalpels can also be use to enlarge an existing stretched lobe that was originally pierced lower down the lobe. Healing time is remarkably fast.

SEPTUM

Located between the nostrils, the septum is a fairly pain free and fast healer, often half the healing time of a Nostril piercing. When placed correctly in the thin dividing cartilage (the sweet spot) inside the nose, the septum can remain invisible with a circular barbell or a U shaped retainer. Rings, circular barbells or retainers from 16ga-8ga jewellery can be worn in the initial piercing pierced at the relevant gauge. Rings, Spikes, or Tusks may be worn.

​SMILEY   

A Ring worn in the frenulum web inside the upper lip and sitting against the front teeth. Generally only visible when smiling. 16ga or 14ga Rings the most suitable jewellery option. Painless and a quick healing piercing. Damage to tooth enamel and gums is a risk.

SNUG aka Anti-Helix

Located on the inner vertical ridge that runs parallel to the helix.

The snug piercing is generally placed horizontal. Ideally suited to a 16ga curved banana bar for initial healing. Rings may be worn once healed. This can be a slow healer as the cartilage may be quite thick in some individuals.

STRETCHING

Refers to any enlargement of a piercing in order to wear thicker jewellery. Most commonly seen in stretched earlobes. Most piercings can be stretched either with an insertion taper or multiple rings and even layers of Teflon tape wrapped around a barbell or plug. Only fully healed piercings should be stretched and then only one gauge thicker and allowing weeks or months between each stretch. Cartilage piercings do not respond well to stretching but with time can be enlarged.

​SURFACE PIERCING  

Refers to any piercing that is placed parallel to the skin. These are tricky to heal, even when the correct type and size of jewellery is inserted. These piercings are considered to be Long Term Temporary.

We perform these with the punch and taper method, this creates a Staple shaped channel avoiding undue stress and pressure from the surface bar.

 A surface bar is the only practical jewellery for these piercings, the ball ends are bent outward at a  90-degree angle that avoids tension at the exit points of the piercing. 16ga for facial surface piercing and 14ga is the suggested gauge for Nape and Torso surface piercing.

SUSPENSIONS

The person is hung by a number of hooks (between 2.4mm – 4mm thick) these are pierced just prior to being suspended above the ground.

The hooks are removed after the hangie has finished their suspension, very minimal scarring results from the hooks.

Time scale for hanging can be a few minutes upwards of a few hours.

The 3 most common forms of body suspension are:

Suicide

This is generally the first type of suspension people try.

This suspension can use 2 – 8 hooks placed horizontally across the upper back, the hangie is in a vertical position whilst hanging.

Superman

This position has the hangie face down and horizontal hence the name “Superman”. This position uses a minimum of 8 hooks but can use as many as 22 hooks if desired. The more hooks used the greater the weight distribution.

Coma

This position has the hangie face up and horizontal with arms at their side. A greater number of hooks are used in this position as more support is needed to keep the hangie horizontal.

One form of suspension that has been seen by many people is the 2 Point Chest Hanging. This was portrayed in the Film “A Man Called Horse”  that was based on the ritual The Okipa ceremony, which includes piercing and suspension, and is a Mandan ceremony.

This is also widely acknowledged as the most painful suspensions to do. Former Flesh Wound Apprentice and Suicide Suspension Veteran- Nic Fletcher did this suspension with the assistance of Lukas Zpira from France at Fetish Ball 7 in Christchurch NZ. To quote Nic; “Yes it really f…… hurt.”

TAPER

  Term used to describe an insertion taper pin. Used to insert jewellery into a piercing that has shrunk or to stretch up an existing piercing. The taper is rounded and thinner in gauge at the tip and progressively thickens at the jewellery-coupling end.

TONGUE  

This is one of the most popular piercings as it has shock value, gives pleasure , fairly pain free to pierce and very fast healing. Initial healing requires a longer barbell to accommodate the swelling during the first week; after the piercing has healed a comfortable fitting barbell is worn. Starting at 14ga is the most popular size for a tongue, however thicker gauges can be pierced or the piercing stretched up a gauge at a time.

The tip of the tongue is less popular but is ideally suited to Oral Sex, it heals quicker, but is a much sharper piercing in comparison to the standard placement. Most people can support multiple tongue piercings, the longer your tongue the more room there is. See also Viper Bite.

TONGUE WEB

The underside of the tongue is pierced horizontally through the frenulum web. A unique piercing that is fast to heal but tends to migrate over time. 16ga or 14ga curved barbells or rings tend to be the best jewellery.

TRIANGLE*  

A horizontal piercing resembling a horizontal hood piercing except that it passes underneath the clitoral shaft , providing stimulation not possible with other piercings. This piercing is anatomy dependent and requires a very prominent clitoral shaft and room for a 12ga or thicker circular barbell.

VIPER BITE aka VENOM  

This is a double tongue piercing, placed opposite each other and to the side of the centre line of the tongue. Viper Bites are best done in a single sitting to ensure symmetrical placement and to heal them both in one healing period.