If you have ever thought about a surface piercing and are weary because of the high rejection rate (over 80%), then you might want to consider a microdermal implant also known as a surface anchor. Since microdermals have only a 2% rejection rate, maybe this is just the piercing for you.
How Surface Anchors Work
To understand how a surface anchor works you must first look at the shape. All surface anchors have the same basic elements.
The holes at the base of the jewelery provide space for tissue growth through the holes, better securing the surface anchor. Yes, your skin will grow through the holes, so surface anchors are permanent.
All microdermals will have a shaft that stick up above the skin. This shaft is where the bead or jewelry head is screwed on. The skin around this shaft usually heals just as though it were a normal piercing.
Microdermal Piercing And Insertion Process
Microdermals are much less involved then an implant procedure and require no special tools other then a dermal punch (needle) and a taper.
The skin is pinched and the dermal punch is inserted at an angle. The punch is removed and the foot of the jewelery is inserted in the hole. Then with some finesse the piercer will separate the skin as needed with the jewelery and pop the heel of the jewelery into place beneath the skin.
The result is a small post sticking out of the skin in which a bead or other accessories can be screwed in.
Performed by a trained professional this is actually a pretty quick and easy procedure.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Bill // Jun 16, 2008 at 11:20 am
I have an interesting question for you. I heard about a girl that is suing an airport because they required her to remove her nipple ring. It had grown around it and bled when she forced it off.
Any chance someone could be required to take one of these off? They are almost as big as a nipple ring. But you could not take it off, right? Something to think about.
2 Curt // Jun 17, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Bill, once microdermals are inserted they must be surgically removed. I’m sure any pressure from an airport refusing to let someone on a plane would result in a similar lawsuit.
3 Samantha // Jul 24, 2008 at 3:26 am
After reading this has really got me thinking because i’ve been seriously considering getting a corset piercing done and i know for it to be permanent most people opt for microdermal method. I didn’t really have any clue what that was, but i’m not sure if i’d want a corset to be permanent. Thanks a lot, this site has helped a lot!
Samantha S.
4 Samantha // Jul 24, 2008 at 3:27 am
Oh for clarification: when i said permanent the first time i meant for more than just play piercing reasons and when i said permanent the second time i meant when i got sagging and wrinkly
5 jeremy // Oct 13, 2008 at 10:46 pm
microdermals do not need to be “surgically removed”. removing them can be done by any experienced piercer. it’s a simple reversal of the initial insertion..
6 SKITTLES // Nov 2, 2008 at 4:15 pm
microdermals do need to be surgically removed after 8 months of insertion as skin has already bonded through holes…….. dixie@pings tattoo parlour
7 monica // Nov 11, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I had two microdermals, both of which ended up coming out, on their own. One was on my finger, a placement which just wouldn’t hold up to all the abuse it received. Finally, one day, it ripped right out.
I had a second one in the nape of my neck. It did beautifully for about two months, but then it began to reject. I wasn’t sure what was wrong with it until I popped it out of the hole (it had been leaning at a weird angle, already pushed partway by my body) and had a look at it. The post part of the jewellery looked as if I had never cleaned it. I was a little shocked because I had thought I was taking good care of it.
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