Body Piercings
Professional body piercings — navel, nipple, dermal anchors, surface piercings, and oral — with implant-grade jewelry and honest anatomy consultations.
Body piercings cover everything from the perennially popular navel to modern dermal anchors and surface work — placements that turn collarbones, hips, and sternums into jewelry settings. Every body piercing at American Tattoo Society starts with an anatomy check, uses single-use sterile needles and implant-grade titanium, and comes with placement-specific aftercare coaching. Some of these piercings are simple; some are genuinely anatomy-dependent and technique-sensitive — and we'll always tell you which is which.
Body Piercings We Offer
- Navel (belly button) — the classic body piercing, back in a big way. A curved barbell through the upper rim (or lower, anatomy permitting). Typical healing: 6–12 months — longer than people expect, thanks to waistbands and movement.
- Nipple piercings — hugely popular for all genders; covered in depth (along with our privacy standards) on our private & intimate piercings page.
- Tongue and oral piercings — midline tongue, smiley, and web piercings. Fast healers (4–8 weeks) with a strict early-days routine; anatomy check required for safe placement around veins and webbing.
- Dermal anchors (microdermals) — single-point piercings with a small anchor under the skin and a gem sitting flush on top — cheekbones, sternum, collarbones, hips, hands... anywhere flat skin invites a sparkle. These are semi-permanent: removal is simple for a professional but they're not designed for daily jewelry-in-jewelry-out.
- Surface piercings — a barbell traveling under a flat stretch of skin with both ends visible: nape, sternum, collarbone, hip. Beautiful, and honestly discussed: surface work carries a higher long-term rejection rate than standard piercings, and technique + jewelry choice are what tilt the odds. We use proper surface bars (never bent barbells) and place conservatively.
- Eyebrow-adjacent and other facial surface work — see facial piercings for the face; ear piercingsfor the ear's dozen-plus options.
Anatomy First, Always
More than any other category, body piercings depend on individual anatomy. Navels need the right rim structure; surface placements need low-movement skin; dermals need stable flat tissue away from constant friction. Our piercers assess before they pierce, and if a placement won't heal well on your body, we'll say so and offer the nearest option that will. That honesty is the difference between a piercing you enjoy for years and one that migrates out in six months.
Jewelry, Healing, and Aftercare
Fresh body piercings get implant-grade titanium (ASTM F-136) sized for swelling and movement, with downsizing after initial healing — especially critical for navels and tongues. Healing routines are placement-specific but share the fundamentals: sterile saline, clean hands, breathable clothing, and leaving the jewelry alone. Full guidance on our piercing aftercare page, plus free in-person checkups whenever a piercing feels off — irritation is almost always fixable if you come in early instead of pulling jewelry.
Body Piercings and Military Life
Real talk from studios serving five base communities:
- Under the uniform, out of sight — but not out of the fight. Navel, dermal, and surface piercings don't show in uniform, but healing them against waistbands, body armor, ruck belts, and IOTV plates is the real challenge. Friction during healing is the #1 killer of navel and surface piercings; time new piercings for leave, off-cycles, or non-field roles.
- Dermals deserve extra thought if you're active duty. Because they're not designed for easy self-removal, a dermal in a spot that conflicts with gear or grooming standards isn't a “take it out for the day” situation. Choose placement with your job in mind — we'll help.
- Know your branch's jewelry standards and your command's interpretation before piercing anything you can't remove. Standards evolve; when in doubt, ask first. (More on navigating this in our guide to piercing shops in military towns.)
- Spouses and dependents — the majority of our body piercing clients — have none of these constraints. Navel piercings and dermal projects are everyday work in all five studios.
Age Requirements
Valid government photo ID for everyone; rules for minors vary by state and placement, with several body piercings restricted to 18+ regardless of parental consent. Call your local studio or check our FAQfor your state's specifics.
Frequently Asked
Do belly button piercings reject?
They can if placed on unsuitable anatomy or irritated during healing — which is why the anatomy check and friction management matter. Well-placed navels on suitable anatomy last decades.
How painful are dermal piercings?
Brief and sharper than clients expect, then done — most rate them easier than cartilage. Removal (when you eventually want it) is a quick professional procedure.
Can I work out with a new body piercing?
Light training, yes — but sweat management, loose clothing, and avoiding direct pressure on the piercing are required. High-friction training on a fresh navel or surface piercing is asking for trouble.
What's the difference between a dermal and a surface piercing?
A dermal is a single point (one visible gem, one anchor underneath); a surface piercing is a bar under the skin with two visible ends. Different looks, different healing profiles — we'll show you both.
How much do body piercings cost?
Piercing fee plus jewelry, varying by placement and jewelry choice. Walk in or call for current pricing — and remember quality initial jewelry is the part that protects your healing.
Pierced Right the First Time
Walk-ins welcome at all five studios, or book ahead below. Bring the idea — we'll bring the anatomy honesty and the sterile needle.
