Uvula piercing

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Uvula piercing
My Uvula Piercing - NOT done in Poland (2593375144).jpg
Location Uvula
Jewelry Captive bead ring

A uvula piercing is a body piercing through the uvula, the projection of the soft palate between the tonsils. This is a rare piercing. [1] Captive bead rings or other small rings are the most commonly seen jewellery in uvula piercings. [1]

Contents

Health issues

The piercing is rare due to the gag reflex, which makes it difficult to administer or receive it. Should jewelry pierced through the uvula come loose, it may be swallowed or even inhaled, which would require surgery to remove. [2] [3]

As with tongue piercings, there is a risk of crush injury during the piercing, swelling, and infection. The jewelry will also pull the uvula down during sleep, reducing the diameter of the nasal airway and increasing the chance of sleep-related breathing disorders such as snoring. [4] Uvula piercings may migrate leading to bisection of the uvula, which is harmless.[ citation needed ]

History and culture

As the piercing is not usually visible, motivations for receiving it are usually personal. [1]

Related Research Articles

Prince Albert (genital piercing) Male genital piercing

The Prince Albert (PA) is one of the most common male genital piercings. The PA is "a ring-style piercing that extends along the underside of the glans from the urethral opening to where the glans meets the shaft of the penis." The related "reverse Prince Albert piercing" enters through the urethra and exits through a hole pierced in the top of the glans.

Lip piercing Type of body piercing

A lip piercing is a type of body piercing that penetrates the lips or the area surrounding the lips, which can be pierced in a variety of ways.

Bridge piercing

A bridge piercing is a facial piercing through the skin on the bridge of the nose, usually directly between the eyes of the wearer. A variation on this piercing, the vertical bridge piercing is a surface piercing, with all of the risks or potential complications related to surface piercings.

Navel piercing Type of piercing located in, or around, the navel

A navel piercing is a type of piercing located through the skin of the navel. It is most commonly located on the upper fold of skin, but can also be effected underneath or around the edges of the navel. It may heal quickly and with no irritations, like an ear piercing, or may heal more like a surface piercing with the associated extended healing time. Healing usually takes around 6–12 months, but varies by person due to differences in physiology. Navel piercings reject less frequently than most other surface piercings, but the rejection rate is nonetheless higher than non-surface piercings. A properly effected navel piercing involves piercing the skin surrounding the navel with the initial wound inside of the navel canal. This can be done at any angle where there is a clear flap of skin, but the most prevalent form of navel piercing is through the upper rim of the navel.

Palatine uvula Fleshy appendage that hangs from the back of the palate

The palatine uvula, usually referred to as simply the uvula, is a conic projection from the back edge of the middle of the soft palate, composed of connective tissue containing a number of racemose glands, and some muscular fibers. It also contains many serous glands, which produce thin saliva.

Snoring Vibratory sound made while asleep

Snoring is the vibration of respiratory structures and the resulting sound due to obstructed air movement during breathing while sleeping. The sound may be soft or loud and unpleasant. Snoring during sleep may be a sign, or first alarm, of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Research suggests that snoring is one of the factors of sleep deprivation.

Nose piercing Piercing of the skin or cartilage of the nose for wearing jewelry

Nose piercing is the piercing of the skin or cartilage which forms any part of the nose, normally for the purpose of wearing jewelry, called a nose-jewel. Among the different varieties of nose piercings, the nostril piercing is the most common.

Earring Type of body piercing

An earring is a piece of jewelry attached to the ear via a piercing in the earlobe or another external part of the ear. Earrings have been worn by people in different civilizations and historic periods, often with cultural significance.

Tongue piercing Type of body piercing

A tongue piercing is a body piercing usually done directly through the center of the tongue. Since its decline in popularity around 2011, it has seen a recent upsurge making it now the second most popular piercing amongst young women aged 18-25 in 2019. It remains unpopular amongst men. Standard tongue piercings, or one hole in the center of the tongue, is the most common and safest way to have the tongue pierced.

Dydoe Genital piercing

A dydoe is a type of male genital body piercing that passes through the ridge of the glans on the head of the penis. They are often done in pairs. Less often, a "king's crown" is where several dydoes are placed around the head of the penis. The jewelry is usually a 14 gauge, curved barbell with a ball on either end, although a ring may be used at a higher chance of rejection. A deep dydoe is one that uses a longer barbell and exits near the tip of the penis.

Ampallang Male genital piercing

The palang, or ampallang is a male genital piercing that penetrates horizontally through the entire glans of the penis.

Nipple piercing Body piercing, centered usually at the base of the nipple

A nipple piercing is a type of body piercing, centered usually at the base of the nipple. It can be pierced at any angle but is usually done horizontally or, less often, vertically. It is also possible to place multiple piercings on top of one another.

A transscrotal piercing is a body piercing that travels through the scrotum from front to back, or from side to side. It is a high risk procedure.

Piercing migration Process when a body piercing moves from its initial location

Piercing migration is the process that occurs when a body piercing moves from its initial location. This process can be painful or go unnoticed, until it has progressed. Given enough time, a ring may migrate entirely outside of the skin, although it may only migrate a small amount and come to rest.

Corset piercing Multiple body piercings in two roughly parallel rows

A corset piercing is a body piercing that consists of multiple piercings in rows, usually on the back, with ribbon or string laced through to mimic the appearance of a corset. Two rows of bilaterally symmetrical piercings are performed and can be composed of as few as four piercings or as many as the length of the area being pierced and the vertical space between piercings will allow space for. Due to the difficulty and risks associated with permanently healing single surface piercings, most corset piercings are intended to be temporary.

Lip frenulum piercing

A lip frenulum piercing is a body piercing through the frenulum of either the upper or lower lip. A piercing through the upper lip frenulum is sometimes called a "smiley",,because it is usually only seen when smiling, or a "scrumper". Similarly, the lower lip frenulum piercing is sometimes referred to as a "frowny". Jewelry is recommended to be worn in the piercing for a short period of time because the risks associate with it are high.

Orbital piercing Type of double hole body piercing

An orbital piercing is a combination of two ear piercings connected by one piece of jewelry. Usually located in the helix region of the ear, an Orbital Piercing can be done anywhere on the body including your earlobes. The piercing uses a hoop, and is not to be confused with an industrial piercing, a conch piercing or double cartilage piercing.

Hip piercing Type of piercing

A hip piercing is a piercing in the pelvic area through the skin near the hip bone. Hip piercings are often done in couplets with one on each hip, but it is not unusual to see only one. Hips piercing are a type of surface piercing. Microdermals or skin divers can be implanted in the hip area to give a similar appearance.

Plug (jewellery) Piece of jewelry

A plug, in the context of body modification, is a short, cylindrical piece of jewelry commonly worn in larger-gauge body piercings. Modern western plugs are also called flesh tunnels. Because of their size—which is often substantially thicker than a standard metal earring—plugs can be made out of almost any material. Acrylic glass, metal, wood, bone, stone, horn, glass, silicone or porcelain are all potential plug materials.

Body piercing Form of body modification

Body piercing, which is a form of body modification, is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewelry may be worn, or where an implant could be inserted. The word piercing can refer to the act or practice of body piercing, or to an opening in the body created by this act or practice. It can also, by metonymy, refer to the resulting decoration, or to the decorative jewelry used. Piercing implants alter body and/or skin profile and appearance. Although the history of body piercing is obscured by popular misinformation and by a lack of scholarly reference, ample evidence exists to document that it has been practiced in various forms by multiple sexes since ancient times throughout the world.

References

  1. 1 2 3 DeMello, Margo (2007). Encyclopedia of body adornment. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 208–209. ISBN   0-313-33695-4.
  2. Associated Press (3 July 1997). "Dentists: Mouth piercing risky". Ellensburg Daily Record. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  3. Price, SS; Lewis, MW (1997). "Body piercing involving oral sites" (PDF). Journal of the American Dental Association. 128 (7): 1017–1020. doi:10.14219/jada.archive.1997.0310. PMID   9231608.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. Walsh, Laurence J (July–August 2008). "Missing the point: The risks of intra-oral piercing" (PDF). Australasian Dental Practice: 156–158.