Microdermals
- Surface piercing
- Sub-dermal implants
- The development of single point piercing
- Microdermal anchors
- Microdermal placement procedure
- Using a cannula for placement
- Why needles NOT dermal punches
- Microdermal aftercare
- Jewellery change and removal
- Risk assessment
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FAQ - Microdermal Anchors
I'm giving microdermal anchors their own page because they don't, strictly, fall into the category of piercing. This page will explain what they are, how they are placed, how to look after them and the risks involved.
Surface Piercing
Anti-eyebrow
For some time now piercers around the world have been performing surface piercing, with varying degrees of success, on areas of the body that would, traditionally, not be suitable for piercing. This has been accomplished due to the recent advances in jewellery material and design which allows natural skin regeneration to take place without putting strain on the piercing. We have been using staple shaped teflon bars with great success, raising the success rate of most surface piercings from 30% to well over 60%.
Even with these advances in jewellery and technique, surface piercing is still very 'hit and miss'. A hard knock or rubbing from clothes can cause rejection and quite severe scarring, even if you've had it for years.
Sub dermal implants
Good results have been achieved using 'Sub-dermal implants'. These are plates that sit under the skin into which jewellery can be screwed. Unfortunately the procedure to implant these plates is very severe and the resulting implant is permanent and can only be removed surgically. There is also some confusion, due to the "Spanner case", as to whether these are actually legal in the UK.
Development of single point piercing
Microdermal
There has been a concerted effort from piercers to develop a method of 'single point' piercing to place jewellery under the skin, but without the trauma involved using implants. We've tried using nose studs, fishtail labrets and loads of other methods without much luck.
A piercer in New York, US came up with the idea for a prototype dermal anchor, which was a flattened bar with a right angle, but these would slip out really easilly. It was found that a small 'heel' added to the bar at the back would ensure that the anchor would be less likely to slip out.
These 'Dermal anchors' were rather large and needed to be placed by cutting the skin with a scalpel or a dermal punch. Over time these have been made smaller so that they can be placed using an ordinary piercing needle. This is what we have now come to know as 'Microdermal Anchors'.
The important thing to remember is that they are placed using ordinary piercing equipment. No special tools and no dermal punching.
Microdermal anchors
Microdermal
Microdermal anchors are not an implant and they are not a piercing. They are a hybrid of these. Otherwise known as 'microdermal', 'dermal anchor' and 'single point piercing', they open a whole world of choice for decorating areas of the body that wouldn't normally heal surface piercings.
We had spent many months researching microdermal anchors. We spoke to our piercing freinds in Europe and the US, in order to share experiences and ascertain the best method for both placement AND removal. (It's important to take removal into account, as it's not just a matter of undoing the jewellery and taking it out like you would with a piercing. When you need to remove a microdermal anchor, it has to be cut out.)
We ran trials on friends and relatives, before starting the procedure in the studio, using high grade (G23), highly polished titanium alloys, and we were really pleased at the results. Over 6 months we were looking at 95% success rate. This wasn't because microdermals are easier to keep than surface piercings, but because they are more easilly fixed if you catch them.
Since starting to offer them in our studio, the success rate has gone down considerably. The success rate now is around 60%, due mainly to catching and pulling them out on clothes. Many people see microdermals as a better alternative to surface piercing and they do heal better if they are not rubbed, caught, banged or pulled and as long as you wait the right length of time before trying to change the top.
Procedure
Microdermal in place
The procedure for placement of Microdermal anchors is actually quite simple, providing the piercer has plenty of experience of surface piercing, as it is just half of a surface piercing.
It's important to get all the angles correct or the anchor won't sit level. It's also vital that the anchor sits at the right depth. If it's placed too deep - it will embed. If it's placed too shallow - it will migrate.
The sensation of the piercing is best described as - a slight stinging sensation during the piercing with a lot of tugging and pulling to get the jewellery in. The tugging and pulling doesn't hurt, it just 'feels weird'. There will be a slight ache or a feeling of tenderness for about 30 mins and then there should be no discomfort at all as long as it is cared for properly and doesn't become upset.
Using a cannula for microdermals
We use a cannula to make a piercing straight down into the skin and then push it over sideways to gently seperate the skin from the tissues underneath. I've found a cannula with the luer lock removed works best, as the needle can be withdrawn into the tube so that no damage is caused to underlying tissues. The cannula is pulled back and then pushed back into the same piercing and a smaller seperation on the opposite side is made to fit the heal of the jewellery. The foot of the jewellery is pushed into the longer side of the piercing and the skin is stretched slightly over the heel end to complete the procedure. The whole procedure lasts just a few seconds.
You do feel the initial piercing through the skin, but you won't feel anything after that until I pull the skin around the microdermal (just feels a bit 'stretchy' then.)
Why needles and not dermal punches ?
I prefer to use this method rather than using dermal punches for a number of reasons :
- As a disk of skin is removed when using a dermal punch, the jewellery is more easilly pulled out accidentally. Using our method ensures the microdermal is more secure.
- There is a far greater risk of underlying tissue damage when dermal punches are used. If there is enough damage then the microdermal simply won't heal. Damage to blood vessels can cause bad bruises or even a haematoma.
- Dermal punching too deep can cause the microdermal to embed. Cutting out an embedded microdermal hurts - lots.
- Cannula piercing is more controllable and more accurate. The natural gap under the skin can be found more easilly and withdrawing the needle into the cannula slightly, once that gap is found, ensures that there is less damage to underlying tissues. Far more control over the sharp end !
- It's also worth remembering that the whole point of the development of microdermals was to find a method of single point piercing that could be done using NO SPECIAL TOOLS, just a piercing needle and something to hold the jewellery. It doesn't help that the wholesalers put microdermal jewellery and dermal punches on the same page !
Aftercare
Facial Microdermal
A transparent dressing will usually be used to cover the microdermal, unless it's on the face. This will need to be removed after about 5 hours. As with most piercings they are best just being left alone and only cleaned when it's absolutely neccessary. You might find a small amount of bleeding or some bruising during the first couple of days. This is perfectly normal so don't worry.
If you do need to clean it (when it's crusty') the easiest and most effective method is 'Sea salt soaks'.
Pour some hot water into a bowl, bath or sink and add some sea salt to the water. Soak the anchor for about 5 mins or until any 'crusty' has softened and then wipe carefully around the disk to dry it with a flattened cotton bud. That's it.
Don't be tempted to overclean the anchor as this will upset it. It will also become upset if you prod, poke, pull or twist the anchor, or if it is rubbed on clothing, bedding, seatbelts etc..
If you notice anything wrong it is important that you return to your piercer for help and advice as soon as you can. You need to be aware of changes to the skin around the anchor. If you notice any of the following you must return to your piercer immediately so that he/she can advise the best course of action:
- The area around the anchor feels hot to the touch.
- The area is red and angry looking.
- There is a discharge any colour other than clear.
- The disk appears to be embedding.
- The disk is starting to sit at an angle.
Jewellery change and removal.
Unusual microdermal
The disk on the anchor threads into a post attatched to the base. The base needs to be secure so that the disks can be unthreaded. If healing goes well this usually takes 3 to 5 months. If you are replacing the disk with something that can be caught, like a ball or spike, it is best to wait at least 6 months.
Removal of the jewellery can be a little uncomfortable. Microdermal anchors are intended to be permanent, but can be removed by cutting a small slit with the edge of a piercing needle in just the right place. Removal of a microdermal anchor can cause a small amount of scarring, so you need to think very carefully about placement before you agree to it.
Risk assessment
There is a greater risk of damage to the underlying tissues from microdermal anchor procedures than from piercing. It is VITAL that you check your piercers credentials before you agree to the procedure in order that you can reduce the risks involved.
There is a risk that a poorly trained, poorly experienced piercer with a poor knowledge of anatomy could damage the tissues under the skin. There are major nerves and blood vessels just underneath the area where microdermal anchors are placed. If they are placed too deep they will damage nerves and blood vessels and could even embed (pull into the skin altogether), needing surgery for removal. (We've seen a lot of people in Chester that have embedded microdermals. All from the same place and all made using a dermal punch - check out your piercers credentials !!).
The risk of Cellulitis (an infection of the skins connective tissue) is much greater due to the fact that both the wound and the jewellery are more open to the air. Any airbourne pathogens can be easily transferred into the incision during piercing and jewellery placement. DO NOT USE A PIERCER THAT WORKS IN A TATTOO STUDIO. This is especially important with microdermals because of the risk of infection. Remember about the microspray of blood in the air in a tattooists and ask yourself if you really want to run the risk and hope that the person having that tattoo next to you doesn't have hepatitis or hiv.
The angle of the piercing has to be absolutely perfect. If the incision is not perpendicular to the surface of the skin, the anchor will not sit straight and will catch on everything. Manipulating the anchor during healing to try to get it to sit straight DOES NOT WORK. If the piercing is made straight and the microdermal moves to sit at an angle whilst it is healing, it can usually be fixed, if it's caught soon enough.