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A uvula piercing is a body piercing through the uvula. This is a rare piercing, and although the procedure is relatively simple many piercers may refuse to perform it. The uvula is an extremely vascular piece of tissue and heals very rapidly. Uvula piercings may reject, leading to bisection of the uvula, which is harmless but not the desired outcome.

[edit] Health issues

Piercing the uvula itself is not dangerous^{[citation needed]}, but the procedure must be performed with extreme care. Usually the gag reflex does not prevent this piercing from being worn^{[citation needed]}, but it may make it very difficult to perform, depending on the person being pierced. Should jewelry pierced through the uvula come loose it may be swallowed by the bearer. This makes it a dangerous procedure that requires careful consideration.

[edit] Jewelry

Captive bead rings are the most commonly seen jewelry in uvula piercings^{[citation needed]}. They are usually 14 gauge small-diameter rings^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] History and culture

Uvula piercing is of completely contemporary origin, being first performed in 1994 by body piercer Jon Cobb^{[citation needed]}, who also developed the transscrotal piercing^{[citation needed]}. Numerous rumors and urban legends regarding the safety of this piercing or anecdotal incidents of procedures gone horribly wrong were circulated by more conservative piercers at the time,^{[citation needed]} who were concerned that some of the more experimental piercers would cross a line that would bring down massive government regulation that would damage the growth of the industry^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] External links

• BME (Body Modification Ezine) entry on uvula piercings
• BME (Body Modification Ezine) entry on Jon Cobb