Frog Eyes Piercing : Safety Tips, Myths and Risks of New Trend

Are you a body art lover and thinking of following the unique trend of frog eyes piercing?

But confused about risks and safety factors? 

No worries! Here is all you need to know about the procedure, back history and outcomes of this limelight  trend.

Frog eyes piercing is a new trend that is getting popular in the world of body arts. This piercing is inspired by the bulbous eyes of frogs. It involves piercing the tongue to place two studs side-by-side vertically, creating a distinctive frog’s eye effect on the tongue.

If you have chosen this unusual and trending piercing, here you go with all information about it!

History Of Frog Eyes Piercing

Frog eyes piercing, though gaining popularity now, actually is not new !

The origin of tongue piercing is rooted back in ancient times where ancient tribes like Aztecs and Maya used it as  spiritual rituals. But this particular trending “frog eye” style got fame in the 20th century. It was named frog eye because of its bizarre resemblance with frog’s bulbous eyes.

It was initially adapted by specific circles who wanted to try some untraditional and unique body modifications.Unlike other body modifications and piercings that has clear records, frog eyes piercing history is vague and hence termed as modern trend.

This trend got spotlight through social media and celebrity influence, especially those in love with body arts and unusual modifications.

Procedure Of Frog Eyes Piercing

A 14 gauge needle is used for tongue’s frog eyes piercing. This standard thickness is preferred to avoid any risk of tear or migration.

The steps of further procedure are:

• Consultation is very important before piercing, to discuss your desired results and any possible complications.
• Selection of jewelry according to your choice and suitability is important, generally surgical steel barbells are preferred. 
• Sterilization of area and tools is ensured by piercing professionals. You’ll wash your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash.
• Symmetrical marks are made on the tongue with surgical markers to ensure even spaced and accurate piercing.
• A sanitized clamp is used to hold your tongue steady.
• A sharp and hollow needle will be inserted quickly and carefully at marked points leaving the jewelry on spot. Piercing needle is generally inserted from top to bottom. 
• After successful placement of jewelry, the piercer cleans any blood and checks the results of placement.
• Finally, they will give you after care instructions and tips for a better and fast healing process.

Risks and Complications of Frog Eyes Piercing

Though frog eyes piercing is a trendy and bold body modification, it also carries potential risks. It is important to be well aware of consequential risks and complications before following this trend. Here are some for your awareness:

Risks

• Excessive Bleeding: It may cause prolonged bleeding in case it hits any blood vessel during piercing.
• Swelling: Tongue swelling causes distress and affects talking and eating for a certain time period.
• Infection: Risk of infections is higher because  of mouth bacteria.
• Tooth and Gum Damage: Jewllery’s metal can cause wearing of gums and cracking of teeths.
• Inhalation or Swallowing: Loose jewelry has risks of getting inhaled or swallowed resulting in life threat.
• Rejection and Migration: The tongue may not accept the jewelry and pushes it out.
• Allergic Reactions: Some people might be allergic to metal used for jewelry.
• Nerve Damage: Improper placement can cause nerve damage resulting in sensation and movement problems.

Complications

• Medication: Try to avoid blood thinners in your medications, as it can cause excessive bleeding.
• Oral Hygiene: Ensure an oral hygiene routine for good oral health. In case of any issue consult a dentist to avoid any infection.
• Immune System: People with weak immune systems are more prone to infections including HIV/AIDS and Lupus.
• Lifestyle: Lifestyle modification of avoiding activities like sports  that may cause injuries is important. 

Pain After Frog Eyes Piercing

The pain after frog eyes piercing depends on a person’s pain tolerance capacity. That’s why it varies from person to person. During the procedure there is a sharp and quick pain of the needle that is quite similar to other body piercings.

The after piercing pain and swelling is relatively more discomforting. 

Generally the majority finds tongue piercing less painful as compared to cartilage piercing.

How to Make Frog Eyes Piercing More Comfortable?

• Staying calm and deep breathing can reduce anxiety and pain sensitivity.
• Skipping blood thinners like alcohol,aspirin and caffeine can help reduce the risk of excessive bleeding.
• Eating before piercing can help in maintaining blood sugar levels.
• Using/sucking ice after piercing can help to reduce swelling and pain.
• Prefer using non-thinning pain killers (OTC, Ibuprofen) for discomfort.
• ( Consult a professional first).

After Care of Frog Eyes Piercing

• Maintain oral hygiene by using non-alcoholic mouthwash after meals.
• Use warm salt water to rinse twice a day.
• To reduce swelling suck ice chips and take anti-inflammatory medications as prescribed. 
• (consult a professional first)
• Prefer soft foods to avoid discomfort. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods.
• Avoid oral contaminations like smoking, touching piercing and oral intimacy.
• Avoid sharing utensils or food with others to lower the risk of infection.
• Brush gently and avoid harsh alcohol based products to reduce risk of trauma.
• Avoid dirty water like pools or hot tubs during early healing days.
• Monitor regularly to avoid infection.In case of redness,discharge or any swelling consult a professional.
• Visit your piercer as per schedule for fast healing. 

Jewelry Change Time In Frog Eyes Piercing

After frog eyes piercing you need to wait for healing before swapping the starter jewelry. Traditionally, the longer barbells are used to accommodate swelling, but after healing you can swap it with shorter ones.

Initial healing generally takes 4 to 6 weeks, but complete internal healing takes 4 to 6 months. It is recommended to consider complete swapping or changing of jewelry after complete healing.

Here are some tips to help you in swapping jewelry:

Tips To Swap Jewelry

• Take professional help for the first swap to avoid any inconvenience or trauma.
• Ensure cleaning your hands with antibacterial soap  before touching tongue or jewelry.
• Ensure sanitization of jewelry before insertion.
• Practice opening and closing of jewelry to lower risks of accidents or trauma.
• Prefer using lubrication for insertion and moving jewelry gently to avoid damages.

Jewelry Types for Frog Eyes Piercing

• Flat-Back Labrets: Though a less popular choice but offers comfort because of flat back against mouth’s underside.
• Straight Barbells: The most preferred choice for tongue piercing especially frog eyes piercing. Features a straight bar with ball-like decorative ends.

Tip: Always prefer the jewelry’s size according to your anatomy. Consult a professional for a safe yet aesthetic choice. 

Material for Frog Eyes Piercing

In case of frog eyes piercing , making a mindful choice of jewelry’s material is very important. Right selection can lower the risks of infections.

Here are some recommended materials with characteristics to help you in suitable choice:

• Surgical Stainless Steel: High quality surgical stainless steel is commonly preferred as safe and durable  material for body jewelry. Comparatively less prone to reactions.
• Solid 14K Gold or Higher: In case of opting gold, always prefer solid gold. Avoid gold plated material to avoid unsafe metals.
• Implant-Grade Titanium: Ideal choice for sensitive skin,especially in tongue piercing. Nickel free and less prone to allergies and reactions.
• PTFE (Teflon) or Bioplast: Best choice for initial healing process because of its flexibility and biocompatible material.
• Niobium: Offering a wide range of anodized colors, is a less reactive and hypoallergenic material.

Precaution: Avoid using coated metal, low-quality alloys and sterling silver to avoid complications, as they can oxidize or degrade easily.

Myths About Frog Eyes Piercing 

Trending frog eyes piercing is though a striking choice but is also surrounded by many myths.These myths create unnecessary concerns and worries in mind. Here we debunk some myths to clear out confusion.

• Tongue Splitting: It is a famous myth that double piercing will cause tongue splitting in two halves. With professional care and proper placement, there are very low risks.
• Speech Impediment: Some people think that it causes speech problems. Though there are slight and temporary changes that are adjustable.
• Eating Difficulty: It is a common perception that eating becomes difficult for several weeks. But actually people start eating within a few days.
• Prolonged Pain: People fear that tongue piercing will cause prolonged pain and distress. In reality pain relieves after the initial healing phase.
• Taste loss: Most people think that tongue piercing will result in permanent taste loss. If done correctly with professional help, taste buds are not affected permanently.

Generally lack of information creates myths and misconceptions. It is better to consult a professional piercer for discussion about all confusion.

Cons Of Frog Eyes Piercing

Frog eye piercing even though provides aesthetic appeal but also carries possible complications with it. 

Its healing process is slow and discomforting as compared to single piercing. It is more prone to infections and diseases, if not cared for properly after piercing. Talking and eating are affected in the initial phase of healing. The jewelry can damage teeth and gums and also causes permanent scar marks on your tongue.

Always consult a professional before opting for frog eyes piercing to discuss your concerns and desired outcomes.

How to Remove Frog Eyes Piercing

If you don’t want your frog eyes piercing anymore, you can reverse it by removing jewelry. But the healing or refilling of scars/holes of piercing depends upon different factors.

Duration of piercing is an important factor that has a great impact over the healing process. If it is removed after longer duration holes might shrink, but are not completely refilled. On other hand, if the duration is short,holes might heal quickly.

Healing process also varies from person to person, according to healing power and immune system. Beside these tissue damage and infection history also contributes to the entire healing process.

Cost Of Frog Eyes Piercing

The price of frog eyes piercing procedure depends on key factors like reputation,area,city and experience of piercing studios.That’s why it varies from area to area. It is always preferable to check prices directly from the studio. But for a rough idea here are estimated prices according to regions of the U.S. These might fluctuate because of above mentioned reasons.

• South: Dallas; Atlanta; TX; Nashville; New Orleans & LA

Low End: $35 – $55

High End: $70 – $110 

• West Coast: CA; San Francisco; Seattle & Los Angeles 

Low End: $50 – $70

• High End: $90 – $130
• Midwest: Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis, MN; and St. Louis, MO.
  • Low End: $30 – $50
  • High End: $60 – $100

• East Coast: NYC ; MA ; Miami; FL; Boston & Washington DC
  • Low End: $40 – $60
  • High End: $80 – $120

It is crucial to consider cleanliness, experience and reputation of the studio besides cost. Sometimes paying extra dollars can save your health.

FAQs:

How painful are frog eye piercings?

The pain depends on the pain tolerance capacity of a person. Generally it causes moderate pain. A sharp pinching pain during piercing and swelling after the procedure is mostly reported.

Which tongue piercing is the safest?

Standard tongue piercing is generally considered the safest choice.As it has straightforward placement and lower risks of complications.

Is a venom piercing the same as a frog eye piercing?

No, both piercings are different. Frog eyes piercing has horizontal placement and also quite near to the tongue. While venom piercing has vertical placement.

How do frog eyes work?

The term “frog eyes” refers to decorative tongue piercing that resembles protruding frog eyes. They are done with straight barbells pierced horizontally near the tongue’s tip.