Any type of piercing in the mouth should be carefully considered. Photo / 123RF
Getting a piercing - whether it's a simple stud in the earlobe, or something a little more adventurous - comes with risks.
But one clinic in New York says there is one piercing it refuse to do in its studio, and it's a trend that is becoming more and more popular.
Snake Eyes.
TJ Cantwell, who works for Studio 28 in New York, has warned anyone who attempts to get the tongue piercing, because of the "incredibly unsafe" after effects it can have on the body.
The Snake Eyes piercing, which may look like two separate piercings, is actually a curved bullbar that penetrates horizontally through the tongue.
The hazard it has on the tongue is that it binds the two muscles, meaning they are unable to move independently.
"It is almost guaranteed the client will see gum erosion, cracking/chipping of the teeth, and migration/rejection of the piercing leaving a nasty looking scar," Mr Cantwell told The Mirror.
According to the Australian Medical Association, while tongue piercings are popular, they can be some of the more dangerous areas of the body to get pierced.
"When it comes to tongue piercings, and snake eyes especially, there are many complications that can happen both short and long term," Dr Tony Bartone told news.com.au.
"The muscle of the tongue is a very complex piece of apparatus, and while there haven't been many studies done on the long term effects of these piercings, we do know that they can increase gum disease and recession."
Dr Bartone, who has been in the medical field for more than 25 years, said other complications can include infections, speech impediments, increased drooling and broken teeth.
The AMA said in extreme cases of infections from the piercings, people can get blood poisoning, toxic shock syndrome, a blocked airway, as well as the risk of diseases like HIV and Hepatitis.
He said people who consider getting this type of piercing done, should be well informed of the potential side effects before having the procedure.
"We use the tongue for a number of functions, speaking, chewing and digestion," he said.
"The more foreign bodies in the way, such as a bullbar, the more likely you are to interfere with the tongue movement.
"While I can understand a person's desire to have the piercing, it would be something you wouldn't want to rush into, and anyone considering any type of piercing like this should speak to people who have had it done."
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