Pretty much everyone is familiar with the traditional tongue piercing, a single metal barbell through the center of the tongue, but not everyone is familiar with the frog eye piercing. The frog eye piercing consists of two separate piercings placed symmetrically on either side of the tongue. That way, when viewed from above, they somewhat resemble frog eyes. This is a relatively uncommon piercing, and you’re sure to stand out from the crowd if you decide to go for one.
In this article, we’ll go over what exactly a frog piercing is as well as how much it hurts to get it pierced, whether or not you can get both done at the same session, and how long the healing phase lasts.
What is a frog eye tongue piercing?
A frog eye piercing is a type of double tongue piercing. Two barbells are used and are placed symmetrically on both sides of the tongue, typically about midway through the tongue. The idea behind the name “frog eye” is that when they’re placed symmetrically, and you use ball-shaped jewelry, it resembles a frog’s eyes from the top view.
How bad does it hurt to get pierced?
Like any piercing, a frog eye piercing is going to hurt. That’s unavoidable. After all, you’re pushing a needle through your body and placing a foreign object into your skin. However, the initial pain of a tongue piercing typically isn’t that severe. Keep in mind that everyone’s pain tolerance and their network of nerve endings is slightly different, so if you ask around, you’re going to get answers all over the place on the pain scale.
While the initial piercing pain may not be that bad, the main thing you’ll deal with is the swelling and tenderness during the initial healing period. Every piercing is sensitive however, for most other piercings, it is relatively easy to avoid irritating the area. That is not the case with tongue piercings. You use your mouth constantly throughout the day to talk, eat, drink, meaning that you’re continually irritating the piercing.
Are you able to get both piercings done at the same session?
Yes, you are able to get both piercings done at the same session, and this is typically how the piercing will be done. That way, it’s easier for the piercer to ensure a symmetrical piercing. You will also be able to get a good idea of the finished product if they mark both at the same time. If you just do one piercing, then go back to get another later, you may not like how they line up.
Another benefit to getting both piercings done in the same session is that it will shorten the period of time that you’re in the healing phase. If you get one piercing, wait six weeks, then add the other, you’ll be dealing with a sore mouth for longer than you would have if you’d simply done both in one session.
When can I change my frog eye piercing?
You should wait at least three to four weeks, six if you want to be on the safe side before you try changing your tongue piercing. The tongue heals relatively quickly, especially compared to cartilage piercings which can take months to fully heal and stop feeling tender.
When you change it, make sure that the new jewelry is surgical grade. Since the jewelry is in your mouth, you don’t want it to accumulate any excess bacteria. Introducing new materials early in the healing process can also trigger an unwanted allergic reaction which can cause your body to reject the piercing.
Currently, the most recommended piercing material is titanium. Surgical steel can also be used. However, there is a slight chance you could have an allergic reaction to it. If you’re concerned about finding new jewelry that’s made from the correct material, then you can go back to your piercer, and they should have plenty of options for you to choose from and be able to recommend the best material for you.
One last thing to keep in mind when picking your new jewelry is to make sure that the edges are smooth. Since the jewelry will be in your mouth, that means it will likely hit against your teeth from time to time. If the end of your piercing is a smooth ball, then this shouldn’t cause too much damage, but if you choose to have the end be a spike, you’re risking further injury to your mouth.
What’s the aftercare for a frog eye piercing?
Like all tongue piercings, frog eye piercings are one of the fastest healing piercings out there, as long as you take care of it well and keep the piercing from becoming infected.
Anytime you’re touching your piercings, it’s important to wash your hands before. That way, you aren’t contaminating the wound with bacteria from the outside world. You’re not going to need to do any cleaning with Q-tips or rubbing around the area. After all, your mouth is constantly moist, so it will be difficult for any buildup to occur.
The most important thing to do while your frog eye piercing is healing is maintaining proper oral hygiene. Keep brushing your teeth with a soft toothbrush and mild toothpaste. Anything too minty may burn the piercing. Avoid brushing your tongue for the first week or so until most of the swelling has gone down and you can move your tongue around without significant discomfort.
You should also be using an anti-bacterial mouthwash every time you brush your teeth. This will help to keep harmful bacteria from building up around your new piercings. It’s best to use an alcohol-free mouthwash as alcohol can irritate the piercing further.
After eating, you can use a warm saline solution to rinse any small particles of food from your mouth. Doing so will also help to keep bacterial growth low and reduce swelling and pain.
During the healing period, you should also avoid eating spicy or acidic foods as these can irritate your tongue, which will, in turn, prolong the healing of your piercing.
How long will the tongue be sore?
Your tongue will typically be sore for the first week or so, with most reporting a significant reduction in pain after the first four to five days. The soreness can make eating, drinking, and talking difficult, so if you have an important presentation or business dinner to go to in the next couple of weeks, maybe hold off on the piercing until your schedule is clear.
To deal with the pain, you can take over the counter pain relief medications, which can also help to reduce some of the swelling. You’ll likely want to switch over to soft foods, such as mashed potatoes and non-acidic soups, during the first several days as well. You don’t want your tongue to be doing too much work when it first begins to heal.
If your tongue is really bothering you, you can try and drink something cold like ice water or a milkshake, which will help numb your tongue and reduce swelling.
How long until it fully heals?
Tongue piercings typically heal very quickly, typically being fully healed by the 6 week mark. The tissues in the tongue heal extremely quickly, and as long as you’re careful with it, the majority of the pain and obvious healing should be done by the end of the second week.
Although tongue piercings heal very quickly, you’ll never want to remove your tongue piercing unless you’re just taking it out to change the jewelry. If you take it out for an extended period of time, the incredible healing properties of the tongue will cause the piercing to begin to close up.
Even if you’ve had your tongue pierced for several years, this will occur. For people that decide to get their tongue split, it’s very common to need a revision several years down the road. This is because the tongue will eventually begin to fuse back together over time, and you’ll need to get it resplit.
Of course, if you need to take the piercing out for a couple of hours for a job interview or to go to an event, that’s fine, and your piercing won’t close. However, if you take it out for a couple of days or weeks, you can expect that your tongue will begin to heal the piercing.
How to make tongue piercing swelling go down?
There are a couple of ways to make tongue piercing swelling go down. These include using cold foods and drinks to ice your tongue and using over-the-counter pain medications.
Cold Therapy
The best way to reduce swelling in the first few days after you get the piercing done is using cold therapy. Just like you would ice a swollen ankle, you can ice your tongue. You can suck on an ice cube to do this, or you can simply do your best to consume cold drinks and food. These will also help to reduce any pain associated with the piercing as they will numb the tongue slightly.
Medication
Another great way to reduce swelling is by using over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen. Remember that these should only be used for the first couple of days to manage the pain and swelling, as long-term use needs to be approved by a doctor. This one does have more risks than simply using ice, as all medication comes with the possibility of an allergic reaction or other adverse side effects.
If you choose to go the medication route, you should be waiting until your tongue has already stopped bleeding before you take anything. Many over-the-counter medications have blood-thinning properties, and if the wound has not already clotted, then taking the medication could prevent the piercing from clotting. This will prolong bleeding time and could leave the new piercing more vulnerable to infection.
Take a Trip to The Doctor
In the first 3-5 days after you get your tongue piercings, you can expect for your tongue to be very swollen and painful to move around or touch. This is normal. However, you should notice that your pain and swelling are decreasing with every day that goes by, as this is a sign that your body is healing normally.
If your the condition of your tongue is gradually getting worse and using something like ice to manage the pain simply isn’t working, then it’s time to take a trip back to your piercer or doctor. Slow healing is a sign that an infection has set in which will need antibiotics to get better.
Another sign of an infection is a fever, so go to the doctor if you notice that your temperature has spiked after you got your tongue pierced. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to anything in your mouth. The last thing you want to happen is to lose your tongue because you didn’t get on antibiotics.