Uvula piercing
Encyclopedia
An uvula piercing is a body piercing
through the uvula, the projection of the soft palate between the tonsils. This is a rare piercing. Captive bead rings or other small rings are the most commonly seen jewelry in uvula piercings.
, which makes it difficult to administer or receive it. Should jewelry pierced through the uvula come loose it may be swallowed or even inhaled, which would require surgery to remove.
As with tongue piercings, there is a risk of crush injury during the piercing, swelling, and infection. The jewelry will also pull the uvula down during sleep, reducing the diameter of the nasal airway and increasing the chance of sleep-related breathing disorders such as snoring. Uvula piercings may migrate
leading to bisection
of the uvula, which is harmless.
Body piercing
Body piercing, a form of body modification, is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewelry may be worn. The word piercing can refer to the act or practice of body piercing, or to an opening in the body created by this act or practice...
through the uvula, the projection of the soft palate between the tonsils. This is a rare piercing. Captive bead rings or other small rings are the most commonly seen jewelry in uvula piercings.
Health issues
The piercing is rare due to the gag reflexGag reflex
The pharyngeal reflex or gag reflex is a reflex contraction of the back of the throat, evoked by touching the soft palate or sometimes the back of the tongue. It prevents something from entering the throat except as part of normal swallowing and helps prevent choking...
, which makes it difficult to administer or receive it. Should jewelry pierced through the uvula come loose it may be swallowed or even inhaled, which would require surgery to remove.
As with tongue piercings, there is a risk of crush injury during the piercing, swelling, and infection. The jewelry will also pull the uvula down during sleep, reducing the diameter of the nasal airway and increasing the chance of sleep-related breathing disorders such as snoring. Uvula piercings may migrate
Piercing migration
Piercing migration is the process that occurs when a body piercing moves from its initial location. This process can be painful or go unnoticed, until it has progressed. Given enough time, a ring may migrate entirely outside of the skin, although it may only migrate a small amount and come to...
leading to bisection
Bisection
In geometry, bisection is the division of something into two equal or congruent parts, usually by a line, which is then called a bisector. The most often considered types of bisectors are the segment bisector and the angle bisector In geometry, bisection is the division of something into two equal...
of the uvula, which is harmless.