Opinions on Microdermal
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Category: Body Mods
Forum Name: Piercings
Forum Discription: Stories, studio suggestions, questions, etc.
URL: http://www.bodymod.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21334
Printed Date: September/24/2023 at 11:06am
Topic: Opinions on Microdermal
Posted By: jamasonfierce
Subject: Opinions on Microdermal
Date Posted: February/13/2012 at 10:48pm
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This is my first post, so hello everyone! I'm looking to see what you guys think the best course of action would be about my facial microdermal anchor. I've had it for about 6 months now, and I've run into a few issues, and I'm not really liking how it's healed.
So I currently have two mods - both microdermals, one on my face and one on my chest. 
First off, a little back story. I got my first anchor on my 18th birthday back in June. It was a shitty placement (RIGHT on top of the most prominent bone on my sternum) and I also didn't take the best care of it. I somehow got the bright idea to try and qtip the crusted lymph that just wouldn't come off with soaks away, which ended up just irritating the fistula and creating hypertrophic scarring. It ended up migrating almost all the way out (most of the post was visible from the side) from all the upwards pressure on it. It settled for awhile, and the post was sticking pretty far up and I felt a little weird about it. I got my face placement in August, and all was well for awhile, then the same stuff started happening. I got a little obsessive over it looking irritated, and so I pretty much never left it alone. I also hadn't figured out that I needed to avoid the qtips. A few weeks later, the gem from my chest placement got caught on my woven blanket in the night and I accidentally pulled the short end out. I pulled the rest out and went back to sleep. Saddest moment of my life, honestly. I got it repierced about 4 weeks ago (new piercer, different placement, it's doing great)! She showed me her method of loosening crusties that settle under the gem - toothpicks. I've been doing that for my face ever since, and it's looking so much better. Now that it's finally pretty settled down, I'm a little upset with how it's sitting. Same story as my old chest one - it's very raised, almost like the entire post is sticking out and it's sitting very near to the surface of my skin. It looks happy enough, despite some scar tissue that's still taking its time to fade away, but the way it looks just weirds me out now. Check em out: 
(now the least opportune angle to look at me) 
Close up. You can see how far up it's raised. So I got to thinking. I don't know if I dislike it enough to get it removed and repierced - or if it will even last as-is. I haven't had too much trouble with it lately, but I just don't like how it's sitting, even though it's not very noticeable until you get up close If I were to get it removed, I'm not sure how long I'd have to wait to get it redone. I'd feel pretty naked without it, though. I'm kind of just stuck in between. Any advice? :) |
Replies:
Posted By: evalution
Date Posted: February/13/2012 at 11:34pm
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i've had a few raise a tiny after several months, but none have ever been out that or even half that far (unless they were actually rejecting, in which case they were removed and redone). it looks like the foot should be just barely under the skin.
personally, i'd suggest having it removed and redone. i wouldn't want it rejecting on its own as that will most likely create a more unpleasant scar than having it removed. you generally don't have to wait terribly long to replace dermal anchors when they are removed. the area just needs to heal sufficiently. i am sure a pro will come along with advice soon! |
Posted By: MsAnn
Date Posted: February/14/2012 at 12:14am
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Go to the piercer that did it, have him/her reset it, and then throw a bandaid on it. Should be good as new. That'll save you having to get it removed and then getting it redone. It's easier on your skin and it doesn't hurt as much. |
Posted By: erinarney
Date Posted: February/14/2012 at 1:34am
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What metal was the anchor fabricated with? Dermal anchors are fairly simple to heal with sss and consideration of the piercing. The more you abuse the piercing, the shorter life it will have. As far as the jewelry is protruding you should have it removed and make sure your piercer uses titanium anchors. ------------- rdhdedstpchld |
Posted By: jamasonfierce
Date Posted: February/14/2012 at 2:06am
Titanium, I got it done in the most reputable shop in Phoenix AZ. No issue with the jewelry. It was mostly irritated from, like I said before, me not knowing how to care for it properly, and because I've knocked it around a couple of times in my sleep and such. It's a difficult placement to heal, I've heard. |
Posted By: pierced_celt
Date Posted: February/14/2012 at 4:46pm
| +1 to all the above, and stop using toothpicks to remove crusties, if they dont come away after SSS then they're not ready to be removed and leave open tissue exposed to the elements |
Posted By: jamasonfierce
Date Posted: February/14/2012 at 11:02pm
They're ready, they're just trapped underneath with no other way of being released. I have a feeling that's part of what caused the migration. There was so much stuck underneath that there was constant pressure. |
Posted By: erinarney
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 1:06am
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Try using a water pick to flush "crusties" after your soak. Stay away from picking at them.
------------- rdhdedstpchld |
Posted By: Frrrky
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 5:11pm
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i have two micro-dermals under my right eye and i've had one that expeled; tip: force the microdermal down into your skin untill it's deeper, then use a topical corticosteroid and a band-aid to keep pressure on it, keep this on for a week, after so stop forcing the microdermal and keep the band-aid and the corticosteroid, after another week it'll be fine ------------- [RIGHT]  [/RIGHT]
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Posted By: jamasonfierce
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 5:26pm
| I went in today to have it removed. After doing my SSS last night, some of the skin close to the post had come loose and part of the short foot was visible. I pretty much knew it had rejected then and was just waiting to come out. There's a pretty nasty scar, red and a bit puffy. I'm waiting for it to go down, then I'm going to get it repierced with a smaller gem. It's a sad, sad day haha. Thanks for your advice, everyone :) |
Posted By: Frrrky
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 5:44pm
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too bad, better luck next time, remember to tell us how the healing for the new one goes ------------- [RIGHT] [/RIGHT]
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Posted By: evalution
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 6:30pm
while the dermal anchor in discussion is no longer in existence, i think that this post needs to be addressed. this is not good advice. pushing on the dermal anchor will cause even more trauma, as will the pressure from the bandaid. this is most likely going to cause further chance of rejection due to irritation. i also wouldn't suggest putting any type of ointment on the dermal anchor. a pro will hopefully give a more detailed explanation. |
Posted By: Frrrky
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 8:20pm
if the rejection is already happening, this will "revert it", if the body notices it can't expel the foreign object it will give up and heal ------------- [RIGHT] [/RIGHT]
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Posted By: MrJonz
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 8:38pm
Wrong Wrong Wrong! If it's no longer sitting flush, and to the extreme of what was showed in the OP, putting pressure on it to 'help push it down' will NOT do ANYTHING beneficial for the longevity of the piercing in the least. Either the proper depth wasn't reached, too long of a rise on the post of the anchor, poor quality jewelry, excessive outside trauma, etc are why the jewelry is no longer flush with the skin. Some anchors experience a bit of a slight raise from the skin upon healing, but can still last quite a while. Trying to force something back down that was never properly installed in the first place will do nothing but further the aggravation of the piercing. Also, putting most any ointment on a fresh/healing wound (see *piercings*) will not assist at all. I highly suggest before you start giving out advise, that you have (somewhat) of a clue upon the topic you're speaking. Oh, and I'm back all.  ------------- Body Mods by Jonz |
Posted By: villebranding
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 8:40pm
+1 |
Posted By: Frrrky
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:08pm
tell that to andré meyer, he was the one that recommended doing so... and i sincerely doubt you have as much experience with piercing as he does, no offense EDIT: andré meyer = one of the first brazilian body piercers, active since 1992 that and advice such as "never use ointment on piercings" are good advice, but they are not law, many experienced piercers around here (when i say experience i mean 10+ years of piercing, have acted along piercing "superstars" like samppa and haworth, bla bla bla) will recommend ointments and such, specially in cases of skin-deep infection and rejection don't think i'm talking as if i think i'm a professional, but this advice was given to me by one and it worked; his case is (was) similar to mine and i'm passing on the advice i was given... if you want to stick to basic rules, be my guest, but don't deny that it can possibly work and, since it's already gonna reject anyway, the worse that can happen is a minor infection so why not try it, right? ------------- [RIGHT] [/RIGHT]
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Posted By: MrJonz
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:25pm
Surface anchors themselves have only been on the market for the past 5-6 years, so regardless of total time in the industry, very doubtful he has more up-to-date (and examples/proof backing up such claims) knowledge on the subject than the majority of other piercers out there. And I don't like this analogy, I'll use it. Fakir boasts that using fishtail labrets will eliminate any/all issues with oral damage when it comes to lip/labret piercings. This, just isn't true, as an overall statement. I have nothing but the upmost respect and love for Fakir (attended all 3 intensives) but just because he is who he is, doesn't exclude him from being wrong from time to time too, regardless how how long he's been in the industry, which, I can assure you, is longer than the other piercer you mentioned. ------------- Body Mods by Jonz |
Posted By: MrJonz
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:28pm
You just described it yourself, that was for a specific instance, and it worked, for YOU. No guarantee it will for most any others. And being so non-chalant about the possibility of a 'minor infection' if it doesn't work, would not boast loads of confidence from me on the clientele side. ------------- Body Mods by Jonz |
Posted By: Frrrky
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:31pm
you're comparing appples and carrots; i'm affirming that this might not be a 100% effective thing, but it is possible it will work as it has worked before so give me one good reason to dismiss it immediately as ineffective and not worth trying like you did EDIT: i am not a piercer and this man is not my client, i'm a peer giving advice that worked for me; i'm not expecting to "boast loads of confidence" from me, do you have any better advice to give? ------------- [RIGHT] [/RIGHT]
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Posted By: MrJonz
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:35pm
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"minor infection"
not my words ------------- Body Mods by Jonz |
Posted By: that1chick
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:37pm
+1 ------------- http://www.bodymod.org/profiles/profile~ID~124632.aspx"> 
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Posted By: Frrrky
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:41pm
could you please stop being all high and mighty and just give me one good reason? i'm not telling him to spend more than 10 dollars, i'm not telling him to do some ultra-experimental shit or asking him to put his health in serious risk so far you just said "it's not gonna work, it's not gonna work" hell, it worked for me so basically you would've given me bad advice if i asked you ------------- [RIGHT] [/RIGHT]
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Posted By: Cale
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:48pm
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He can't help it. It's his personality. The reason why anchors don't usually work when you push them back down is because the skin beneath the anchor is already displaced or in some cases already "healed" if the anchor has been pushing itself out slowly. By pushing it down, especially when there is inflammation or other issues present, your body could potentially absorb the jewelry, or you will continue to experience the "rejection" issues like fluid build up, redness, and migration. ------------- Miss Cale True Blue Tattoo ~ 303-989-6824 305 S Kipling St, Lakewood, CO 80226 http://www.facebook.com/piercingbymisscale - facebook. |
Posted By: Frrrky
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:51pm
i like you already <3 ok, my final post on this: it worked once, if you're desperate to keep the jewelry like i was (microdermal implants are around 80 dollars to get around here), you can try what i said, but remember that i'm not a piercer and i'm talking out of personal experience and not someone who has observed this being done more than once EDIT: sorry, i said this was my final post but i've got to say this about the post beneath me: the possibility of gangrene is as much a reason to not do it as the possibility of a severe brain infection enough reason not to get your tongue pierced, and even so i got my tongue pierced 3 times already; the possibility of nerve damage in upper-cheek microdermal implants is also a reason to not get them, so is the possibility of damage to the corpus cavernosum during male genital piercings and yet i have an apadravya... sorry if i mistook you for someone willing to take minor risks ------------- [RIGHT] [/RIGHT]
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Posted By: MrJonz
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:53pm
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As far as being "high and mighty", that would definitely be a perception and not my direct intent.
How about the possibility of gangrene for a reason?? ------------- Body Mods by Jonz |
Posted By: Cale
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:56pm
Just because it works for you, doesn't mean it may work for someone else. It's a very experimental thing to do, so by suggesting it to others, you could potentially be putting them in danger. Not everyone fully comprehends anchors or how they work in the skin. You may have done JUST the right thing. The next person will likely not be so lucky. ------------- Miss Cale True Blue Tattoo ~ 303-989-6824 305 S Kipling St, Lakewood, CO 80226 http://www.facebook.com/piercingbymisscale - facebook. |
Posted By: that1chick
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 9:57pm
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The problem with ointment though... is that it doesn't actually help you heal. At all.
Have you ever had a cut, put ointment and a bandaid on it, and then pulled off the bandaid a couple of days later, only to find out that the cut was still there, and still open? And maybe with even more redness? Ointment blocks airflow and keeps wounds moist, which doesn't really allow them to heal. Plus, basically anything that touches the ointment becomes a part of it. Like your sweat. And your dead skin cells. You want those things OUT of your piercings, not trapped in it. (It's also not water soluble, so it doesn't just rinse off if it gets IN the fistula. Your body has to push it out... which, to me, sounds like a way to PROMOTE rejection rather than stopping it.) ------------- http://www.bodymod.org/profiles/profile~ID~124632.aspx">
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Posted By: erinarney
Date Posted: February/15/2012 at 11:54pm
+1 ------------- rdhdedstpchld |
Posted By: steeldragon87
Date Posted: September/26/2012 at 8:22pm
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+1 to this whole discussion, but I would like to state the obvious, in how corticosteroid preparations used without care, or chronically can weaken the tissue above the anchor base, significantly increasing the likelihood of loss... I agree with removal and re-piercing, with OP being doubly sure to keep it safe and clean... @Frrrky regarding Risk taking, etc... Personally, I think it's just fabulous that the method you suggested to OP worked in your case and you were able to save your anchor. Yet like Cale said, you may have done things 'just right' for your body to work through the issue you had. Physiology and reactions vary greatly from person to person, as Bmod Professionals we are charged with a life or death responsibility of doing little harm as possible, and providing guidance which ideally carries zero risk. To knowingly suggest a course of action that carried even the slightest risk to the person in need of help, in a forum like this, without being able to monitor their piercings' condition, giving guidance without knowing precisely which preparations the have access to and can/intend to use, the nature of and at what concentration the active ingredient (and inactive ingredients!) is that are being applied, what the frequency of application is, and ALL of the other elements related to successful corrective aftercare (for there are a fair few, that questions must be asked of the OP/Client/etc. to suss out...) is something a great many of us are entirely opposed to, and carry very strong opinions about. TLDR; We do things every day that are plenty risky, no need to add to the pile. :-) ------------- Extreme remedies are very appropriate for extreme diseases. - Hippocrates |