Snake Eyes Piercing in London: Understanding the Risks, Cost & Professional Advice

The “snake eyes” piercing—a horizontal piercing that passes through the tip of the tongue, creating the illusion of two separate studs—has gained attention for its unique and edgy look. You may have seen photos online and are now searching for a studio in London to get it done. As London’s trusted specialists in oral piercing, our commitment to your lifelong health and safety is our most important guiding principle.

For this reason, we must be unequivocally clear: Pink Tatpier does not, under any circumstances, perform the snake eyes piercing.

This page serves as a professional, public safety announcement and an expert guide to help you understand the significant, unavoidable risks associated with this dangerous piercing. Our goal is not to disappoint, but to protect you from permanent damage. We will explain exactly why no reputable piercer will ever perform this procedure and introduce you to beautiful, safe alternatives to achieve a stunning look without compromising your health.

Your well-being is more important to us than any single piercing. Let’s explore why.

Why Reputable Piercers in London Refuse to Do the Snake Eyes Piercing

The consensus among the global community of professional piercers, including the Association of Professional Piercers (APP), is that the snake eyes piercing is fundamentally unsafe. The risks are not a matter of “if,” but “when.” They are a direct result of the piercing’s flawed concept.

 

1. It Binds Two Independent Muscles Together

This is the primary anatomical flaw. Your tongue is not a single muscle; it is comprised of two distinct muscles (the genioglossus muscles) that work independently. This allows for the complex movements required for proper speech and eating.

A snake eyes piercing forces a single, rigid barbell through both of these muscles, effectively tethering them together. This unnatural restriction can lead to:

• Speech Impediments: A persistent lisp or difficulty forming certain sounds.
• Discomfort and Muscle Strain: A constant feeling of tension in the tongue.
• Potential Nerve Damage.

 

2. It Causes Guaranteed and Severe Dental Damage

This is not a risk; it is a certainty. The placement of the barbell means that the metal balls at either end are in constant, direct contact with the back of your lower front teeth and your upper teeth.

• Catastrophic Enamel Erosion: Every time you talk, eat, or move your tongue, the jewellery will scrape against your tooth enamel. Over time, this will wear it down completely, leading to severe sensitivity, cavities, and the need for expensive dental work like crowns or veneers.
• Chipped and Cracked Teeth: It is incredibly easy to accidentally bite down on the hard metal balls, leading to chipped or fractured teeth.

 

3. It Causes Unavoidable Gum Recession

In addition to tooth damage, the jewellery will constantly rub against your gum line. This persistent irritation and pressure will cause the gum tissue to recede from the teeth. Gum recession is irreversible without costly and painful gum graft surgery.

4. The Healing Process is Extremely Difficult and Prone to Rejection

The tip of the tongue is in constant motion. This movement makes healing a horizontal piercing through the muscle tissue nearly impossible. The piercing is under constant stress, leading to:

• Excessive Swelling and Pain.
• A Very High Rejection Rate: The body will often recognise the unnatural piercing as a threat and slowly push it out of the tissue.
• Nasty Scarring: When the piercing is rejected or removed, it often leaves a significant, permanent scar and divot on the tip of the tongue.

 

Safer, More Stylish Alternatives to the Snake Eyes Piercing

The good news is that you can achieve a beautiful, multi-gem look on your tongue without any of the dangerous side effects. As experts, we are delighted to offer these safe and stunning alternatives:

 

1. The Classic Double Tongue Piercing

This is the safest and most effective way to have two piercings on your tongue.

• What it is: Two separate, traditional vertical tongue piercings, placed one in front of the other down the midline of the tongue.
• Why it’s safe: Each piercing sits comfortably between the two muscles of the tongue, not through them. They do not bind the muscles together and have significantly less contact with the teeth.

2. Venom Piercings (Paired Tongue Piercings)

This is the best alternative for achieving a side-by-side look.

• What it is: Two separate vertical tongue piercings placed symmetrically on either side of the tongue.
• Why it’s safe: Like the classic piercing, each has its own barbell and sits safely in the muscle tissue without tethering them. They provide the “two-dot” aesthetic on the surface without any of the risks of a snake eyes piercing.

 

3. Lip Piercings (e.g., “Snake Bites”)

If you love the idea of symmetrical gems framing your mouth, lip piercings are a fantastic and much safer option.

• What they are: A pair of side labret piercings, one on each side of the lower lip, are known as “snake bites.”
• Why it’s safe: When done with proper flat-back jewellery and downsized correctly, the risk to your oral health is dramatically lower than any horizontal tongue piercing.

A Note on Cost and Professional Integrity

You came here looking for the cost of a snake eyes piercing. While we can provide a transparent price for our safe alternative piercings, the true “cost” of a snake eyes piercing isn’t the initial fee you pay a piercer. The real cost is the thousands of pounds in future dental bills for veneers, crowns, and gum grafts needed to repair the inevitable damage.

The fee you pay a professional piercer at a studio like Pink Tatpier includes something invaluable: the expert knowledge and professional integrity to know which piercings are fundamentally unsafe. The most valuable service we can offer you today is the advice to say “no” to the snake eyes piercing.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Dangerous Piercings

1. But I’ve seen people with healed snake eyes piercings online. Why?

You are seeing a snapshot in time. You are not seeing their dental bills, their speech therapy appointments, or the state of the piercing a year or two later when it has likely been painfully rejected. “Healed” does not mean “healthy” or “safe” in the long term.

2. What other piercings are considered unsafe by professionals?

Any horizontal piercing through the tongue muscle (often called a “scoop” or “surface” tongue piercing) carries the same risks of binding muscles and is also refused by reputable piercers.

3. How can I tell if a piercer is reputable and trustworthy?

A key sign of a truly professional and ethical piercer is their willingness to refuse unsafe procedures. If you ask a piercer for a snake eyes piercing and they agree to do it, it is a major red flag that they do not prioritise client safety or adhere to industry best practices.

Let’s Find Your Perfect, Safe Piercing in London

We understand that hearing “no” can be disappointing, but our commitment to your health is absolute. We would be delighted to welcome you to our London studio to show you the stunning, safe, and creative possibilities we can offer instead.

Let us help you find a piercing that you will love for a lifetime, without the risk of permanent damage.