The Piercing Bible

I receieved a message from a woman who got a VCH piercing but she was concerned about the placement:

Hi Elayne,
I just got my vch pierced two weeks ago...I'm afraid its too shallow and I can see the bar a little thru the skin. The piercer did use a receiving tube and said she used as much skin as possible ..and even performed the q tip test. In your opinion,  should I take it out or is it ok.

If it is shallow do I have to take it out or is this something that I can manage? Will it migrate easier like it is?

Thanks, S.

My reply:

From this view it looks rather shallow/close to the edge of your hood. But if it is placed at the apex (deepest point underneath) then it wouldn't necessarily be able to be done much further from the edge. Then there's the question of whether you were actually a suitable candidate to begin with.

I received a message from a woman who wanted to know if her VCH was correctly placed, along with some photos:

For comfort and ease of healing, I would have suggested you wear a bar rather than a ring. You are built with what I call a "hill" meaning your hood sticks out beyond your outer labia. This is as opposed to the build I refer to as a "valley" wherein the hood is recessed, and lower than the outer labia.

So that means your ring protrudes quite a distance from your body. This can impact healing through excess trauma, which can cause discomfort, pain, delayed healing, scar tissue, and/or migration.

You may have some swelling, which can make it hard to say for sure, but it looks as though it might be a little off toward the right side of your hood. I'd give it a few weeks to be sure after swelling comes down.

The part I can't see in these images is the most important part: where the ring comes through underneath. Due to tenderness, you may need to wait a few days or longer before getting a peek from the underside.

I received a message from the husband of a client I performed multiple genital piercings on:

Dear Elayne,

How are you doing? Hope all is well.

We have a quick question, Sharon unfortunately needs a knee replacement & will be the hospital for 3 days. We need remove her VCH  & the outer labias that you did (both are 10 gauge). They might be out at least 2 days before I could put them back in. We read your book & you suggest retainers, where should we go to in NYC or what can I do myself. I could get fishing line but I not sure it comes in 10 gauge & how to close the ends so it does fall out for the 2 days.

Again so sorry to bother you,

Thanks again, H.

Sorry to hear about S's knee surgery. I hope all goes well.

You can order inexpensive 10 gauge retainers here. That is a reliable website that is respected in the community.

I'm not sure where you could buy them locally, though. You'd have to call around.

Let me know if you have any questions and please send her my wishes for a successful procedure and a speedy recovery!

Thank you,

Elayne