I received a message from yet another woman who got a surface piercing instead of the VCH she paid for:

Hi Elayne.

I got my VCH piercing done yesterday and upon further inspection of the piercing and seeing the pictures on your site, I have come to the realisation that it is indeed a surface piercing.

It is only a day old so I know I shouldn't change it but I want to know, once it has healed, should I change it or just leave it? From where it is placed, I could put the new bar in from the top and it should leave from the bottom.

Many thanks for your help. I live in the UK so I am not able to visit you as I'd like.

S.

My response:

Hi S.

Yes, it is just a surface piercing that doesn't go under your hood at all. You really should remove it IMMEDIATELY. You are in danger of the jewelry becoming embedded. And it is really NO WHERE CLOSE to where it should be placed.

Even if the jewelry that was inserted fit (or you changed for jewelry that does), such surface piercings tend to have healing issues such as migration, scarring, and/or rejection. Even when properly fitting jewelry is placed this way, getting it out sooner is better than later, as scar tissue is naturally formed if you allow it to remain.

I put an arrow on your photo to show where the jewelry should be coming out from UNDERNEATH your hood. If you need help to remove it, go right away. It will only get harder to take out the longer you leave it in place.