This is a midline vertical placement that passes from the urethra upward through the top of the glans. In essence, the Reverse Prince Albert is the upper part of an apadravya (the piercing that passes all the way through the head vertically). The piercing procedure and initial jewelry for the reverse PA depend on whether it is performed as a single piercing or as an extension of an existing Prince Albert piercing.
General Information
The Reverse Prince Albert piercing is actually fairly rare as an individual placement. It is more common that an apadravya is worn with a bar through the entire glans. For men who like the appearance of this piercing, or those who wish to provide g-spot stimulation to a partner but don't want to have a PA, this can be a good option.
Want to get pierced by Elayne Angel?
Placement
The Reverse Prince Albert is a piercing in which jewelry is worn from the piercing on the top of the glans, through the urethra, and out the urinary meatus. Like the apadravya, the top may be positioned closer to the corona than to the urethral opening. It should span a minimum of a 1/2" of tissue from the top edge of the urethral opening when the penis is flaccid.
The way this piercing is performed will affect the angle of its placement. If done by placing a needle into the urethra and coming up through the top of the glans, the piercing tends to be "shallower" on the inside. See the image below with the blue arrow.
Whereas, when carried out through a Prince Albert piercing (extending the PA to an apadravya--even if separate jewelry will ultimately be worn), or using a receiving tube in the urethra, the piercing is more optimally placed by resting deeper. See the image with the yellow arrow.
Note that I ALWAYS wear gloves for client contact! Images without gloves were sent to me for consultations, and are posted anonymously and with permission.
Jewelry
I use 12 or 10 gauge for the initial piercing, the latter being the more popular. The most common jewelry style I use for a new reverse PA piercing is a curved bar, though others will use a ring.
If you already have a regular Prince Albert, it is best for healing to extend it through the top using a straight barbell in the apadravya position, even if you plan to wear separate jewelry in the reverse Prince Albert position later.
When changing jewelry, you will likely find it easier to insert a new piece from the outer surface of the piercing, rather than trying to feed it in through your urethra. After healing, one interesting possibility is to wear a ball or other ornament on the top of the glans as the only visible part of the jewelry. So, a post passes through your reverse PA piercing channel, and a small ball or disc rests inside your urethra. A 3/16" ball or a 5mm disc generally fits comfortably in the interior without blocking the flow of urine. This is somewhat challenging to insert.
To accomplish this, a threaded insertion taper must be attached to the jewelry to help feed the post (and firmly secured ball or disc) in through your urethra and out the piercing. Hemostats can be used to hold onto the post so the taper can be removed and the top ornament screwed into place. Obviously, a solid grasp must be maintained on the post until the end is affixed to avoid releasing jewelry inside your urethra. Should this happen, it is improbable that you will lose the piece; urinating forcefully will probably drive it out. To remove or change the jewelry, the process with the threaded taper and hemostats is reversed.
I'd advise waiting nine months or longer before attempting to enlarge the gauge of a reverse PA. Do not expect the tissue to be anything like the easy-to-stretch Prince Albert for which it is named. Stretching a reverse PA is much more akin to enlarging an ampallang or apadravya--that is to say, challenging.
Procedure
If you will wear a curved bar, then the urethra is the avenue for piercing. A needle may be introduced gently into the urethral opening (a guidance tube can help). The piercing is made up through the top of the glans.
Alternatively, a needle receiving tube may be placed inside the urethra, and the piercing made into it from the top. This skin here is usually thick and fairly tough, so this is a lot more challenging than performing a Prince Albert with the same technique. Regardless of method, your piercing should be angled as vertically as possible for the jewelry to rest optimally.
If a PA is present, the piercing procedure is the same as for extending it into an apadravya: I carefully place the needle into the PA hole (sometimes with the assistance of a short guidance tube) and pierce up through the tissue above the urethra.
During healing, you wear a barbell through the entire glans, even though only the upper portion of the piercing is new.
Learn which piercing(s) you are built for?
Healing and Troubleshooting
Some reverse PA piercings do not bleed at all, though many bleed freely but intermittently for several days. I always apply the amusingly named “rubber chicken” wrapping to help you avoid an embarrassing mess. This dressing consists of sterile gauze around the piercing for absorbency, covered by a medical glove (the drooping fingers look like a chicken comb). I secure it with a rubber band that is snug enough to keep the bandage in place, but not so tight as to diminish your circulation. These piercings regularly bleed enough to fill a whole glove multiple times. Keep the rubber chicken on until it is full and needs to be changed, or until you must urinate. To avoid hard-to-explain messes, reapply a leak-proof wrapping for a day or two longer than you think you need to, even if it seems that your bleeding has stopped.
The tissue of the reverse PA is much denser than that of the Prince Albert. You won’t leak or drip urine because the tissue remains tight around the jewelry and doesn’t stretch on its own, as the PA does. Also, because the piercing is on the top of the penis, above the urethra, gravity works in your favor.
In the event you start with a ring and find that it is causing irritation, I advise switching over to a curved bar, which is less subject to trauma and irritation, since it rests closer to the body.
If your initial jewelry is a straight bar in the apadravya position and it is uncomfortable because it is shorter or longer than you need, have a professional piercer swap it out as soon as possible. It is generally more damaging to leave an ill-fitting barbell in place than to change it early.
What My Happy Clients Say
My appointment with Elayne was simply awesome. She paid special attention to placement of the piercings--Reverse PA, pubic, and lorum.
The actual piercings were over in an instant and didn't hurt nearly as much as I had been fearing.
I can't say enough nice things about this experience. I could not be happier. If you are considering a new piercing, I highly recommend you reach out to Elayne.
I decided to transform my self-pierced Prince Albert into a Apadravya. Elayne did an amazing job--the piercing was quick, precise and relatively painless.
I highly recommend Elayne Angel if you are considering a below-the-neck piercing. I can't think of a more competent, experienced and ethical piercer on the planet!
This visit went smooth, was very pleasant and informative and I got to see a true professional in action.
What an inspiration she is! Wonderful woman with a beautiful personality and an absolutely comforting bedside manner.
Thank you Elayne!