A frog eyes piercing, also called venom piercing, is a type of tongue piercing meant to look like frog eyes. It is a popular option for piercing enthusiasts. Learn more about what it looks like, the healing time, and more.
Fast Facts
- Placement: Located towards the front of the tongue.
- Cost: $50-$100.
- Pain: 5 out of 10 on a pain scale.
- Healing time: 6-8 weeks. It can heal relatively quickly.
- Jewelry: Barbells.
- Risks: Infections, excessive bleeding, and nerve damage.
What Is a Frog Eye Piercing?
A frog eye piercing is a type of double tongue piercing placed on either side of the tongue. They’re not on the side of your tongue itself, but rather on the top half of your tongue positioned to the right and to the left. Imagine sticking your tongue out and the piercings looking like frog eyes.
Typically, this piercing is done with a curved barbell that has a ball on either end though jewelry material and design can vary based on your preferences.
How Much Is a Frog Eye Piercing?
Frog eye piercings usually cost from $50 to $100. The price can vary greatly based on the jewelry. For example, surgical steel or niobium are very budget-friendly, while something like white gold or 14K gold can be much more pricey. Your piercer may have higher or lower rates as well.
How Long Does a Frog Eye Piercing Take To Heal?
A frog eye piercing will likely take around six to eight weeks to heal. This is the healing time for most tongue piercings. During the first couple of weeks, you may experience swelling and discomfort. Be sure to follow the directions your piercer gives you, which will entail doing regular salt water rinses, especially after eating or drinking to remove any potentially harmful bacteria.
Keep in mind: the healing time can take much longer if you don’t take proper care of your piercing. Complications or infections can add weeks or even months onto your timeline.
How Painful Is a Frog Eyes Piercing?
Tongue piercings involve connective tissue and aren’t considered as painful as cartilage or skin piercings. On a pain scale for piercings with 1 being little pain and 10 being very painful, a frog piercing is often below a 5.
Some people report the clamp used to hold their tongue as being the most uncomfortable part of the process. But if you have a low pain tolerance, you may experience more discomfort.
Source: Modify.
Frog Eyes Piercing Pros and Cons
There can be some advantages and disadvantages to getting a frog eye piercing. However, they can vary from person to person. Common pros may include:
- It’s a unique piercing that not many people have.
- It’s a creative option for those looking for a new tongue piercing.
- It can be less painful than other piercing locations.
- It’s not a highly visible piercing if you want to control when it’s seen.
Common cons may include:
- A heightened risk of infection because it’s a piercing in your mouth where there are a lot of bacteria.
- It’s a different type of discomfort involving your tongue.
- It can limit what type of oral activity to participate in afterward, such as oral sex or kissing with the tongue.
- You may want a piercing that is visible all of the time.
- You could experience discomfort when eating and drinking different foods.
- Possible rejection or migration: Some people’s bodies may reject or push out the jewelry, causing the piercings to migrate or heal over.
Consider all of the potential pros and cons, and talk with your piercer before scheduling your appointment. They can help you understand the process and make a more informed decision.
Snake Eyes vs. Frog Eye Piercing
Snake eye piercings are very similar to frog eye piercings. They both involve barbells and symmetrical placements on either side of the tongue.
However, while frog eye piercings are placed toward the middle of the tongue, snake eye designs are at the tip of the tongue.
In addition, the frog eyes piercing involves two separate piercings and requires two separate pieces of jewelry, typically straight barbells. Snake eyes piercing is a single horizontal piercing and uses a single curved barbell that passes through both holes.
Is Frog Eye Piercing Safe?
Frog eye piercings can be safe if they are done in a clean facility with the right tools and precautions. You must also practice the right aftercare to prevent infection. Your piercer will provide you with instructions on how to clean your piercing, what cleanser to use, when to use the jewelry, what restrictions to follow, and more before you go home.
However, as an oral piercing, there are several potential health risks, detailed more below.
Frog Eye Tongue Piercing Risks
The American Dental Association notes several potential risks associated with oral piercings, including:
- Excessive salivation
- Swelling, bleeding, discharge
- Scarring or keloid formation
- Infection
- Chipped or damaged teeth, gum recession
- Airway obstruction and difficulty in eating and speaking
Discuss these risks with your piercer and be sure to seek medical attention immediately should any complications emerge. You’ll likely need medication and to potentially take the jewelry out for the piercing to close.
How to Eat With Frog Eye Piercing?
After getting a tongue piercing, you should eat soft foods or cut food into small pieces and take small bites. Good options include yogurt, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, and other soft and smooth textures. Foods to avoid include chips, crackers, granola bars, and other hard and crunchy items.
You should also beware of certain spices, especially those that are spicy. They can cause irritation and discomfort. Usually, you can go back to your normal diet 8 weeks after the piercing but some people still experience discomfort with certain foods, drinks, and spices long after.
Source: Amethyst Piercings.
Frog Eyes Piercing Jewelry
The jewelry used for frog eyes piercings is typically small barbells. However, like other tongue piercings, they can be customized with different types of jewelry, such as ball ends, spikes, or beads.
1. Frog Eyes Piercing Jewelry: Style
Frog eye piercings usually use a straight barbell or a barbell with a slight curve. They commonly have a ball on each end though you may choose spikes, crystals, or other shapes and designs.
- Straight barbells: Straight barbells are the most common jewelry style for frog eye piercings. They consist of a straight bar with a ball or spike on each end.
- Curved barbells: Curved barbells are similar to straight barbells but have a curved shape that conforms to the contour of the tongue.
- Labret studs: Labret studs are a popular jewelry style for lip piercings, but can also be used for frog eye tongue piercings. They consist of a straight post with a flat disk or ball on one end and a removable ball or spike on the other end.
2. Frog Eyes Piercing Jewelry: Gauge
The gauge (thickness) for frog eyes piercing is typically 14 or 16 gauge, although some piercers may use smaller or larger gauges depending on the individual’s anatomy and preference.
3. Frog Eyes Piercing Jewelry: Length
The length of frog eye jewelry is usually 14mm (9/16 inch) or 16mm (5/8 inch). However, it will vary based on your anatomy and the specific design of the jewelry.
4. Frog Eyes Piercing Jewelry: Materials
Implant-grade titanium is a very popular tongue jewelry option because it doesn’t contain nickel-free and usually caters to those with allergies. Niobium is another popular budget-free option along with surgical steel. More expensive is 14k gold or you may consider a flexible plastic- or rubber-like material.
As long as you go to an experienced piercer, they can help you go through different jewelry options and figure out what makes the most sense for you, your style preferences, and your budget.
How to Take Care of Frog Eyes Piercing?
Ready to get a frog piercing but want to make sure you know how to take care of it? Here are some care tips to follow:
- Pay attention to the instructions your piercer provides. Ask any questions you have before you leave but don’t be afraid to reach back out if something happens when you get back home.
- Know that you’ll likely experience swelling and discomfort that can make it difficult to eat, drink, and talk for a few days. So be careful about overdoing it
- Avoid oral sex, kissing with tongue, and other similar behaviors until your piercer clears you, which is usually after 5-8 weeks.
- Avoid hard, crunchy foods, or foods and drinks with heavy spices. Yogurt, oatmeal, ice cream, and other smooth textures will be ideal.
- Use an alcohol-free mouth rinse, like a salt rinse, 2-3 times a day and after meals.
- Maintain good dental practices like brushing your teeth and flossing to support good oral health.
- Go to the dentist regularly so they can keep an eye out for any issues commonly associated with oral piercings like gum recession or tooth damage.
- Seek medical care immediately if you experience excessive swelling, redness, bleeding, discharge, or foul odors. You should also seek care if the healing process doesn’t seem to be moving along as anticipated.
Lack of proper care, both short-term and long-term, can extend your healing time and increase your risk of infection.
Final Thoughts
In summary, oral piercings aren’t to be taken lightly. But, they can be a really unique addition to your body and a way to express yourself. If a frog eye piercing is on your bucket list, make sure you read through all of the potential pros and cons, and that you understand the healing process, before setting up your appointment.
