All other types of piercing must be carried out using a hollow needle, which is pushed through the skin and tissue of the body part being pierced. This ensures there are clear entrance and exit holes. A piece of jewellery, usually a decorative bar or ring, is then pushed through the hole.

Common piercings include the following.

    * Navel (belly button) - the piercing is usually made just above the navel, and a short, straight bar with screw-on metal balls on either end is inserted through the hole. A small metal ring fastened with a clip-on ball may also be used.

    * Nose - a hole is pierced through the skin and cartilage of the nostril. A nose stud (a piece of jewellery much like an earring but with a right-angle shaped stem) is inserted through the hole.

    * Oral (tongue) - the tongue is clamped so it can be held in position while it is pierced. A bar with a screw-on metal ball at each end is inserted through the hole.

  

* Nipple - the piercing is normally made through the vascular (meaning that blood flows through it) tissue of the end of the nipple. A thin metal ring is then inserted through the hole.