Surface Piercing in Mississauga, ON
At Xtremities Tattoo and Piercing, we offer surface piercing in Mississauga, ON. We also serve Cooksville, Port Credit, Streetsville, Erin Mills, and the Square One area, plus nearby Oakville, Brampton, and Etobicoke.
A surface piercing lets you wear jewellery on flat spots a normal piercing cannot reach, like the nape, chest, or hip, for a bold and eye-catching look. It is also one of the trickiest piercings to keep, since flat skin tends to push the jewellery out over time. That is why we lead with placement advice, and if a dermal would hold better on your spot, we will say so.
Call (905) 897-3503 to book a consultation, and we will help you plan a surface piercing with the best chance of lasting
Surface Piercing at a Glance
What Is a Surface Piercing?
A surface piercing is a piercing on a flat area of skin, where the jewellery lies along the surface instead of passing straight through the body. A normal piercing goes in one side and out the back, like an earlobe.
A surface piercing works differently, and here is what sets it apart:
Two holes, side by side
It has an entry and an exit point on the same flat plane, not one straight through.
A bar beneath the skin
A surface bar curves just under the surface to join the two holes.
Only the ends show
A gem or disc sits at each hole, so it looks like a pair of gems resting on the skin.
Placement is everything
Flat skin is always moving, so the body pushes against the bar, which is why the right spot and the right jewellery are what make it last.
Call (905) 897-3503 to ask our piercers about a surface piercing.
Why Choose Xtremities Tattoo and Piercing for Your Surface Piercing?
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We have pierced Mississauga for over 20 years, and we know how to place a surface piercing so it holds.
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Our head piercer is APP-certified with over 15 years of experience.
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We start you on implant-grade jewellery and the right surface bar for the spot.
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We give you honest placement advice, and we suggest a dermal when it will hold better.
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We offer free jewellery changes once your surface piercing heals.
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Our clients enjoy regular piercing discounts year-round.
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We are Mississauga's longest-running piercing studio and a Readers' Choice winner for two years running.
Call (905) 897-3503 to book a consultation.
Types of Surface Piercings We Handle in Mississauga
Our surface piercing service in Mississauga covers the full plan, from choosing the placement to fitting the bar and guiding your healing. Surface piercings look striking, but they are among the trickiest to keep, so we plan yours carefully from the start. We check whether the spot has flat, stable skin, and we fit a bar shaped to sit with the least pressure.
These are the placements we see most:
Nape piercing:
Set across the back of the neck, this is one of the classic surface placements and a bold, visible look.
Chest and sternum piercings:
Placed down the centre of the chest, these frame the collarbones or sit between them for a striking effect.
Hip piercings:
A pair set near the hip bones sits low and symmetrical, and shows well with low-rise clothing.
Back piercings:
Flat areas of the back suit surface bars, including paired sets and the laced corset style down the spine.
Wrist piercings:
A surface bar on the upper wrist makes a delicate statement, though the wrist moves and knocks a lot.
Anti-eyebrow and face piercings:
Set on the cheekbone below the eye, an anti-eyebrow is a small facial surface piercing with a lot of impact.
Surface tragus piercings:
This sits on the flat skin just in front of the tragus rather than through the ear cartilage, using a surface bar that lies flat.
Call (905) 897-3503 to choose your surface piercing placement.
Surface Piercing Risks and How We Reduce Them
Surface piercings have a higher chance of migration and rejection than most piercings and heal slowly. It takes three months to a year, and because they heal from the outside in they can look settled long before they are. That long, exposed healing is part of why they are hard to keep. Some last a few years with the right care, but many grow out in time, and how long yours lasts depends on the placement, the jewellery, and how well you protect it.
Watch for these signs of trouble:
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The bar rising toward the surface, or the skin over it getting thin or shiny
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The ends tilting, or the gap between them changing
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The piercing catching easily or feeling loose
Here is how we lower the odds:
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We place your surface piercing on the flattest, most stable skin available
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We fit a correctly shaped and sized bar, often a flexible one, to cut down on pressure
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We use implant-grade jewellery, which reacts less than cheap metal
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We are honest when a spot is likely to reject, and we suggest a dermal when it will hold better
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We check a piercing that is starting to move, so it can be dealt with before it tears out
Call us on (905) 897-3503 to book your appointment today
Aftercare for Your Surface Piercing
Good aftercare across the whole healing period is the biggest thing you can do to help a surface piercing settle and avoid rejection or infection.
What to do:
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Clean it with a sterile saline rinse two to three times a day
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Pat it dry gently with clean gauze or a paper towel
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Wash your hands before you touch it
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Keep it clear of tight clothing, straps, and bag handles that press or catch
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Sleep so you are not lying on the piercing
What to avoid:
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Twisting, sliding, or playing with the bar while it heals
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Makeup, lotions, and other products on the area
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Submerging it in pools, hot tubs, or lakes while it heals
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Changing the jewellery before the piercing has fully healed
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Knocks, snags, and rough activity that tug the bar
See a piercer or doctor if you notice:
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Spreading redness or heat around the piercing
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Thick or coloured discharge
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Swelling that gets worse instead of better
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Pain that keeps increasing after the first few days
Call (905) 897-3503 if you have a question while it heals.
Our Safety and Sterilization Standards
At Xtremities, clean and safe piercing comes first. Here is how we keep every surface piercing safe:
Single-use tools
We open sterile, single-use tools in front of you for each piercing, so nothing is reused.
No piercing gun
We never use a gun, because it cannot be sterilized the way single-use tools can.
Autoclave and dated pouches
We sterilize our instruments in an autoclave and seal them in dated pouches, so you can see when each one was prepared.
Daily spore tests
We spore-test our sterilizer every day to be sure it is working.
It is the same standard that has carried us through more than 20 years without a single failed health inspection.
Call (905) 897-3503 to talk with our piercers.
Surface Piercing vs Dermal Piercing
People often weigh a surface piercing against a dermal, so here is the difference:
Surface piercing
Uses a surface bar with two ends showing, an entry and an exit on the same flat plane. It gives you two points instead of one, which some looks call for.
Dermal piercing
Uses a single anchor set under the skin with one visible top and no exit point. It sits deeper and moves less, so for many flat placements it holds better and lasts longer.
Call (905) 897-3503 to ask whether a surface piercing or a dermal suits you.
Surface Piercing Jewellery
The jewellery decides a lot about whether a surface piercing settles or fights you, because the bar has to sit flat and flex with your skin. We fit the right shape and material for the spot.
The Surface Bar
The standard jewellery is a surface bar, also called a surface barbell. It is shaped like a flat staple, with a right-angle bend and a short rise at each end, so the bar lies beneath the skin while a gem or disc sits at each hole. That shape spreads pressure and helps the piercing resist growing out.
Materials
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Implant-grade titanium, also called ASTM F136 titanium, which is light and easy on the skin
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A flexible bar in bioplast or PTFE, which many people choose for surface piercings because it moves with the body and can lower the chance of rejection
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Nickel-tested 316L surgical steel as another safe option
We keep plated jewellery out of a fresh surface piercing, because the coating can flake and irritate the channel.
Sizing and Tops
We size the bar to the exact spot so it is neither tight nor loose, and the ends unscrew, so you can switch to a new gem or disc once the piercing heals.
Call (905) 897-3503 to see our surface bars.
Book Your Surface Piercing in Mississauga, ON Today
A surface piercing only lasts if it is placed right, and that is where we come in. Book a consultation at Xtremities Tattoo and Piercing, and we will check your spot, fit the right bar, and tell you honestly if a dermal would hold better, so you spend your money on a piercing that sticks. Walk-ins are welcome every day.
Call (905) 897-3503 today to book your surface piercing.
Other Body Piercings We Offer
Planning more than one piece? Explore our other body piercings:
Our Studio
Xtremities Tattoo & Piercing Studio
37 Dundas St W, Mississauga, ON L5B 1H2
(905) 897-3503
Operational Hours:
Monday to Friday: 12–9 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m
Sunday: 12–6 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a surface piercing hurt?
Pain from a surface piercing is usually moderate, and it depends a lot on where it goes. A fleshier, flatter spot tends to feel like a firm pinch, while thinner skin over bone can feel sharper. The piercing itself is quick, since the bar passes just under the surface, and the area can feel tender for a few days afterward while it settles.
Do surface piercings reject?
More often than most piercings, yes. Because a surface piercing sits on flat, moving skin, the body tends to push the bar toward the surface over time. The right placement, a well-shaped or flexible bar, and careful aftercare all lower the chance, and we are honest at the start about whether a spot is likely to hold.
Do surface piercings leave a scar?
They can. If a surface piercing rejects or is removed, it usually leaves two small marks where the ends sat, and these fade over time. Catching a rejecting piercing early and having it dealt with cleanly leaves less of a mark than letting it grow out on its own.
How much does a surface piercing cost?
It depends on the placement and the jewellery you choose. A surface tragus is $50, and other placements are priced by the bar and the spot, so it is best to call for a quote. We also run regular piercing discounts through the year, so it is worth asking what is on when you book.
Is a surface tragus the same as a tragus piercing?
No. A standard tragus piercing goes through the small flap of ear cartilage, while a surface tragus sits on the flat skin just in front of it, using a surface bar. The surface version has a higher chance of migrating, so we will talk you through both before you decide.
Can a surface piercing go anywhere on the body?
Almost anywhere flat, but not every flat spot is a good idea. Areas that bend, stretch, or take knocks, like fingers and wrists, reject quickly. We look for the flattest, most stable skin for the look you want, and we will suggest a steadier placement or a dermal if your first choice is likely to fail.