There are three basic types of piercings: soft tissue, cartilage, and surface-to-surface. Soft tissue piercings are the most common. They generally span the thickness of the body segment, with the jewelry appearing on opposite sides (e.g., an earlobe). Most heal relatively quickly and easily. Initial piercings are usually done with a ring, but healed piercings can accommodate any form of jewelry. Minimum gauge: head, 20g.; body, 14g.; genitals, 16g. to 8g. depending on piercing. Maximum gauge: None.

Cartilage piercings include the nose and the ear above the lobe. While the skin over the piercing may close if the jewelry is removed, the hole in the cartilage remains. Septum piercings are not actually located in the cartilage, but through a small area of skin between the front and back cartilage sections. Septums are usually done with a retainer which fits inside the nose. Other cartilage piercings use a ring initially. Minimum gauge: nostril, ear, 20g.; septum 14g. Maximum: depends on piercing. Cartilage does not stretch.

Surface-to-surface piercings are generally located on the same plane, such as the throat. They require extra care and longer healing, often a year or more. They are the most likely piercings to "heal out" (be rejected by the body), although repeated piercings improve the chances of success. Most surface piercings allow a choice of a ring or bar. Minimum gauge: head, 20g.; others 16-14g. Maximum: depends on location and piercing, but usually 14-10g.

Ear: Tragus (the rounded protrusion nearest the face); lobe; outer edge (rim); shell or conch (inner surfaces). Multiple piercings can be combined with a single, larger piece of jewelry, threading it through several holes to make "orbits" and other piercing combinations.

Nose: Nostril; septum (between front and rear center cartilage).

Face/Neck: eyebrow; bridge of nose; lip; labret (indentation between lip and chin; Madonna (upper lip with a labret stud); cheek; Madison (base of throat); Vampire's Kiss (side of neck); back of neck.

Body: nipples, navel.

Extremities: web between thumb and fingers, or between fingers; Surfer (web between toes).

Clitoris (horizontal or vertical); Clitoral Hood (horizontal or vertical); Inner and outer labia; T'aint (between vagina and anus); Fourchette (back edge of vaginal opening); Triangle (beneath clitoris).

Prince Albert (P.A.) (base of head, through urethra); Reverse P.A./ Queen Victoria (center top of head through urethra); Apadravya (vertically through head); Ampallang (horizontally through head); Frenum/ Lorum (horizontal base of head or along shaft); Hafada (scrotum); Guiche (between scrotum and anus); Foreskin; Dydoe (through ridge of circumcised head).