What Is A Double Tongue / Frog Eye Piercing?

The first thing you should know is that there is more than one type of double tongue piercing.

Some double tongue piercings are a set of two separate piercings in the tongue, and some are a single piercing with a curved barbell that comes out on each side. In fact, not all tongue piercing configurations have a name.

That’s because piercings can be placed pretty much anywhere on the tongue as long as you have the space and it doesn’t interfere with veins or other particularly risky areas.

On the other hand, once a lot of people have started getting the same configuration and asking for it, that set of piercings usually acquires a name, which makes it easier for people looking into getting said piercing. 

The frog eye piercing, in particular, is one in which two separate piercings are set horizontally on either side of the tongue. The piercings should be symmetrical, at about the same location on each side.

This piercing is also called the venom piercing, so don’t get confused if you are trying to figure out what the difference is. They’re exactly the same.

The frog eye piercing, or venom piercing, may occasionally get confused with a tongue piercing called the snake eyes piercing. This piercing is actually one piercing closer to the tip of the tongue.

A curved barbell comes out of each side, making the tip of the tongue appear to have snake eyes coming out the sides of it.

What Happens During A Frog Eye Piercing?

If you’re wondering about what to expect when you go to get your frog eye piercing done, you can rest assured that the process is quite similar to getting a basic tongue piercing. Here are the steps you can expect in the process.

First, you’ll probably have to check in with an ID when you arrive at the piercing studio.

If you’re thinking of getting this done anywhere other than a piercing studio or tattoo parlor (like your cousin’s bedroom), then back out of the room right away and go find a reputable body piercer, and by reputable, I mean they have performed multiple tongue piercings before in a clean environment with sterile equipment.

Like any tongue piercing, you’ll next need to rinse your mouth out with antiseptic mouthwash. The piercing studio will provide this for you.

Make sure you don’t skip this step. It reduces the bacteria in your mouth prior to getting pierced so that you’re less likely to develop a tongue piercing infection from bacteria entering the wound.

Your body piercer will also inspect your tongue and mark the two places that will be pierced. They will make sure that they aren’t piercing through a vein by looking at the underside of your tongue as well.

When you’re marked up and ready, they’ll use a clamp to keep your tongue in place and pierce each spot, one at a time with a sterilized, hollow piercing needle. After each piercing, the jewelry will be inserted.

This jewelry will usually include longer than normal barbells to allow extra room for any tongue swelling which may occur shortly after the piercing takes place (localized swelling is a normal healing response). This swelling typically occurs a day or two after the piercing.

Having both sides pierced at once means you only have to go through one healing period. That’s one time dealing with a swollen tongue and the consequential difficulty eating and speaking.

However, if getting pierced twice at once is too much for you, you can get one side done at a time. Just make sure your piercer is aware that you only want to get one side done.

If you opt to get each side done at different times, understand that this means you will have to deal with the swelling and pain of a healing tongue piercing twice, and you will have to wait until the first piercing is completely healed before going in for the second one. That could be anywhere from 2-4 months.

Double Tongue Piercing Pain – How Much Does It Hurt?

Okay, let’s talk about the pain. This is what everyone wants to know when they get a new piercing, how much is it going to hurt? Of course you’re aware that piercings hurt, but each area of the body feels different to get pierced, and every person experiences pain differently.

Tongue piercings, in general, tend to hurt much less than most people expect them to. It’s not the initial pain that is so uncomfortable, as much as it is the swelling that follows.

When you get a double tongue piercing, you’re probably going to experience a noticeable amount of more pain than with a single tongue piercing.

As with a single tongue piercing, the healing period tends to be more bothersome than the initial pain. Unfortunately, getting two piercings so close in proximity does mean the piercing pain will be increased.

The good news is the first one shouldn’t be too bad, and they will both be over with quickly. Many people with self-measured low pain thresholds rate tongue piercing pain as fairly easy to handle.

How Much Does A Frog Eye Piercing Cost?

The final price of a piercing depends on whether the studio you go to charges a flat fee for the piercing and jewelry, regardless of which start barbell you select, or if they charge a separate price for the piercing and the specific jewelry you select.

Getting two piercings at once is certainly going to cost more than a single tongue piercing. In general, a frog eye piercing will cost somewhere between $50 and $100.

Areas with fewer studios or less demand for piercings are likely to have lower prices.

On the other hand, the studios with the most experienced piercers typically charge a bit more than others, but paying extra may be worth it to get a piercer with tons of experience and the knowledge to pierce quickly, precisely, and with as little pain as possible.

It’s fine to check prices at a few different places, but you really shouldn’t select a piercing studio solely because it’s the least expensive place around.

Getting body modifications is not the time to be cheap. That being said, if you find a couple of places with similar reputations and experienced piercers, and one costs a little less, than it’s fine to save a bit of cash where you can.

What To Do Before Getting A Double Tongue Piercing

You don’t want to go into the piercing studio with no prior knowledge and find out that you could have given yourself a better experience if you had just had more information. So here’s what you want to know to do before getting a double tongue piercing.

Rest up

It’s one of the easiest things to do to have a good piercing experience and also one of the most neglected. Get a good night’s sleep before you go in. Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It will help you to tolerate pain better and heal more quickly.

Check in with yourself

How are you doing? Are you pretty healthy right now? You don’t have a cold or an infection? Doing a quick health check will ensure that you’re at your best health when you get pierced.

Again, this will help you with tolerating the piercing and healing processes. You want your extra energy going towards healing your tongue piercing as efficiently as possible, not towards fighting off an illness.

If you get sick on the day you were supposed to get pierced, reschedule and wait until you’re feeling better.

Avoid stressors on your body and mind

You want to go into the piercing studio with a clear head. Therefore, scheduling your piercing appointment at the same time as a stressful task you have to get done, like a work or school deadline is not advised.

It also means avoiding alcohol or drugs prior to heading for your piercing. If you think they will help you cope with anxiety or pain, think again. They’ll likely heighten your awareness of those things.

Here’s another stressor you may not think about–exercise. Plan to take off the day from working out. Exercise is good for you, but it is also a physical stressor. If you work out before getting pierced, your body is busy healing your tired muscles, not your new piercings.

Plan for anxiety and pain control

Most people experience a bit of anxiety before getting a piercing. You can make yourself more relaxed by wearing comfortable clothes, listening to music while you get pierced, or bringing a friend to talk to you or just hold your hand.

If no one you know is available that day, ask one of the piercers in the studio to hold your hand or chat during the piercing. Most of them are pretty nice people!

Eat

Low blood sugar is a common cause of passing out during piercings. Most people do not pass out, although, when your body reacts to the trauma of the piercing needle, it can make already low blood sugar levels drop even lower.

Eat about an hour before your appointment so your blood sugar levels are normal and you don’t risk feeling nauseated from eating too close to the piercing time.

Frog Eye Piercing Aftercare & Cleaning Guide

Aftercare is super important for oral piercings. Your mouth is full of bacteria, so keeping it clean is essential to preventing infections, and believe me, you do not want an infected tongue piercing.

Here are the easy aftercare steps:

1. Wash your hands before tightening the jewelry or washing the piercing.

2. Rinse your mouth with alcohol-free antiseptic mouthwash after each meal.

3. Continue brushing your teeth, but be gentle and don’t brush the tongue until all the swelling is gone.

4. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water twice per day to help prevent infection.

5. Don’t smoke or drink alcohol, both of which will irritate your piercing.

6. Choose foods that are easy to eat and not too hot or spicy while the tongue is still swollen.

7. Avoid playing with your piercing, either with your hands or your teeth.

The best aftercare product I’ve personally used is the After Inked Piercing Aftercare Spray. Not only is it vegan, but it’s also completely alcohol and additive-free. The solution works well on all skin types including sensitive skin, and it comes in a generously-sized mist-spraying bottle for easy application. When using it from the very start of the healing process, the spray helps to decrease healing times and aims to eliminate any lingering pain or soreness.​

How Long Does a Double Tongue Piercing Take To Heal?

The good news is that although you have to deal with the hassle of swelling and difficulty talking and eating, tongue piercings heal pretty fast. A double tongue piercing typically doesn’t take longer to heal than a single tongue piercing.

You can expect swelling to go down in about a week and for your piercing to be completely healed in about 2 months.

Just don’t think that because you’ve reached the end of the healing period that you can leave your jewelry out for extended periods of time. Tongue piercings are notorious for closing up quickly, even within an hour or so of taking out the jewelry.

Frog Eye Piercing Infections

As with any piercing, it’s possible for frog eye piercings to get infected. Watch out for redness, swelling, bleeding or pain that persists past the first 10 days or seems especially bad. Some discharge is normal, but yellow or green pus is a sign of infection.

If you suspect an infection, go back to your piercer and have them take a look at it. If your tongue becomes heavily discolored, head to a doctor immediately.

Double Tongue Piercing Risks

Fortunately, double tongue piercings do not mean double the risks. Here are possible risks you should be aware of.

Frog Eye Piercing Jewelry

Your jewelry will start with a long barbell in each piercing. It’s best to get gold, titanium, or surgical steel. These are the least likely to harbor bacteria or cause an allergic reaction. After swelling goes down, you can switch to shorter barbells to prevent the jewelry from chipping your teeth.

Summary

With frog eyes, there’s a little more pain and a little more cost involved when compared to more basic tongue piercings, but once the healing period is over, you’ll love those shiny little ‘eyes’ peeking out of your mouth.

Take care to rinse your mouth with both an antiseptic mouthwash and saline rinse until you’re fully healed, and your double tongue piercing should turn out looking great. Time to show it off.​