How are beadings inserted under the skin?
While some artists choose to implant them using a procedure similar to the “3D-Art” procedures (described below), most use a procedure almost identical to piercing. A typical procedure might go as follows: 1. Bead location is marked, with an entrance and exit point on each side. These entrance and exit marks are far enough away from the bead location that the bead won’t put direct pressure on these wounds (which could easily lead to rejection). 2. These marks are then clamped, and pierced (generally with an 8ga or 6ga needle; some practioners prefer to pierce using a scalpel). 3. The needle is followed through by a taper (generally a special multi-part taper designed to make beading easier) which increases the size of the holes. The clamp is removed. 4. Following the taper, a bead is held between the taper and a “pusher rod” to place the bead into its final location. The taper and pusher are removed, leaving only the bead in place. 5. The openings are closed using suture tape, or in so
