The once popular belly button piercing is now a thing of the past, and Penn State students are turning to other piercings as a means of self-expression, area body artists say.

Belly buttons are giving way to more "pleasurable piercings — ones you can't see," said Gin Swift, owner of Art of the Ages Inc., 103 S. Pugh St.

Another advantage of getting pierced "below the belt" is that the piercing heals quickly, Swift said. Also, future employers can't ask people to take the piercing out because they're not aware that the piercing is there, she said.

"You have your own private piercing and no one else knows," Swift added.

But for men and women, tongue piercing remains the most popular, Swift said, adding that typically piercing popularity is faddish. One person will be different and get a piercing, then others start to come in to get the same piercing, she said.

"One person's the brave one, then everyone else follows," she said.

Someone considering getting a piercing should be wary of shops that use stud guns, Swift said. Stud guns should only be used on ear lobes, and they're fairly easy for people to get a hold of, she added.

People also need to remember that piercings are like a minor surgery and should be treated like a puncture wound, Swift said.

Some students with piercings are more than willing to talk about them.

Dyan Carvalho (sophomore-health policy and administration) has a myriad of piercings including her earlobes, tongue and conches — the inner parts of the ears above the ear lobes.

The conch was the most painful ear piercing that she has gotten, Carvalho added. However, it does help to breathe deeply and relax just before the technician inserts the needle, Carvalho said. If you tense up, the pain increases exponentially, she said.

"Besides if you're relaxed, you get the full effects of an adrenaline rush," Carvalho added.

Wayne Lam (junior-biology) is another student who opted for an unconventional piercing. Lam has his labret, the spot between the lip and chin, pierced. The piercing was almost painless, Lam said.

His motivation for getting the piercing also was unique.

"After it healed, I wanted to take out the piercing and squirt milk out of my lower lip through the hole," Lam said.

Upon attempting the feat, Lam was disappointed to learn the hole shrinks up and fluid exchange was almost impossible, he said.

People are not always understanding about unconventional piercings, Lam and Carvalho said. People are always asking them why they got the piercings and if they hurt, they said.