A sternum piercing sits on the chest, usually between or just below the collarbones along the breastbone. Two openings sit on the same flat plane, with a shaped bar bridging them just beneath the skin.
It is a surface piercing, and that fact governs everything below. If you have not read the surface piercing guide, start there: it explains why the body pushes these out and what actually slows it down.
Surface bar or dermal
There are two ways to get roughly the same look, and they behave differently.
A surface bar has two openings and a shaped bar between them. It gives a symmetrical pair of beads and a more deliberate look.
A dermal anchor has one opening. A small anchor with a perforated baseplate sits in a pocket under the skin with a single decorative end on top.
Many piercers prefer the dermal for the chest, and the reason is mechanical. A bar has to span skin that stretches when you breathe, twist and change posture, and the two ends can be pulled in different directions. A single anchor has no span to worry about.
Neither is permanent. A dermal is removed by a piercer when the time comes; a surface bar is more likely to reject on its own if left. If you want the look with the least trouble, ask your piercer about a dermal or a small cluster of them.
Placement decides the lifespan
The bar needs skin that is flat along its whole length and stays flat when you move.
Your piercer should look at the area while you breathe deeply, roll your shoulders forward and sit up straight. The chest changes shape more than people realise, and a placement that looks flat while you stand still may fold when you slouch.
Then there is the thing that actually shortens most sternum piercings: what you wear.
- Necklaces rest exactly here on most people.
- Bra straps and band edges cross the chest.
- Seatbelts sit across it on one side.
- Backpack straps cross both.
Anything that crosses the site rubs it dozens of times a day, and friction is the single biggest predictor of how long a surface piercing lasts. Look at what you actually wear and be honest about it before choosing a placement. A few centimetres of adjustment often avoids the worst of it.
Pain
About 4 out of 10. The skin over the breastbone is thin and close to bone, which some people find sharp, but the needle passes through a pinch of skin quickly and does not touch bone.
Bruising in the first few days is common on the chest and is nothing to worry about.
Healing
Three to six months, and vulnerable beyond that.
- Weeks 1-2: swelling and tenderness at both openings, sometimes bruising.
- Weeks 2-12: crusting at both ends, gradual settling.
- Months 3-6: slow maturing, with migration risk running throughout.
Downsize or resize at eight to twelve weeks if your piercer advises it, though on a surface bar the length is largely set by the placement rather than by swelling.
Watch for migration
Check monthly against a photograph from the day it was done:
- More of the bar visible than there was.
- Skin over the bar looking thin, shiny or stretched.
- Being able to see the bar through the skin.
- Openings widening or flattening into slits.
Any of those means see your piercer promptly. Removed early, a sternum piercing leaves two small marks. Left to push all the way out, it leaves a longer scar in a place you may want to show. See piercing rejection.
Aftercare
Sterile saline twice a day at both openings, patted dry with clean paper towel, and nothing else. The aftercare guide has the routine.
What matters more than the cleaning here is mechanical protection:
- Sleep on your back for the first few months. Face-down presses the bar into the chest.
- Loose tops while healing. Anything tight rubs.
- Pat dry after showering, never rub with a towel.
- Keep it out of pools, hot tubs and open water until healed.
Jewelry
Surface bar, 16 or 14 gauge, implant-grade titanium, shaped with two right-angle bends so the ends rise to the surface while the middle lies flat. This is not optional. A straight or curved barbell in a surface piercing pulls upward at both openings and will reject.
Threadless or internally threaded only. See the materials guide.
Keep the ends low-profile. Anything that protrudes catches on clothing, and clothing is already the main problem.
Related placements
- Dermal: the single-point alternative, often the better choice here.
- Nape: the same idea on the back of the neck.
- Nipple: conventional rather than surface, and far more stable.
Cost
$50 to $110 in a US studio, plus jewelry, with a shaped surface bar costing more than a standard barbell. Paying for a piercer who does surface work regularly is the best investment on this placement. Tip 15 to 20 percent.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sternum piercing?
A surface piercing on the chest, usually between or just below the collarbones along the breastbone. Two openings sit on the same flat plane with a shaped surface bar bridging them beneath the skin. A single dermal anchor in the same spot is a common alternative.
Does a sternum piercing hurt?
About 4 out of 10. The skin over the breastbone is thin and close to bone, which some people find sharp, but the needle passes through a pinch of skin quickly. It does not touch bone.
Do sternum piercings reject?
Often enough that you should plan for it. It is a surface piercing with nothing anchoring it, and the chest moves and stretches with breathing and posture. Correct surface bar jewelry and a good placement extend the life considerably but do not remove the risk.
How long does a sternum piercing take to heal?
Three to six months, and it stays vulnerable well beyond that. Surface piercings do not have a clean finish line.
Will a bra strap or necklace affect it?
Yes, and this is the main practical problem. Anything that crosses the site rubs it dozens of times a day, and friction is what shortens the life of a surface piercing more than anything else. Check what you wear before choosing a placement.
Is a dermal better than a surface bar for the sternum?
Often, yes. A dermal has one opening rather than two, which removes the problem of a bar spanning skin that moves differently at each end. It is not permanent either, but it is usually easier to place well on the chest.
Sources
- Association of Professional Piercers - Suggested aftercare for body piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Jewelry for initial piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/jewelry-for-initial-piercings/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Body Jewelry Verification Programhttps://safepiercing.org/body-jewelry-verification-program-2/
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This article is for education only and is not medical advice. If a piercing is hot, swollen, spreading redness, oozing yellow or green discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor today.