Piercings
Intimate & Genital Piercings in Los Angeles
A private, working-studio hub for intimate and genital piercings — VCH, Christina, Prince Albert, frenum — with honest anatomy, pain and healing, and Fakir-certified piercers in Santa Monica.
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The intimate piercings we perform — and how anatomy decides.
Genital piercing is the one category where your anatomy, not your preference, sets what is possible. A private consultation with a Fakir-certified piercer establishes suitability before anything is booked. The VCH is the flagship — the most requested, best-healing intimate piercing — but it is one of several placements, each with an honest candidacy note below.
VCH (vertical clitoral hood)
The flagship intimate piercing
A curved barbell passes vertically through the clitoral hood, the lower bead resting against or near the clitoris. The most popular female genital piercing for a reason: quick healing, high success rate, and — for suitable anatomy — the potential for enhanced sensation. Candidacy depends on hood depth and coverage, which the piercer checks at consultation. Full VCH detail and booking.
Christina (Venus)
Decorative surface piercing
Sits at the top of the labia majora where they meet, above the hood. Because it is a surface piercing anchored in mobile tissue, it carries a higher migration and rejection rate and a longer, more demanding heal. Not sensation-oriented — it is decorative. Honest candidacy conversation required. Christina piercing detail.
Prince Albert & frenum
Male intimate placements
The Prince Albert exits beneath the glans and heals quickly thanks to the area's rich blood supply. The frenum sits on the underside of the shaft as a surface piercing and heals more slowly. Both are anatomy-dependent and consultation-first. Prince Albert and frenum detail.
Nipple
Adjacent intimate placement
Often chosen alongside genital work and governed by the same discretion, jewelry, and aftercare standards. A slower healer that rewards patience and correct sizing. See our dedicated nipple piercing guide for placement, pain and healing detail.
Privacy & comfort
How Apollo runs an intimate consultation and piercing.
The single most common reason people delay a genital piercing is discomfort with the process, not the needle. Our protocol is built to remove that.
A private, clinical room
Intimate piercings are performed in a closed private room, never on the shop floor. You undress only to the extent the placement requires, draping is offered, and the piercer explains every step before it happens. You may bring a trusted person, and you can pause or stop at any point.
Consent and anatomy first
Every genital appointment starts as a consultation. The piercer assesses whether your anatomy suits the placement, marks and mirrors the position for your approval, and confirms informed consent. If the anatomy is not a match, we say so and suggest an alternative rather than force a placement that will migrate.
Adult-only, no exceptions
All intimate and genital piercings at Apollo are 18+ with valid government photo ID, in line with the California Safe Body Art Act. This is a firm policy. Sobriety at the appointment is required — we will reschedule rather than pierce anyone under the influence.
Pain & healing
An honest timeline — the pinch is brief, discipline is the work.
Most clients rate the VCH a 4–6 out of 10 for a sensation that lasts under a second; the genital area's blood flow makes it heal faster than many ear placements. The first two weeks decide the outcome.
Jewelry standards
What we install in a fresh intimate piercing.
Genital tissue is unforgiving of the wrong metal. Apollo installs implant-grade material only — the same standard we hold for every fresh piercing.
Implant-grade titanium (ASTM F-136)
The default install metal: biocompatible, nickel-free, MRI-safe. A curved barbell for the VCH and Prince Albert, a straight barbell or ring where the placement calls for it, all internally threaded so no threading passes through fresh tissue.
Solid 14k / 18k gold
Nickel-free solid gold is available at install when requested and stocked, and is a common upgrade once healed. For sensitive skin, see our sensitive-skin jewelry guide.
Correct sizing over decoration
Fresh installs use a longer bar to accommodate swelling, then downsize. We never install sterling silver, gold-plated, acrylic, or unmarked ‘hypoallergenic’ jewelry in a healing genital piercing — decorative gem ends come after healing, not before.
Why Apollo
Fakir-certified piercers, in a licensed Santa Monica studio.
Intimate piercing is where credentials matter most. Apollo's piercers hold Fakir certification — training that traces directly to Fakir Musafar, the figure who formalized modern body-piercing practice, including genital work — and operate under LA County registration.
Genital-specific training
Reading intimate anatomy, judging candidacy, and placing for both safety and function is a specialized skill set. Fakir certification is a genuine, verifiable credential in exactly this discipline — not a weekend course.
Single-use sterile needles
Every intimate piercing uses a single-use sterile hollow needle, autoclave-sterilized instruments, and sealed jewelry opened at the chair. Meet the people who do the work on our piercing team page.
California Safe Body Art Act
Registered with LA County, full sharps disposal, documented protocols, and a clean-room standard. We do not diagnose complications — we refer to a physician — and we tell you honestly when a placement is not right for you.
Pricing & consultation
What an intimate piercing costs, and why we quote at consultation.
Intimate piercings are priced by placement and jewelry, not a flat rate, and every booking begins as a private consultation. Bring your questions; a candidacy assessment and an honest quote both happen before any commitment. Aftercare guidance is covered in our piercing aftercare guide, and the full placement catalog lives in types of body piercings.
What the price includes
The piercing, implant-grade install jewelry, the consultation, and the follow-up downsize appointment. Solid-gold ends and later jewelry changes are quoted separately.
Why consultation-first
Anatomy determines candidacy and placement, which determines jewelry, which determines price. A responsible quote is only possible after the piercer has assessed you in person and in private.
New to piercing?
If this is a first for you, start with our first piercing guide, then book the intimate consultation when you are ready.
FAQ
The questions every intimate-piercing consultation surfaces.
Discretion, candidacy, pain, healing, sensation, and pricing — answered honestly.
How much does a VCH or genital piercing cost in LA?
Apollo prices intimate piercings by placement and jewelry selected, not a flat rate. Implant-grade titanium is the default install metal; solid 14k/18k gold is available. The quote includes the piercing, install jewelry, consultation, and follow-up downsize. Because anatomy determines the placement and jewelry, we give a firm price at the private consultation rather than over the phone.
Is the appointment private and discreet?
Yes. Intimate piercings are performed in a closed private room, never on the shop floor. You undress only as much as the placement requires, draping is offered, and the piercer explains each step before it happens. You may bring a trusted person, and you can pause or stop at any time. Discretion is standard, not a request you have to make.
Does a VCH piercing hurt?
Most clients rate the VCH a 4–6 out of 10, with the actual pass lasting under a second — a brief sharp pinch followed by warmth. The genital area is sensitive, but the procedure is very quick and the anticipation is usually worse than the piercing. A Fakir-certified piercer working efficiently keeps the moment short.
How long do intimate piercings take to heal?
It depends on the placement. A VCH or Prince Albert heals on the surface in 4–6 weeks and fully in 2–3 months, helped by strong blood flow. A Christina is a surface piercing that runs 3–6 months with a higher migration risk; a frenum runs 8–12 weeks. Your piercer confirms the timeline and the downsize date for your specific piercing.
Am I anatomically suitable for a VCH?
Not everyone is, and that is why the appointment begins as a consultation. The VCH requires enough clitoral hood depth and coverage for the jewelry to sit safely. The piercer assesses this in person and privately. If your anatomy does not suit a VCH, we will tell you honestly and suggest an alternative rather than place a piercing that will reject.
Will a genital piercing affect sensation?
For suitable anatomy, a well-placed VCH can enhance sensation for some people — but this is individual and never guaranteed. Christina piercings are decorative rather than sensation-oriented. We discuss realistic expectations at the consultation and never over-promise; the goal is a safe, correctly placed piercing you are happy with.
When can I resume sex after an intimate piercing?
No sexual activity for at least the first two weeks — friction and another person's bacteria are the main infection risks for a fresh genital piercing. When you resume, use barrier protection (condom or dam) throughout healing regardless of relationship status, and handle the piercing gently. Your piercer sets the exact window at your downsize visit.
Ready for a private consultation?
Book a discreet intimate-piercing consultation with a Fakir-certified piercer.
Apollo intimate consultations happen in a private room in Santa Monica: a candidacy and anatomy assessment, an honest answer on placement and jewelry, a firm quote, and — if it is right for you — the piercing itself, all in one visit. Adult-only, 18+ with valid photo ID.
Ready to start?
Book a free consultation and we'll match you with the right artist.
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