Ampallang Piercing

The Ampallang is a horizontal piercing through the entire glans (glans penis), running from one side to the other. It ranks among the rarest and most demanding piercings of all and requires considerable commitment and patience from its wearer — both during the procedure and throughout the long healing phase.

The origins of the Ampallang lie in Southeast Asia, particularly among the indigenous peoples of Borneo and the Philippines, where it has been practised for centuries as a sign of masculinity and as a means of enhancing the sexual pleasure of the partner. In Western piercing culture, the Ampallang has been known since the 1970s but remains a comparatively rare piercing due to its complexity.

The straight barbell that passes horizontally through the glans offers a significant stimulation enhancement for the partner during intercourse — an effect frequently cited as the primary reason for choosing this piercing.

The Ampallang passes through the glans horizontally, meaning from the left to the right side (or vice versa). The piercing channel runs through the soft spongy tissue (corpus spongiosum) of the glans.

A crucial anatomical aspect during execution is avoiding the cavernous body (corpus cavernosum). The piercer must place the barbell precisely so that only the softer tissue of the glans is traversed. This requires extensive anatomical knowledge and experience — reasons why the Ampallang should only be performed by experienced piercers.

The typical barbell length is 28 to 36 millimetres depending on individual anatomy. The exact length is measured before the procedure, with some extra room calculated for post-operative swelling. After healing, a shorter barbell can be inserted that sits more snugly against the tissue.

Depending on preference and anatomy, the barbell can pass through the urethra or be placed just above it. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, which we discuss in detail during the consultation.

The Ampallang and Apadravya are the two "major" glans piercings and are frequently compared. Both pass completely through the glans but differ fundamentally in their orientation:

The Ampallang has the longest healing time of all glans piercings at 6 to 10 months. The reason lies in the long horizontal piercing channel, which traverses significantly more tissue than, for example, a Prince Albert or a Dydoe. Patience is absolutely essential with this piercing.

Throughout the entire healing phase, the following points should be observed:

• Sexual abstinence: At least 6 to 8 weeks of sexual abstinence after the procedure is strongly recommended. Mechanical stress can damage the piercing channel and significantly delay healing.
• Cleaning: Clean daily with sterile saline solution (0.9% NaCl). It is particularly important to keep both exit points clean and carefully remove crusts.
• Swelling: In the first days and weeks, significant swelling of the glans is normal. The oversized initial jewellery provides enough room for this. Cooling can provide relief.
• Patience: Even if the external appearance looks good after a few weeks, the internal piercing channel is far from fully healed. Avoid premature jewellery changes.

The Ampallang is a demanding piercing with specific risks that can be minimised through professional execution and careful care:

• ⚠ Heavier bleeding: The Ampallang passes through well-vascularised spongy tissue and therefore bleeds more than most other piercings. The bleeding is usually short-lived but can be intense. At XS Piercing, we are prepared for such procedures.
• ⚠ Granulation tissue: Granulation tissue can form at the exit points — small, benign tissue growths. With proper care, these usually recede.
• ⚠ Infection risk: With careful hygiene, the infection risk is low. However, the long healing time means a longer window during which infections are possible. Consistent care is therefore particularly important.
• ⚠ Delayed healing: Factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption or inadequate care can further prolong the already long healing time.