Some piercings, such as the snake eye, are avoided by many experts due to their dangerous and potentially life threatening risks. Meghan Lafontaine, who works at the Black Line Studio tattoo and piercing shop in Toronto, explains, “We steer clear of performing horizontal tongue piercings, commonly known as snakebites. This type of piercing can potentially damage blood vessels and nerves, unlike vertical piercings that pass between the two muscles. The consequence could be paralysis and loss of sensation at the tip of the tongue.”