Apollo Tattoo Studio performs anti-eyebrow piercings in Los Angeles with the honesty surface piercings demand. An anti-eyebrow piercing (also called a teardrop piercing) sits on the upper cheekbone just below the outer end of your brow — and as a surface piercing, it carries genuine, documented migration and rejection risk over months and years. We won't pretend otherwise.
Our Los Angeles anti-eyebrow piercers start with a free anatomical consultation: we assess your cheekbone contour, skin thickness, and facial expressiveness before recommending whether a surface barbell anti-eyebrow, a dermal anchor alternative, or a traditional eyebrow piercing will hold up best on your face. If your anatomy isn't a strong fit for an anti-eyebrow, we'll tell you and recommend the better option. Informed consent comes first — every piercing uses implant-grade titanium surface barbells and APP-standard sterilization.
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5000+ clients 
What sets Apollo apart for anti-eyebrow surface piercings in Los Angeles
Anti-eyebrows are surface piercings with real, documented migration risk over months and years. We tell you the truth — not the sales pitch.
We use proper surface barbells (staple bars) for anti-eyebrows, dramatically outperforming standard curved barbells for long-term retention.
Not every cheekbone shape supports a stable anti-eyebrow. We assess your specific anatomy and decline politely if you're not a good candidate.
Sometimes a dermal anchor is a better choice than an anti-eyebrow. We'll discuss both options and recommend what's right for your face.
Only ASTM F136 implant-grade titanium surface barbells. Hand-polished, biocompatible, engineered for surface piercing retention.
Single-use sterile needles opened in front of you, hospital-grade autoclave for tools, bloodborne pathogen certified piercers. Inspected and licensed by LA County.
Apollo's Premium Jewelry Partner
Handmade in Los Angeles since 1996. Lifetime guarantee. Implant-grade gold, platinum, and titanium. Over 3,000 original designs in our case — ask your piercer for a tour.
See the BVLA story →Compare anti-eyebrow surface placements and related alternatives at our Los Angeles studio.
A surface piercing on the upper cheekbone, just below the outer end of the brow. Often called a teardrop piercing. Surface barbell holds two ends above the skin. Requires honest anatomy assessment.
Symmetrical anti-eyebrows on both cheekbones. We recommend separate appointments 4-6 weeks apart to give each piercing room to settle before adding the second.
Classic vertical placement through the outer third of the eyebrow. Lower migration risk than anti-eyebrows. A solid alternative if your cheekbone anatomy isn't ideal for anti-eyebrow. See our <a href='/lp/eyebrow-piercing-los-angeles/'>standard eyebrow piercing page</a>.
Single-point implant with anchor base beneath skin and one decorative gem top. An alternative to anti-eyebrows for clients whose cheekbone anatomy favors a single-point piercing.
Choose from small ball ends, low-profile flat discs, gemstone ends, or opal ends. All interchangeable on the same surface bar once fully healed (6-12 months).
Clear next step
Schedule your free anatomy consultation — honest counsel before any surface piercing
Recommended first step
Choose a facial or oral piercing appointment with clearer placement guidance.
Every piercing heals differently — here's what to expect
| Piercing Type | Location | Initial Healing | Full Healing | Pain Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Eyebrow | Cheekbone surface, below outer brow | 6-8 weeks | 6-12 months | 4-5/10 |
| Eyebrow | Above the eye | 2-3 months | 6-9 months | 3-4/10 |
| Bridge | Skin across nose bridge | 2-3 months | 6-9 months | 5-6/10 |
5000+ clientsWhat to expect during your anti-eyebrow piercing at our Los Angeles studio
We evaluate your cheekbone contour, skin thickness, and facial expressiveness to determine whether an anti-eyebrow can hold long-term on your face.
Surface barbells (staple bars) outperform standard curved barbells for anti-eyebrows. Lower migration, better long-term retention.
Pre-sterilized needles opened in front of you. We never use piercing guns — needles create cleaner, faster-healing surface piercings.
We mark both entry and exit points on your cheekbone, have you approve in a mirror, and adjust until placement is perfect.
Anti-eyebrows take 6-12 months to fully heal. You'll get detailed long-haul aftercare instructions and rejection warning signs to watch for.
Surface barbells (not curved bars) are the key to long-term anti-eyebrow retention
We discuss anti-eyebrow piercing pricing during your free in-person consultation — alongside an honest anatomy assessment.
Anti-eyebrow piercings are surface piercings requiring individual consultation. During your free consult we'll evaluate your cheekbone anatomy, discuss long-term migration risk, and quote pricing for the piercing service and recommended surface barbell jewelry. Jewelry is always sold separately so you can choose between standard titanium ball ends, low-profile flat ends, or upgraded gemstones based on your style and budget.
Senior Piercer Senior Piercer
Bunny Vogt, Senior Piercer at our Los Angeles studio since 2019, takes anti-eyebrow piercings seriously — including the honest conversations about migration risk and anatomy fit that come first. She'll recommend alternatives like dermals when they'd hold up better for your face.
Founder Master Piercer
Blue Mason, our Master Piercer and studio founder since 2004, brings 20+ years of surface piercing experience to every anti-eyebrow appointment. His honest counsel and precision technique give surface piercings the best possible chance for long-term retention.
From honest consultation through the long surface piercing healing window, we're committed to giving your anti-eyebrow the best possible chance for long-term retention — and to recommending alternatives when they'd suit your face better.
Clean twice daily with sterile saline solution. Don't touch, twist, or rotate the jewelry. Avoid sleeping face-down on the piercing. Keep makeup, face wash, sunscreen, and skincare products entirely away from the area during the 6-12 month healing period — products in the channel slow healing and increase rejection risk.
Watch carefully for rejection signs: bar becoming more visible through skin, entry and exit holes moving closer together, skin between holes thinning, persistent redness, or jewelry shifting. Contact us immediately if you notice any changes — early intervention can sometimes save the piercing or minimize scarring.
Book AppointmentClean 2x daily with saline solution. Mild swelling and tenderness are normal. Don't touch, twist, or rotate the jewelry. Keep makeup and skincare products away from the piercing area.
Swelling subsides, light crusting is normal. Continue saline cleaning. Avoid swimming and submerging in water. Be careful with hats, headbands, and sunglasses that could snag the jewelry.
Anti-eyebrow piercings take 6-12 months for complete healing. Watch for rejection signs throughout. Visit us for jewelry downsizing and decorative end changes once fully healed. Continue monitoring long-term — surface piercings can migrate years after healing.
Getting your eyebrow pierced at our Los Angeles shop is easy—choose what works best for you.
See What Our Satisfied Clients Have to Say
"Apollo did my anti-eyebrow and gave the most honest consult about migration risk that I've heard from any LA studio. They use a surface barbell instead of a curved bar and it's held up great after eight months."
"Blue walked me through the surface piercing risks before doing my anti-eyebrow. Six months in and it's healing well — I appreciated that he gave me real expectations instead of a sales pitch."
"Got both anti-eyebrows done at Apollo (four weeks apart per their recommendation) and they look stunning. Bunny placed them symmetrically and the surface bars are flat to my skin."
"Bunny actually recommended I get a dermal anchor instead of anti-eyebrow after looking at my cheekbones. Glad she was honest — the dermal has held up perfectly."
"Honest, professional, and the studio is spotless. My anti-eyebrow is on year two and still looks perfect. Worth driving to Santa Monica for."
"Came in for a consultation, got told my anatomy wasn't great for an anti-eyebrow long-term, and they recommended an alternative. That kind of straight talk is rare. Will be back for other piercings."
5000+ clients
Santa Monica, CA
Apollo was founded by Blue Mason in 2007. With 20+ years of body art experience, Blue brings master-level expertise to every piece. Read Blue's story →
Honest answers to common questions about anti-eyebrow piercings in Los Angeles
An anti-eyebrow piercing (also called a teardrop piercing) is a surface piercing placed on the upper cheekbone, just below the outer end of the eyebrow. Unlike a standard eyebrow piercing through the brow ridge, the anti-eyebrow sits on flat skin — making it a surface piercing with distinct risks and considerations.
Honest answer: migration and rejection risk is significant. Anti-eyebrows are surface piercings on a high-movement facial area, and the body sometimes pushes the jewelry out over months or years. Even with perfect technique and jewelry, expect a meaningful percentage of anti-eyebrows to migrate or reject within 1-3 years. We'll be upfront about this during your free consultation.
The best anti-eyebrow piercing candidates have flat or gently curved cheekbones with enough surface tissue to support the piercing channel, low-to-moderate facial expressiveness in the area, and realistic long-term expectations. Highly contoured cheekbones, very thin skin, or extremely expressive faces are less ideal. We assess your anatomy during a free consultation — if you're not a good candidate, we'll say so.
We use implant-grade titanium surface barbells (also called staple bars) for anti-eyebrow piercings — flat bars with 90-degree rises that hold jewelry above the skin while keeping the channel itself flat. Surface barbells dramatically outperform standard curved barbells for migration resistance. Some clients opt for single-point dermal anchors instead — we'll discuss the tradeoffs.
Most clients rate anti-eyebrow piercing pain at 4-5 out of 10 — a quick, sharp pinch lasting under two seconds. The upper cheekbone area has thin skin and a moderate nerve concentration. The procedure is fast; the post-piercing tenderness during week one is usually the most uncomfortable phase.
Initial healing for an anti-eyebrow piercing takes 6-8 weeks, with full healing in 6-12 months — significantly longer than most facial piercings due to the surface placement. Patience and gentle aftercare during this extended window are essential for long-term retention.
Clean twice daily with sterile saline spray. Never touch, twist, or sleep on the piercing. Keep skincare, makeup, sunscreen, and face wash away from the piercing channel — products in the channel slow healing and increase rejection risk. Wear sunglasses carefully and avoid pressing on the area.
Yes — all surface piercings leave some scarring if they reject. Anti-eyebrow piercings typically leave a small linear mark between the two old holes (3-8mm depending on placement size) that fades over months to years. Removing the jewelry early at the first signs of rejection produces smaller scars than letting the piercing fully reject on its own.
Anti-eyebrow piercings use a surface barbell that enters and exits skin (two holes connected by a bar beneath). Dermal anchors are single-point implants with one hole hosting an anchor base beneath the skin. Anti-eyebrows look more like traditional piercings; dermals look like single floating gems. Each has different migration risks and aftercare — we'll help you compare during consultation.
Watch for: the bar becoming more visible through the skin, entry and exit holes moving closer together, skin between holes looking thinner or translucent, persistent redness or soreness, or jewelry shifting position. Contact Apollo immediately if you notice any of these — early intervention can sometimes save the piercing or minimize scarring.
Yes — symmetrical anti-eyebrows can look striking. We recommend doing them in two separate appointments (4-6 weeks apart) so the first piercing has settled before adding the second. Healing two surface piercings simultaneously increases stress and migration risk.
Apollo requires clients to be 18+ for facial piercings including anti-eyebrow piercings. We follow APP (Association of Professional Piercers) guidelines and California regulations. Valid government-issued photo ID is required at every appointment.
We welcome clients from across the greater Los Angeles area.
Cities:
Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Westwood, Hollywood, Downtown LA
Walk-ins welcome or book your appointment today.
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