Cardi B doesn't just do "subtle." When she decided to get her chest pierced back in 2020, she didn't stop at one tiny stud. She went for a vertical row of three dermal anchors right down her sternum. It looked incredible, honestly. People were obsessed. Then, things got messy.
If you've been following the saga of cardi b dermal piercings, you know it’s been a wild ride of high-end diamonds, rejection videos, and even a "butt crack" piercing that literally went down the toilet. Most people think these piercings are permanent like a tattoo. They aren't. They’re more like a long-term relationship with a high risk of a dramatic breakup.
The Reality of Cardi B’s Chest Dermals
A dermal piercing—or a microdermal—is weird because it doesn't have an exit hole. Most piercings go in one side and out the other. Dermals use a little "anchor" that sits under the skin.
Cardi actually had an old one from her days in the Bronx. When she went to get the new ones, her piercer had to work around that existing hardware. It looked like a million bucks for a while, but then the videos started appearing on her Instagram Stories. You might remember the one where the skin around the jewelry looked red and angry.
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The body is smart. It sees a piece of metal in the chest and thinks, "Get this out of here." That’s called rejection.
Why her chest piercings failed
It wasn’t a lack of money or a bad piercer. Chest dermals are notorious for rejection because the skin there is tight. Every time you move your arms or cough, that skin pulls. Eventually, Cardi’s body just pushed the metal toward the surface. She eventually had to have them removed, which involves a tiny incision—basically a mini-surgery—to pull the anchor out.
The $13,000 Diamond Incident
Fast forward to early 2025. Cardi B shocks everyone by announcing she got her "butt crack" pierced. It sounds like a joke, but she posted the receipts.
She called it a "valley piercing."
What’s wild is how she handled the pain. She told Alex Cooper on Call Her Daddy that she barely felt a thing. Why? Because she’d previously had surgery in that area to remove fibrosis and reduce her BBL. The nerves were basically numb.
"I practically did a tummy tuck on my ass... that skin part is numb. So when I pierce my ass, I ain't feel s---."
But even a $13,000 diamond isn't immune to physics. About a month later, it was gone. She admitted it fell out while she was in the bathroom and, well, it was a very expensive flush.
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The 2026 Update: New Ink and New Anchors
Just when we thought she was done with the dermal life, Cardi came back for more. In late 2025/early 2026, she debuted fresh dermal implants on her lower back and a surface piercing on the nape of her neck.
This happened roughly a month after she gave birth to her fourth child.
She went to Robbie (known as @nyc.piercing on Instagram), the same guy who works on Travis Barker. If you’re looking at the cardi b dermal piercings from this era, they’re placed in "low movement" areas. The lower back is generally safer than the sternum because the skin doesn't stretch as aggressively with every breath.
The Nape Piercing
The neck piercing is technically a "surface bar" or a surface piercing, not always a dermal anchor. It’s a bar that sits under the skin with two balls visible on the outside. These are famous for snagging on hair and necklaces. Honestly, keeping that thing from catching on a wig is a full-time job.
Thinking of Getting One? Read This First
Dermal piercings are basically a temporary accessory. If you get three years out of one, you’re winning. Most reject within six months to a year.
- Placement is everything: Avoid joints or areas where clothing (like bra straps or waistbands) will rub.
- The "Anchor" factor: The base has holes in it so your tissue can grow through the metal to lock it in place.
- Scars happen: When a dermal comes out, it usually leaves a small, circular scar. It looks like a chickenpox mark.
If you're inspired by Cardi's look, start with one. Don't jump into a vertical row of three on your chest unless you're prepared for the "angry red bump" phase. Most reputable piercers charge between $80 and $120 for the procedure, but the real cost is the aftercare. You need sterile saline—not homemade salt water—and you have to be obsessive about it.
Don't touch it. Don't let your boyfriend touch it. Don't let your loofah near it.
If you see the metal base starting to tilt or peek through the skin, it’s over. Go to a professional and get it pulled. If you wait for it to fall out on its own, the scar will be much worse. Cardi had hers professionally removed when they started acting up, which is why her skin still looks great in photos today.
Keep an eye on the area for any warmth or yellow discharge. Those are signs of infection, not just rejection. If that happens, skip the piercer and go straight to a doctor.
To keep your own dermals as long as possible, stick to titanium jewelry. It’s the least likely to trigger a "foreign body" response from your immune system. And maybe don't use $13,000 diamonds if you’re prone to dropping things in the toilet.
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The most important thing to remember is that these are "long-term temporary." Enjoy the sparkle while it lasts, but don't get too attached to the hardware.