The architecture of the body lends itself to all manner of piercing. Insertion of ornaments such as earrings, mouth plates, and labrets can dramatically alter the appearance of the body. The tongue, nipples, navel, and male and female genitalia can also be pierced.
People wear ornaments mainly to beautify the body.
For some, however, ornaments and colors may also relate to a culture's symbolic and social system. For example, among the Suya people of Brazil, ear and lip discs are worn by both men and women. Large ear-discs made of wood or palm leaves are supported by distended ear lobes. Lips are perforated several years later as confirmation of adulthood. In other words, these art forms provide crucial information to those who see them.