A dermal piercing is a type of body modification where a small hole is punched through the skin and jewelry is inserted. The most common type of dermal piercing is called a surface anchor, which consists of a metal plate with two posts sticking out of it. The plate is inserted underneath the skin and the posts are left sticking out so that jewelry can be screwed on.
Dermal piercings can be rejected for a number of reasons. One common reason is that the body simply pushes the foreign object out. This usually happens because the body perceives the dermal as something that doesn't belong there, like a splinter or piece of dirt. Rejections can also happen if the piercing gets infected; your body will try to fight off the infection by pushing out the foreign object.
If you think your dermal piercing may be rejected, look for signs such as redness, swelling, discharge or crusting around the area. If you see any of these signs, visit your piercer or doctor ASAP so they can check it out and determine whether or not it needs to be removed.