A flesh tunnel is a type of body piercing jewelry. It is also sometimes referred to as a gauge, spool, earlet, or eyelet. Flesh tunnels are hollow tunnels, usually used in stretched or scalpelled piercings (generally large gauge ear piercings). Some people may choose to wear flesh tunnels instead of flesh plugs because they weigh less, especially at larger sizes. Flesh tunnels may be worn with a ball closure ring or other object passed through them. Flesh tunnels can be made from many materials. Surgical steel, titanium, Pyrex glass, silicone, acrylic plastic and a variety of natural materials, including bone, horn, amber, bamboo, stone, and wood all are common materials for flesh tunnels. Flesh tunnels, like flesh plugs, may contain a variety of decorative inlays or semi-precious stones. Some flesh tunnels have flares at one or both ends to keep the jewelry from falling out, or in the absence of flares, grooves may be cut near the edges to allow rubber or silicone o-rings to hold the jewelry in place. The back of the flesh tunnel may also screw off.]
