For those who would like their tongues pierced, but worried about what folks (friends, work associates, family, etc.), then, I was exactly the same. However I mentioned this to my piercer, and whilst not really what she wanted to do, she used a retainer, instead of the stainless steel barbell, which has a steel shaft, and half-round clear plastic ends.

It's almost impossible to see, unless you want it - I then swap it for the more conventional bar bell for those occasions when it MUST be seen or be used !!!

12 months since I had it done, and I work in a stuffy office environment, and not a single comment from any one - if I'd had the normal stainless balls, there would definitely have been some, especially from my puritanical boss !!