Provided are compositions, methods, and systems that relate to use of viscoelastic surfactant gels in well perforation. A method for well treatment comprising: introducing a viscoelastic surfactant gel into a wellbore; and forming one or more perforation channels in an interval of the wellbore while the viscoelastic surfactant gel is disposed in the wellbore. A method for well treatment comprising: introducing a viscoelastic surfactant gel into a wellbore over an interval of the wellbore to be perforated; disposing a perforating gun into the wellbore such that the viscoelastic surfactant gel is disposed between the perforating gun and a casing of the wellbore; and forming one or more perforation channels in the interval of the wellbore. A downhole perforating system comprising: a perforating gun disposed at a distal end of a work string; and a viscoelastic surfactant gel.