THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE GETTING A PIERCING

There are great many questions, misconceptions and horror stories about piercing. Please be aware however that there is much dispute within the piercing community over various issues, these answers are based on my extensive medical research over the last 6 years but methods alter and if your hear conflicting advise from your local piercer you'll have to make your own decision.

I hope that these FAQ's will answer most of the questions you may have, if you can't find an answer to a specific question please consult your local piercer before emailing us, we run a business and unfortunately don't have time to respond to normal queries. However, if you have an unusual problem which you can't find answers to, you may contact me at ozpiercer@hotmail.com

How old do I have to be to get a piercing?

Any reputable body piercer will insist that you be over the age of consent. This is because a minor can't legally sign the disclaimer or waiver form, which protects them from legal liability, and informs you of the possible problems resulting from getting a piercing. Many states and countries outlaw the tattooing of minors and Health and Police departments' view it as an offence and can use other laws regarding the protection of minors to enforce it. So if you're considering getting a piercing you must usually be over 18 or have the express permission of your parents. Any responsible piercer will insist on the presence of a parent, or their written consent before piercing a minor.

Can I use anaesthetic?

Yes, provided that you can find a doctor who is also a good body piercer. It's illegal in most countries for anybody but a doctor to administer anaesthetic, in fact it's a separate branch of medicine and the practitioners (Anaesthetists) are more highly paid than doctors. The active ingredient in most anaesthetics is Xylocaine. If you have an allergic reaction to Xylocaine, you may experience what's called an Anaphylactic shock. If this shock is strong enough it can cause your heart to stop, killing you! So the use of any form of anaesthetic, even creams is totally reserved for administration by doctors or to be used under their supervision.

Using injectable anaesthetic makes the tissue swell up making it difficult to do the piercing accurately, especially with nipples and navels, where placement is more critical. Also, what is the use of getting a needle to stop the pain of another needle? A piercing is just a very brief short, sharp pain, whereas an injection is a needle under the skin and the anaesthetic is then injected. So the injection is actually more painful than getting a piercing. Anaesthetic creams such as Emla or Xylocaine aren't really effective at reducing the pain as they only numb the outer layer of skin and you'll still feel the piercing.

Are there any reasons which totally prevent me from getting a piercing?

There are several medical problems that make it dangerous to get a piercing. If you have one of these conditions, it may be dangerous for you to get a piercing. If in doubt consult your doctor.

Diabetes & haematopoietic abnormalities (Thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and anaemia): All present difficulties for piercing, because they reduce the bodies ability to heal wounds properly. In the case of Diabetes, it has been well established that wound healing is impaired in people with Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetics' experience reduced collagen synthesis, impaired wound contraction, and delayed epidermal migration. An increased incidence of infections in diabetics may also contribute to impaired wound healing, hypoglycemia-induced leukocyte dysfunction and vascular insufficiency are believed to be the possible causes for this increased infection rate

Haemophilia: This disease precludes piercing for the obvious reasons, Haemophiliacs have a greater tendency to haemorrhage and they have a greatly reduced ability to heal wounds. I seriously doubt that anybody suffering from this condition would even consider piercing, however if they did, they should be deterred because of the obvious dangers.

Keloids: Keloids seem to occur only occasionally from the process of piercing, they seem to happen mainly on the ear. There is no way of determining which people will develop keloids, although people with dark skin, or people with a family history of Keloid development are far more likely to develop this problem. There are several treatments available, they should all be performed by medical personnel.

What factors affect my ability to heal a piercing?

There are many factors that may affect your body's ability to heal a wound, which is what a piercing really is. The major factor affecting wound healing is you general health, if you are sick, run down or over-worked then you will have a depleted immune system and will experience delayed healing and an increased chance of infection. Smoking, poor diet, obesity and lack of exercise can also result in delayed healing.

If you have a job where you must wear tight clothes like pantyhose, shorts, skirts etc. you will have problems if you have your navel pierced. Any pressure on the piercing causes aggravation and if continued for a long period can result in inflammation. If you play contact sports you must consider if the piercing is going to get knocked repeatedly, this most affects nipple piercings. Taping up the piercing with an Elastoplast bandage while playing can generally solve this. If you work in a job that requires manual labor then you should carefully consider whether a nipple or navel piercing is practical as lifting objects and knocking the piercing will aggravate it. If you swim in public pools you have more chance of developing an infection, however you can cover the piercing with a waterproof bandage.

How can I find a good piercer ?

Your body is something that must be treated with the utmost care, everyone now is aware of the danger of HIV-AIDS, but Hepatitis is another disease that is potentially fatal. It severely reduces the length of your life and can cause severe lifelong side effects. Therefore, utmost caution should be exercised when selecting a body piercer. Unfortunately, because of its increasing popularity, body piercing has attracted a lot of unqualified and ill-informed people who are doing it just for a quick profit. Proper body piercing requires a great deal of experience and knowledge of a broad range of subjects, most importantly proper cross contamination and sterilisation procedures due to the high risk transmission of blood borne pathogens between patients.

You don't learn something as complicated and skilful as body piercing by watching an instruction video, reading a book, or doing a short term so-called "Instruction Course". There is only one way of learning, and that is from spending time learning from an experienced body piercer. You will be better served by going to a person who specialises solely in body piercing because they spend all their time perfecting just one skill.

So how do you decide if a piercer is competent? Ask around, see what reputation they have, best of all ask someone who has been pierced by them about their experience. Check with you local Health Department, in most places they are required to be registered, ask the Health Department for a recommendation. The best way to judge a piercers skill is to look a their work, if you see someone with a piercing that looks good ask where they got it done.

There is a tendency within the piercing community to use questionable certification, there is no such thing as a "Certified" piercer. All piercers learn on an Ad Hoc basis, meaning that there is no formal, rigid training to become a piercer. Unlike doctors, nurses and health professionals who receive extensive formal education, all you require to operate as a body piercer is the registration of your operating premises. These requirements are minimal and only deal with hygiene principals. There is no requirement that the piercer exhibit any knowledge of aftercare, proper metals, appropriate jewellery and placement, aseptic technique, anatomy, physiology, psychology or any other of the many skills needed to perform a piercing safely.

ALL! Piercers learnt their trade one of 3 ways, a formal piercers training course, of which only Fakir Musafar's in California has Official Government approval. Through trial and error, i.e. piercing their friends and guinea pigs for nothing, or working as an apprentice to a qualified piercer. However, in the last case the person giving the training often has a poor understanding of the appropriate techniques required, so it's simply a case of the blind leading the blind.

This lack of formal qualifications in the piercing industry has led to a plethora of "So Called" Professional Piercing Organisations. Most of them only require a small payment in return for a glossy "Certificate". Don't be fooled by any of these certificates, they are meaningless and are no indication of a piercers ability or knowledge. The A.P.P. in the USA is probably the only reputable professional piercing organisation. See their website at http://www.safepiercing.org/

Once you've decided on your choice of piercer, call or see them; don't be afraid to ask questions. Have a look around the shop, it should look and smell clean and the piercing should be done in a special room (for privacy and hygiene). The shop should be a relaxing environment, ambient lighting, nice music, aromatherapy and overall cleanliness should be the first impressions you receive. If the d‚cor is grungy or downmarket, they're playing loud music and the piercers don't pay much attention to their personal appearance, that's a fair indication generally that they're not too professional in other aspects of they're business i.e. hygiene? Compare the studio to a doctor's office, you expect a doctor's to be neat, clean and professional, then why not somewhere that's going to put a needle and jewellery into your body?

Ask them how they sterilise their instruments and jewellery (autoclaving is the only safe method). All needles should be in autoclave or commercial packaging, and should be opened just prior to the piercing, and then disposed of immediately. To minimise the possibility of infection, the piercing should be performed using Aseptic or "Sterile" technique, this requires that all supplies used during the piercing should come out of a sterile package, this includes gloves and especially tools and jewellery. The jewellery should either be sterilised in autoclave bags or disinfected in a hospital grade disinfectant like Madacide or Wavicide, this method is only suitable for clean, new, unused jewellery.

Before the piercing starts you must inform the piercer if you have any medical problems, which may affect the healing. Most piercers will require you to fill out and sign a detailed disclaimer or waiver form, you may also be required to produce proof of age. Most piercers will refuse to perform certain piercings that are dangerous or have a low likelihood of success. They should provide you with a detailed aftercare sheet which should outline the procedures you need to follow to look after the piercing while it's healing and the aftercare products you need to use. Healing times and complications vary greatly depending on the piercing and jewellery chosen, the piercer should inform you about this.

The piercer should be able to answer any questions or concerns you have before the piercing. They should make sure that you aren't rushed, and make every attempt to calm and relax you prior to the piercing. You should be informed of what is happening during the procedure and they should allow you a few minutes to sit down after the piercing, if you are feeling a bit light headed.

You should ring or return to the piercer if you have any problems, and they must help or advise you on what to do, it's their responsibility and your right to receive aftercare service.

Does it hurt?

Yes, but the pain is minimal if performed by an experienced Body Piercer. Most people's reaction immediately after it's done is " I thought it would hurt more than that!" or " It hurts more to have your ear pierced!" The sensation of being pierced is similar to being pinched, you feel a sharp sensation for a second or two than it's over!

Does it hurt afterwards?

There may be some initial sensitivity for the first 2-3 days, more so with any piercing of a mucous membrane area like tongues, lips and the genitals. This is due to them being highly vascularised (areas of high blood supply) which naturally swell when pierced.

Does it bleed?

Normally the bleeding is very minimal provided you are not taking aspirin or alcohol, which thin the blood. With nipple and navel piercings, the wound should be covered with a sterile bandage protecting the wound for the first 4-5 hours until antibodies move in to protect the wound from infection.

Can you numb the area to be pierced?

Yes, ice packs can be used to anaesthetise the area, this is the method used in hospitals. It is the safest, fastest and most effective form of anesthesia. In almost all countries is illegal for anyone but a Doctor to use injectable anaesthetic or anaesthetic creams. The injection of anaesthetic makes it hard to do the piercing accurately and hurts more than the actual piercing. Anaesthetic creams take a very long time to work and never work effectively anyway as they only numb the outer layer of skin.

How long does the piercing take?

The whole process usually takes about 10-15 minutes, most of which is to prepare the instruments and supplies. The actual piercing takes only 1 second and it causes a very small sharp pain, equivalent to getting a needle from a doctor.

How many piercings can I get done at once?

This has cause some disagreement within the piercing community. We will only do 2 piercings in one session, any more than that can be dangerous, make you ill and prolong the healing time. However, this depends on the individual and their ability to deal with pain and their amount of effort used to care for the piercings. Discuss it with the piercer of your choice.

What should I do before I come in for a piercing?

It helps if you have an early night the day before, if you do go out try not to drink too much, it can make you nauseous after a piercing and increases bleeding. Have something to eat approximately 1 hour before the piercing. Drinking a 250ml bottle of Sports drinks (which contain electrolytes) or eating a small amount of something sweet (cake or chocolate) beforehand will help you feel better.

Can I bring my friends into the piercing room with me?

Some people like to bring their friends along for moral support, but many piercers prefer to limit the number of people in the piercing room. The piercer needs to concentrate in order to perform the piercing as quickly and efficiently as possible, and your friends can disrupt the piercers concentration, they make it hard for you to relax and it's more hygienic when there's less people present the piercing room.

Can I have a few drinks or a joint to relax me?

Any responsible piercer will not pierce people who are under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication, it dangerous for the piercer and for you. Alcohol makes you nauseous and uncomfortable and marijuana makes you paranoid and hard to relax.

What if I have a phobia of blood or needles?

It's imperative that you inform the piercer if you have these fears. We've pierced dozens of people with exactly the same fears, guess what? Not one fainted. Unlike doctors who usually rush, a responsible piercer will set extra time aside to ensure that you are fully relaxed and in a calm state before the piercing.. You won't see the needle and if there's any blood it will be bandaged up strait away so you won't see it.

What should I do after I've had the piercing?

If you are getting pierced during lunch or you're in a hurry, it's important that you set enough time aside afterwards for a rest, sit down in a caf‚ and relax for 10-15 minutes. Have a drink, preferably juice or a soft drink, sugar will bring the glucose in your blood back up and make you feel better. You may also have something sweet like cake or chocolate (not too much though!). If you're not feeling well it may probably be a good idea to get a friend to drive you home. However, in general 99% of people are fine within a few minutes, its only people that work themselves up who ending up feeling unwell.

How long will it take to heal?

The Navel is the longest piercing to heal, this is because movement and constrictive clothing knock it around, and it generally takes 3-4 months to heal. Other piercings heal quicker, but most piercings (even ears) take a minimum of 6 weeks to heal. The time it takes to heal depends on the individual and is affected by a variety of factors. Smoking, Obesity, Diabetes, Poor health, Poor Diet, and Age can all make it harder for a piercing to heal. If you're worried about these factors see us for a consultation.

Wearing tight clothes, touching the piercing with dirty hands, contact with bodily fluids, rough treatment, using inappropriate cleaning agents i.e. Dettol, Methylated Spirits, Listerine, Tea Tree Oil, or Betadine, will all hamper the healing process. Following the instructions in the care sheet carefully will minimise problems and dramatically reducing the healing time.

Why is Body Piercing more expensive than having you're ears pierced?

The Ear Piercing Gun requires no training, experience or skill to use. It is dangerous if used to pierce anything but the Ear lobes. Body piercing must be done using Aseptic or "Sterile" technique, this is a medical method devised to reduce the chance of infection and transmission of deadly pathogens i.e.AIDS and Hepatitis.

Aseptic technique requires that the piercing be performed in a purpose-built enclosed room. The piercing must be performed using sterilised instruments, sterile supplies, sterile gloves, specific jewellery and the wound should be covered after with a sterile bandage. All these things cost money, but they are imperative to minimise health hazards.

Body Piercing is a highly skilled operation, the person doing the piercing needs to have a full understanding of Aseptic or "Sterile" technique, the appropriate type of jewellery for each individual piercing, the proper placement and understand how to solve any complications which might arise.

So the reason it's more expensive is that you're paying for the highest standards of Jewellery, hygiene and experience. You wouldn't get your car painted by a mechanic, or your engine fixed by a Panel Beater, so why trust someone who's not experienced with your body. Your Health is your most important asset, see a Professional who specialises in Body Piercing.

Is it safe to get a piercing with an Ear Piercing Gun?

No! Not even for ears. The Ear Piercing Gun was designed to pierce ear lobes but it can even cause problems then. The studs in the Gun are blunt and are forced through the flesh by brute force, this tends to cause pain and swelling. Because the studs are not adjustable they can't accommodate any swelling and the studs can become embedded. This is painful in the ear lobes, but can be very dangerous anywhere else on the body.

The Gun should never be used for anything apart from Ear Lobes. If it's used to pierce the nose or the top-ear it can cause pain and swelling. Because the action of the gun damages the tissue it can lead to Sarcoid Granulomas and Keloids which are unsightly lumps which can require surgery to remove. The gun is especially dangerous if it's used to pierce noses, the Gun was designed to work on the "No Contact" principle. When it's put inside the nose to pierce it, the gun comes in contact with potentially fatal bacteria i.e. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus and because the Gun can't be sterilised properly these bacteria can be transmitted from the previous person to you!

Why can't you use Sleepers or earrings for body piercing?

Sleepers and earrings are designed for ear lobes, they aren't even good to put in your ear until they are healed. Sleepers are very thin and can cause migration if they are used for body piercing, this acts just like an old fashioned cheese-cutter. The thin jewellery tears at the flesh like a wire and cuts through the flesh like cheese causing the piercing to migrate or grow out, this will cause inflammation and eventually infection.

Ear piercing studs are unsuitable for Body Piercing because they are too short too accommodate any swelling, so they can become embedded and cause inflammation and infection. The butterfly clips on the back have small crevices that are hard too clean properly, bacteria can feed on the exudate from the wound and can infect the wound.

What sort of Jewellery should I use for Body Piercing?

All piercings above the neck must be a minimum of 1mm and below the neck must be 1.6mm. Piercing jewellery must be made of Platinum, Niobium, Titanium, Palladium, 316L Grade Stainless Steel, or 24ct & 18ct Gold. Silver should never be used as it oxidises in the wound and can cause allergic reactions. Surgical Steel rings must be highly polished and must have been passivated, which is an acid cleaning process. Gemstone or plastic beads are not suitable for initial piercing because they have cracks and pitting which can harbour bacteria, only metal beads like Surgical Steel, Gold and coloured Niobium are hygienic enough for use in Body Piercing Jewellery.

Is piercing dangerous, can I get HIV or Hepatitis?

Yes! Piercing can be dangerous if performed by inadequately trained operators. Responsible piercers follow the principles of Aseptic or "Sterile" technique, this is the exact method used for surgical operations and provides the most minimal chance of infection. All instruments and jewellery should be sterilised by Autoclaving, a process used in hospitals. Sterile dressing packs, sterile gloves, and sterile single-use needles should be used for each customer, which are opened in front of you before the piercing, and immediately disposed of in front of you, into an approved Sharps container.

All piercing should be done in a private enclosed room to minimise air-borne bacteria and dust, the room is disinfected at the start and finish of each day. That's why it's better that nobody but the person being pierced goes into the piercing room, the less people in the room the less dirt and dust bought in and the less bacteria.

Provided that you use a reputable, qualified and responsible piercer your chances of getting an infection, HIV or Hepatitis are minimal, however it's your responsibility to ensure that the piercing is performed safely. So do your research and check out the piercer thoroughly, if they're professional they should be happy and able to answer any of your queries.

What if I get an infection, or some other problem?

There is always a possibility of infection with any wound, no matter how small. But, provided you follow the appropriate aftercare procedures thoroughly the chance of an infection is minimal. Some people may confuse the small amount of redness that denotes normal healing with infection, however, infections usually result from the use of poor grade jewellery and improper aftercare procedures.

Will sweat & exercise affect the piercing?

Yes, sweat affects the Ph balance of the skin and acts like acid on a wound. If you sweat a lot at work, exercise a lot, or the weather is hot or humid, you must wash regularly. If you have a manual job it's best to try and rinse the piercing with clean water once or twice a day at work. If you're exercising you must be careful not to knock the piercing, even after it's healed. You can tear the piercing slightly and if it's not cleaned properly it can lead to infection. You must wear clean clothes after getting home from work or exercise, dirty clothes increase the chance of infection.

What about swimming in the ocean, the pool or a spa?

Salt water is very good for healing, unfortunately due to pollution the sea in certain areas may contain microorganisms, which may cause infections. Swimming in the ocean is OK as long as you clean the wound properly afterwards with the cleaning solution provided. Try to avoid public pools as they are full of bacteria, freshwater lakes and streams are fine though. If you need to go diving, swimming in a pool or the ocean you can wear a waterproof bandage "Tegaderm" which will protect the wound. The most important thing though is to clean the piercing after any bathing with antibacterial soap.

When can I change or remove the jewellery?

The piercing goes through several stages of healing. During the initial healing period, the scar tissue is quite weak (30% strength of normal skin). If you remove the jewellery the hole will close up and if you try to take the jewellery in and out to hide the piercing, you will damage the wound causing inflammation and most probably an infection.

Once the healing phase is completed the maturation phase begins, the scar must mature until it has full strength (app. 80% at 2 months). Removing the jewellery during this phase will cause the hole to close up, but not as quickly as before. The jewellery may be taken out and the hole re-opened with a special taper pin. This is a quick, painless operation, which we can perform free for our customers. If you want to change the jewellery during the healing phase, we will do this free of charge as well.

Once the wound is fully healed you may change the jewellery as often as you wish, no pain is involved, and it's just like changing an earring. If you have a Ball Closure Ring you will have to purchase a pair of Circlip Pliers (available at any hardware shop) to open and close the ring. Navel Jewels undo just like a Nut and Bolt and you can change these as easily as your earrings.

Will Nipple piercing affect breastfeeding & what about my Navel if I get pregnant?

Breastfeeding is not affected by nipple piercing, however, your nipples may become very tender during pregnancy and you may have to remove the jewellery. If you leave the jewellery in you can wear barbells that allow the infant to still breastfeed or circular barbells, which are easily taken in and out to feed the baby. The easiest option is removal of the jewellery and replacement after breastfeeding is over or wearing barbells with small balls to enable the child to feed easily.

The navel usually pops out during pregnancy, you can either remove the ring and replace it later, or insert a larger ring and replace it with a smaller one once your stomach goes back to normal.

What are the most popular piercings?

The Navel (Belly Button) is by far the most popular, mainly for women; it's unusual, sexy and gives you another place to wear jewellery! Tongue piercing is the new craze, why? Because it heals in 2 weeks and it's fantastic for sex! Nipple piercing is the 3rd most popular, it looks sexy and makes your nipple very sensitive. One customer said "its like a lightswitch for an orgasm".

What effect do piercings have during sex?

A great many of the places to be pierced are erogenous zones (even the ears slightly), piercings enhance sex by providing a greater degree of stimulation, tongue and nipple piercings are very popular because of the extra stimulation they provide. Contrary to what you would expect, genital piercings aren't very painful and heal very quickly usually 2-3 weeks. Genital piercings are very effective for sex, why else would you let someone put a needle through your genitals?

Does piercing interfere with your energy meridians or pressure points?

No, Acupuncture Shiatsu or Accupressure all work by stimulating pressure points and re-aligning the energy meridians of the body. However, if you cut your leg off and it's sewn back on the meridians still work because the body realizes it's a wound and re-routes the energy accordingly. A piercing is a wound, your body realises this and therefore it doesn't affect the flow of energy.

What if I want a more unusual piercing?

As piercing has become more popular, people try to out do each other with unusual piercings. Most piercings have a long history among tribal peoples, these people found out through a long period of trial and error which piercings work and which don't. There are many unusual piercings which many people don't consider because they aren't aware of them, the ear alone has an amazing variety of unusual piercings. Some people will see a piercing in a magazine and wish to get it, however, they don't understand all the hard work that is required to get these piercings healed, just because a piercing is done in an unusual spot doesn't mean that it's healed.

Any responsible piercer will inform you fully of all of the risks involved in unusual piercings, and explain to you that it is an experimental procedure that could lead to a variety of problems. There is much contention within the piercing industry about Surface piercings and how safe and easily they heal, I'd rather not make judgements here. My advice, do your homework first, find out the Pro's and Con's, consult people who have the piercing you're considering and finally find the best piercer you can (Don't budget with your body, it's false economy!).