Navel piercing

Belly & Tongue piercing

Lips piercing

Industrial piercing

How to Get a Tattoo off Your Body

There are few ways of getting a tattoo off your skin, but none of them are easy, pleasant or simple….

Fade Away Methods:

Fade away methods are the newest development in Tattoo Removal. This method normally involves a series of creams/rubs that are absorbed into the skin. The series, used in combination, causes a reaction that breaks down the components of the ink, which the body then disposes. This procedure essentially speeds up your body's natural process of ridding your body of a foreign object –in this case it is ink. With time the tattoo becomes lighter and lighter, thus the tattoo “fades away.”
This perhaps is the cheapest and least painful removal method. This is the only method that does not have a risk of scarring. However, it is does take some patience. Results are not seen overnight

Surgical Methods:

Most surgeons caution patients that complete tattoo removal is not possible. Few surgeons guarantee complete removal. Beware if they do! This might be your first sign warning sign.

How effective the removal technique is depends on size, location, age of tattoo, colours and type of ink used.

Also be aware of the possible side effects - scarring and pain

Those are:

Laser: The Laser technique is the penetration and break up of the ink articles that were injected into your skin. Much like the Fade Away Method, the ink particles that are broken up by the laser are carried away by the body's natural systems and are disposed as bodily waste.
This removal method involves the use of several types of laser or intense pulsed light therapy. Which types are used all depends on the colour of ink used in the tattoo. Laser has improved somewhat over the past couple of years. It used to take an average of 2 years to remove a tattoo, and even then the process was not fully guaranteed. Although modern lasers and light systems can remove a tattoo in a little less time, this process is entirely dependent upon the laser type, number of sessions and the patient's body. At lease several treatments are necessary, even today. This procedure is performed under a topical anesthetic or with none at all. This is one of the more expensive methods used today.

Cryosurgery: This method involves freezing area of tattoo area prior to its removal.The removal technique often used is dermabrasion (This method involves removing all of the skin and the ink of the tattoo. A sanding instrument is used to "sand off" surface and middle layers of the skin. The tattoo is "sanded" with a rotary abrasive instrument in order to remove all of the skin. Bleeding is likely to occur. This procedure is performed under local anesthetic or local and oral/IV sedation. The price for Dermabrasion can range from $1000 to several thousands of dollars depending on the extent of the area treated.)

Excision: The tattooed area is cut out of your skin, and the surrounding skin is sutured together. This method leaves a scar. Only a small tattoo or a small section of a tattoo can be excised at a time. A larger tattoo may require several treatments and a skin graft. If it is a large tattoo skin from another part of the body might be needed

My name is Adriana and I’m the creator and developer of Wirlyhome label. I’m jewellery and clothing designer, I’ve been working in the fashion industry for the last 9 years of my life, I went to fashion school in Canada, where I lived for 10 years, and 8 of those long years I worked as a fashion designer, illustrator and forecaster. I came back to Brazil last year to open my label Wirlyhome, and now after almost 1 year of hard work the label is finally picking up and we are getting some recognition.

Industrial piercing

Eyebrow piercing

Belly piercing

How Much Does Industrial Piercing Costs?

Industrial piercing became well-liked since 1992 although it has already been popular during the ancient times. Industrial piercing is commonly mistaken just for the ears; but it can also be done in the lip, tongue, belly button and in many other parts of our body. Industrial piercing is two or more piercing that is connected together by a piece of jewelry.Today having industrial piercing is a

Lips piercing

Labret piercing

4

Belly piercing

Body Piercing Basics

My dad has been a body piercer for over 30 years, and although I never followed him into the profession, I have picked up a thing or two. It never ceases to amaze me how many people do not know the basics of maintaining their piercings. The most surprising question I hear asked over and over is “how long to I have to clean it?”.

It’s really one of those questions that makes you stop and think why this person wants to be pierced. That doubt in you mind is confirmed by the look of shock on their face when to they’ll need to continue cleaning it at least once a day, more so in the first few weeks.

Cleaning Tips

When you first get a major piercing (like a belly ring), you will notice that a gooey substance will leak from the ‘wound’ for the first few weeks. This is nothing to be concerned about as it is just body fat that the body is expelling from the area until the wound is healed. You will need to clean this fat off the piercing on a regular basis to prevent infection. This body fat tends to dry hard, do not move the ring or barbell around too much when this occurs, as it will tear the healing flesh around the ring/barbell.

The best way to clean your new piercing is boil a kettle and place the hot water in a bowl. Dissolve some salt into this water and allow to cool. When the salt-water mix becomes cool enough to touch (but still warm) dip a cotton tip into the water and then gently start to clean the ring/barbell and surrounding skin. Be prepared to use a number of cotton tips, as you need to avoid ‘double dipping’ the tip. In addition, you will need to use a fresh cotton tip when cleaning opposite side (i.e. a different tip for both the top and bottom of your tongue). This is to stop the spread of germs or possible infection. You will need to clean fresh piercings several times a day.

If the ‘gooey’ substance does dry onto the ring/barbell and you are unable to get it off with just the warm salt water, try having a hot shower first – this will soften the hard substance making it easier to clean.

Please Note: Avoid using things like mentho or other alcohol-based substances to clean your piercings. These substances will tighten the skin (effectively closing the wound) and trap the excess body fat and waste in the piercing, which can lead to infection.

Once the piercing has established itself, it usually will not discharge any substance, meaning that the wound has fully healed. When fully healed, you should clean your piercing at least once a day. You can do this while in the shower, just give it a quick clean to get off excess sweat and dirt.

How can you tell if the piercing is infected?

The first sign of infection is generally a redness to the flesh around the piercing, and the wound continuing to discharge well after the recommended healing time (times vary depending on what you get done and the technique the piercer uses – you should be informed on healing times when you get the piercing). The area around the piercing will generally be painful. An infection can occur at any time, so you need to keep an eye on your piercing and keep it clean. If in doubt, go back to your piercer (or if not available your doctor) and get them to check it out. Infections can be very serious and may need to be tended to on a medical level – do not be afraid to enquire or ask for a professional opinion.

Lower labret piercing

Tongue piercing

Body Piercing Aftercare and Healing

Body piercing & Body piercing jewelry since ancient times.

History of Body Piercing

Introduction

Evidence suggests that body piercing has been practiced by
peoples all over the world from ancient times. Mummified
bodies with piercings have been discovered, including the
oldest mummified body discovered to date, that of Ötzi the
Iceman, which was found in an Austrian glacier. This mummy
had an ear ring 7–11 mm in diameter.

Nose piercing and ear piercing are mentioned in the Bible.
In Genesis 24:22 Abraham's servant gave a nose ring and
bracelets to Rebekah, wife of his son Isaac. Nose piercing
has been common in India since the 16th century. Tongue
piercing was popular with the elite of Aztec and Maya
civilization, though it was carried out as part of a blood
ritual and such piercings were not intended to be permanent.
Ancient Mesoamericans wore body jewelry in their ears,
noses, and lower lips, and such decorations continue to be
popular amongst indigenous peoples in these regions.

Modern history

However, in many cultures within the United States, it
became a relative rarity from the 1920s until the 1960s. At
that time, it regained popularity among American women, and
was eventually adopted by men in the hippie and gay
communities, and later the punk subculture, they used most
body jewelry. By the 1980s, male ear piercing had become
somewhat common in the United States, although men usually
only pierced one of their ears. Today, single and multiple
piercing of either or both ears is extremely common among
Western women, and fairly common among men.

Body piercing is returning to the mainstream of modern
Western cultures as attitudes and values change. Piercings
that don't conform to cultural norms -- for example, facial
piercings or ear piercings for men -- can still be
considered inappropriate.

While some people consider body modification with Body
Jewelry to be a sign of non-conformity, others deride body
piercing as trendy. This can at times lead to prejudice or
cognitive bias against those with piercings or visible signs
of past piercings.

Extreme Body Modification: Implants

Implants:

the reason that I choose to start talking about implants is very simple, in my point of view they are the beginners in EBM, or using a better choice of words, they are the least invasive of the 3 base techniques.
I found so many types of implants and all of them are very interesting, So I decided to write about:

Eye ball jewellery

Magnetic Implants

3d implants

Eye ball jewellery is probably one of the newest techniques of the all EBM. It was developed by ophthalmologic experts, it is an ocular Surgery that adds a decorative platinum implant inserted under a thin membrane in the eye, which holds the implant in place. Since the membrane is clear, the implant can be seen clearly against the white of the eye. There are not many shapes of ornaments offered yet, and it is a very new procedure that for now can only be done officially in Holland, the cost is around U$ 1200.So far the doctors could not find a side effect to it, what does not mean that there aren’t any. In the U.S. some States committees already approved a bill to ban it; the procedure goes more or less like the following:

• The eye is anesthetized with routine eye-drop anaesthesia medication.

• The eye is decontaminated and draped with routine techniques used in ocular surgery.

• An intra conjunctival bleb is created by injection of BSS in the most superficial conjunctive layer. The bleb may be positioned adjacent to the temporal limbus.

• With conjunctive scissors, the bleb is opened and a superficial intra conjunctival tunnel is made.

• The tunnel is checked to determine if it is wide enough to accommodate the implant.

• The device is inserted into the tunnel up to the desired final position of the implant.

• With a sponge, all excess BSS is removed from the implantation area.

• At the end of the procedure, antibiotic drops are applied onto the eye.

• Postoperative management includes antibiotic eye drops for 1-2 week(s).

• The procedure takes about 15 minutes.

So far Doctors could not find any side effect or complications caused by the implant, and hopefully they won’t find any. So keep in mind, there are very few people authorized to do this procedure, and so far it can only be realised in Holland, and even so only 2 clinics are fully authorized to do so.

Magnetic Implants:

What are they? They are small magnet implanted under your skin with the purpose to enhance your senses as if it was the acquisition of the so famous sixth sense, how it happens, by moving in response to an electromagnetic field and transferring this as sensation to the surrounding nerves.

We can divide the magnetic implants into 4 types:

Sensory: The one that supposed to give you the sixth sense

Sexual: Where the magnets are placed inside the most sensitive area or the genitalia of a couple, male and female have to get the implant, it supposed to enhance the feeling of the body parts while in movement against each other, they can also be placed in the lips.

Symbolic: is implanted but a couple to create a magnetic bond as the two people hold hands, as there are not real proves that a couple can really exchange energy thru this technique, we can take it as more discrete kind of wedding rings.

Functional: Probably not a very comfortable matter, but if you get larger magnets you would be able to pick up things such as screws and some other items, with the magnets commonly used you can’t pick up more than a paper clips, the up side of having such small magnets is that they wont affect your credit cards, hard drives, monitors, and so on.

To get the implant is also quite simple:

Small incision in the tip of the finger and opening a pocket

Create a tinny pocket to add the magnetic pellet (the magnets are about a third the size of a grain of rice)

Do the suture and bandage the finger tips (the procedure takes about half an hour to do 5 fingers)

The first few days the sensation is not very pleasant but after a week and the stitches taken off the pain goes away and in the period between 1 to 4 weeks you can start to enjoy the magnetic field moving feeling, and the benefit of this EBM is that the scars are almost invisible and if what I read is true, the feeling is quite interesting.

Because this procedure is bran new the side effects are not known yet, but the biocompatibility of neodymium, but it is considered a generally toxic irritant and moderately poisonous with documented adverse effects. In order to keep the magnet from coming in contact with the skin, it has to be coated with a sheath of biocompatible silicone, there is always the risk of “peeled” the silicone off of the magnet, if it happens the compromised magnet should be replaced by removed and replaced by a new one.

This procedure is so very new that not even all the BM specialists are doing it; some are waiting for it to get a bit safer and better developed. Because so far risks are unknown, but once that the coating of the magnet problem is solved it will probably turn into a huge trend among people. But if you are one of those that want to get all of it first, please wait until it is proved safe.

3d implants: It is the act of placing an object under the skin to create a design on the skin’s surface, it is actually a very simple technique, an incision is made, and the implant that can be made out of many materials (titanium, soft or solid silicon, Teflon and steel, the steel variety sometimes can cause an infection, there is also the option of natural bone tissue) is inserted, you are stitched up and ready to go. Simple….the after care apparently is simpler than the after care of a piercing. To get a 3D implant you can choose many areas of the body, forehead (the intern horns, third eye and the external horns), you can place spikes on your head, beads on your arms, legs, chest and many but many more, if you are a guy you can get your penis beaded (pearling), in many different ways.

Some of the risks of the implants are:

-Tissue Resorption: erosion of the tissue by rubbing or pressure applied against the body. Implant can bury itself into the muscles wearing down the body's natural defences; this risk can happen especially with hard materials such as Teflon and stain less steel so if you want to get it done try to use softer materials such as silicone and choose safer places to add the implants.

-Implant Rejection: Is when the implants put enough pressure on the skin above them, that it actually manage to do enough damage to surrounding tissue that the skin above the implant dies and the implant becomes exposed ,once this process begins there's not lot that can be done about it other than removing the implant.

-Pressure on Nerve and Muscle: When an implant is placed on top of muscle, nerves, or blood vessels, it has the potential to interfere with their functioning. To minimize the risk you have to be sure to tell the 3D artist if you are experiencing anything that can be related to it, this way the artist can change the positioning or the placement of the implant without harm you, in some cases the procedure has to be postponed or aborted. You should also strongly consider research about the kind of implant that you will get and the location of it so you can do it safely.
There are also many other possible risks that can be associated with implants such as:

Keloids, Implant surface contamination, Implant Biocompatibility, Implant Finishing, Lidocaine Toxicity, Anaesthetic allergy, Sub dermal Shifting, Mod before Client, Needle allergy, Adrenalin Excitement, Impact damage, Hypertrophy scarring, Abscess, Boils, Cancer, Blood loss, Shock, Bloodborne Pathogens

Ok that is all for now guys, next week I will be writing about Surgical modification……And I can promise to you all that it will be a very, but a very interesting article….Until them, go have fun and enjoy life…
Yes, I’m really trying to fix my karma thing……we never know what can happen tomorrow…..

How to Get a Tattoo of Your Body

There are few ways of getting a tattoo off your skin, but none of them are easy, pleasant or simple….

Fade Away Methods:

Fade away methods are the newest development in Tattoo Removal. This method normally involves a series of creams/rubs that are absorbed into the skin. The series, used in combination, causes a reaction that breaks down the components of the ink, which the body then disposes. This procedure essentially speeds up your body's natural process of ridding your body of a foreign object –in this case it is ink. With time the tattoo becomes lighter and lighter, thus the tattoo “fades away.”
This perhaps is the cheapest and least painful removal method. This is the only method that does not have a risk of scarring. However, it is does take some patience. Results are not seen overnight

Surgical Methods:

Most surgeons caution patients that complete tattoo removal is not possible. Few surgeons guarantee complete removal. Beware if they do! This might be your first sign warning sign.

How effective the removal technique is depends on size, location, age of tattoo, colours and type of ink used.

Also be aware of the possible side effects - scarring and pain

Those are:

Laser: The Laser technique is the penetration and break up of the ink articles that were injected into your skin. Much like the Fade Away Method, the ink particles that are broken up by the laser are carried away by the body's natural systems and are disposed as bodily waste.
This removal method involves the use of several types of laser or intense pulsed light therapy. Which types are used all depends on the colour of ink used in the tattoo. Laser has improved somewhat over the past couple of years. It used to take an average of 2 years to remove a tattoo, and even then the process was not fully guaranteed. Although modern lasers and light systems can remove a tattoo in a little less time, this process is entirely dependent upon the laser type, number of sessions and the patient's body. At lease several treatments are necessary, even today. This procedure is performed under a topical anesthetic or with none at all. This is one of the more expensive methods used today.

Cryosurgery: This method involves freezing area of tattoo area prior to its removal.The removal technique often used is dermabrasion (This method involves removing all of the skin and the ink of the tattoo. A sanding instrument is used to "sand off" surface and middle layers of the skin. The tattoo is "sanded" with a rotary abrasive instrument in order to remove all of the skin. Bleeding is likely to occur. This procedure is performed under local anesthetic or local and oral/IV sedation. The price for Dermabrasion can range from $1000 to several thousands of dollars depending on the extent of the area treated.)

Excision: The tattooed area is cut out of your skin, and the surrounding skin is sutured together. This method leaves a scar. Only a small tattoo or a small section of a tattoo can be excised at a time. A larger tattoo may require several treatments and a skin graft. If it is a large tattoo skin from another part of the body might be needed

Extreme Body Modification

I have been keeping as busy as I can to do not have to write this article…..

I’m not a huge fan of scarification; even so I will try to keep it as neutral as I can….

You can basically divide the scarification process in 2:

1) Branding (scarification through burns, from heat and others; the definition of the world branding is literally:

-an identifying mark burned on livestock with a branding iron.

-mark with a branding iron; disgrace, condemn

-Mark of ownership of an animal

-Product identification

There are basically 2 types of branding, “strike” (is when the artist take a piece of metal and repeatedly burn the skin over a drawing) and “cautery” (is when the artist uses a cautery pen to burn the image on the person’s skin).

2) Cuttings (fine scarification using a thin blade, and to this process you can add colour using tattoo ink, sometimes it can include the removal of skin patches).

Ok, now you know the difference between branding and cutting…….

Let me share a bit more with you:

If you decide to choose cutting the procedure will be more or less like:

- topical anaesthetic is first applied to the skin

- the design is drawn with ink onto the desired area

- The artist then traces the design’s outline with a scalpel on your skin, you do not have to worry at this point, it will be a fairly shallow cut.

- After the out line the artist will apply more anaesthetic and wrap your skin for few minutes (not because he thinks that you are a wimp), but it helps the blood diversion, and make easier to work.

- Depending on the size and the amount of work involved the process can take something like 4 hours of: cutting, anaesthetic applying, wrapping and waiting until the volume of blood decrease.

If your choice is branding, the process is more or less like marking cattle (did you ever see it on TV and thought ,” poor animal”, ok so we are speaking the same language here; anyways the procedure goes more or less like so:

- You choose the image that you want (try to keep in mind that after burning the human tissue tents to expand quite a bit, and as the name say, you will be inflicting a third degree burn on your skin).

- try to stick with simple designs, you should know that the results vary quite a bit, and no artist can predict for sure how thick or thin the scar will be, it depends on each one of us healing process. Simpler the design easier is to predict the results that you will get.

- Try to choose a flat are of your body, preferably away from bones and vital organs

- The looks of the scar depend also of the how long the blade will be in contact with the skin, the artist should never apply pressure to it, in order to get a heavier scar the artist have to keep the blade in touch with your skin for longer.

No, you want a very elaborated image, sure, no problem at all, I actually agree with you, once you are doing something at this level do it well……but those designs have to be very well panned on paper and after well shaped on the metal blade, the shapes should be between 1 to 3 inches long, so the iron can retain the heat long enough to make a clean and even strikes. Is a good idea to have the artist to place the blades on your skin to check if all the surface of the blade is in contact with your skin evenly.

Before starting the process you should ask the artist to test the blades, just to be sure that is all ok, and you wont have problems with metal distortion, caused by an uneven distribution of heat thru the metal or by the metal to be to thin or to small. The artist should test the blades on a piece of metal to find out the perfect balance between heat and pressure, so he won’t have to perform the tests on you!!!! Is not really the best of the options use your body as test piece.

The artist should have at least one assistant to hold on to the propane torch.

One last thing, before you start with your scarification:

The area that you will get it done has to be extra clean….not only the area but the surroundings as well (I know that it sounds like stating the obvious, remember at this moment you are nice and comfy reading this article, but if you decide to go under the scarification process you be under some pressure and forgetting small things can cause a large impact after)

The interesting part of the scarification process is that the healing process is a huge part of how your scar will look after. No one can guarantee 100% how your scar will look after healing, but you should really try to avoid getting it infected.

How? Not that simple….

First be sure that you got it done in a clean and professional place, do not think that because scarification was used by primitive tribes and cults, that you can get it done by your sisters friend that is a famous dominatrix….look for places that are experienced, have a portfolio with works previously done and also try to find an artist that will explain to you all the process in a way that you feel really comfortable about what you are doing.

If your choice was the cutting scarification:

The caring process will include tons of cleaning, meaning after around 6 hours you will have to remove the bandage, and wash the place with cool water and soap, rinse it and gently pat dry it. You will need to do it 2 or 3 times daily, for the first 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the type of the scarification and the place that you got it done; it usually takes between 6 to 8 weeks for the primary healing and few months for you to get the true final result.

There is also something called agitation of the scarification, it is used to intensify the looks of your scar, if you want it to have a larger amount of scar tissue on it or not. The cute part of this process is that the most used method of doing it is doing something that your mother probably told you do not do your whole life, picking at the scabs that will form…The other way is a bit more, how can I put it, intense, you will have to rub the area with a soft toothbrush dipped in hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol……..and if you really are up to it, you can do them both first picking the scab and after brushing it, lovely, just keep in mind that you have to do it gently………being rough or over picking it can damage the looks of the final image…..by the way, only do the agitation after few days that you got it done, do not rush things, please……..and also feel free to call the artist if you have any question, I’m sure that he wont think that you are an idiot if you do not know exactly what to do and how to do.

You choose the branding:

You also will have a large amount of after caring to do, such as:
At the studio still the artist should put an anti-bacteria cream on it, cover it up with a sterile pad and get it held in place by surgical tape.
You will probably have to apply the anti-bacterial cream for 3 days, and after that you will have to clean the place around 3 times a day with hydrogen peroxide, you can stop covering the brand after 3 days that you got it done.

In the case of branding, you will have to keep in mind what your mother always told you, do not pick the scabs!!!!!!!!!!!!! And after every shower clean it with hydrogen peroxide. Brands take an average of 3 to 12 weeks to heal (just reminding you: branding is a 3 degree burn on your skin), so please do not forget to be gentle and very careful while cleaning it.

Just a small note here:

I did try to be as neutral as possible while writing this article…….I’m sorry if I could not….I never got a scarification so I’m giving you the view of a person that researched and wondered for few weeks about the subject…If you have any comments to add please do so…

What is TOO Extreme for Body Modification?

So what is extreme body modification, or hardcore body modification? There really is no answer for that, as it’s really up to each person. But assuming we’re dealing with an average Joe, most people consider hardcore body modification to be lots of facial piercings, tattoos on their heads or faces, and even the new craze of tongue splitting (yes, people split their tongues for complete aesthetic purposes).

Now, if you walk to something that’s a little bit deeper in the body modification scene, that’s nothing! Hardcore body modification to them would be splitting the head of your penis, suspending yourself from a single hook in your chest, or doing what’s known as skin peeling (where long strips or shapes of skin are sliced off).

If you go even deeper, the more hardcore body modifications would be amputation or nullification (from the removal of part of a finger, to an entire arm). The obvious question that most people would have after reading this is, “Why?” And the answer is simple. It’s because they wanted to! That’s it! That’s the beauty of each and every one of us having our own lives, we get to do what we want with it. For the same reason someone wouldn’t get a tattoo, another person would. These are basic civil liberties that every human has been with for thousands of years and will always have.

Top 10 Questions about Body Piercing

Body piercing has grown so much in popularity in recent years that it has become almost mainstream, with more and more people sporting navel rings and multiple ear rings. Facial piercings, surface piercings and lots of others to choose from can make things confusing. If you don’t know what to expect when you decide to get a piercing, it can be even more intimidating. Here are some of the top questions people have about body piercing.

1. I want to get a body piercing. How much will it cost?

The cost of a body piercing varies depending on several factors, including where you’re located, how close to a major city you are, and what kind of piercing you’re having done. Generally the more difficult the piercing, the higher the cost. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for as well, so don’t depend entirely upon cost to choose your piercer. If a piercer is charging significantly under the market cost in your area, he may be cutting corners in areas he shouldn’t, such as sterilization and other safety procedures.

On average, the cost of piercings fall somewhere in these ranges:

• Ears (lobes, cartilage, etc.).....anywhere from $25-$50
• Navel...................................$45-$55
• Tongue.................................$45-$55
• Labret..................................$50-$60
• Eyebrow................................$40-$50
• Nipple...................................$45-$55
• Nostril..................................$45-$55
• Genital..................................$75-$100

2. Does it hurt?

In simple terms, yes. Does it hurt much? Most people will tell you, “No, not really.” It’s usually more like a pinching or popping sensation than anything. The sensation of pain is relative—some people feel it more than others. The adrenalin rush of the piercing usually means the pain in minimal.

After the initial pain when the needle goes through the piercing, you may feel some dull pain or an aching sensation for a few hours, which can be relieved with an over the counter pain reliever. One piercing that does hurt a bit more than others is the tongue piercing, which will swell and be sensitive for a few days. Ice chips and popsicles will help soothe the pain of this kind of new piercing.

3. How long does it take a body piercing to heal?

The healing time for a body piercing varies depending upon what you’ve had pierced. Some parts of the body heal more quickly than others. For instance, if you pierce your earlobes, you can expect them to heal within two months and be ready for jewelry other than the original piercing jewelry.

The belly button is in an area that heals slowly, however, because it’s right where the body twists and turns, which slows the healing process. It also doesn’t get as much air circulation because it is covered much of the time. It can take up to six months or even a year for a belly button piercing to heal completely.

Some general healing times are:

• Ear lobes..........6-8 weeks
• Cartilage...........4-8 months
• Eyebrow...........6-8 weeks
• Nostril..............3-4 months
• Septum.............6-8 months
• Labret..............2-3 months
• Tongue.............4-6 weeks
• Nipple..............4-6 months
• Navel...............5 months-1 year
• Genitals............6 weeks-6 months

The better you care for a body piercing, the more quickly it will heal, so be sure to discuss the proper care of your piercing with the piercing professional who does your body piercing to ensure a quick, clean piercing and you will heal in the least amount of time possible.

4. How can I tell if a piercing is infected, or it’s just normal healing stuff?

All body piercings will have some drainage during the first several days. This is because you have basically given your body a puncture wound, and your body will bleed for a while, and then have drainage of some fluids as it heals. These fluids are actually good for you, as they keep the area moist and clean and will wash away some of the dirt and germs that might otherwise stay in the area.

Bleeding should stop within a few hours or the first day and be only small amounts. Often it will look watery. Drainage will be mostly a clear, watery discharge, although it can sometimes be somewhat white in color. The drainage will form “crusties” around the jewelry that can be washed off with warm, soapy water when you clean your piercing each day.

A piercing is infected when the discharge is either green or yellow. Also, if the area becomes swollen or inflamed again after the initial swelling has subsided. Any time you see green or yellow pus or discharge; you should see a doctor and get appropriate medical treatment. It won’t necessarily mean you have to remove your piercing; you may simply have to take a course of antibiotics. If the area becomes red and inflamed with red streaks radiating out from the area, see a doctor right away.

5. What should I look for in a good body piercing studio?

A good body piercing studio must first and foremost be clean, clean, and clean! The most common cause of infection is piercings is simple exposure to germs, so look for a piercing parlor that is very strict about its cleanliness and sterilization procedures. They should have a separate room where nothing else is done but piercings.

They should always have an operational autoclave, which is a wet steam sterilization unit that is to be used to clean and sterilize all tools and equipment used during piercing. They should also pierce only with single-use, disposable needles that are pre-wrapped. Ask them if this is what they use, and insist that the needles not be opened until they are actually ready to do your piercing so that you can confirm they are sterile-wrapped.

Look for experience and qualifications. Have all the piercers been through an apprenticeship program? If so, for how long did they train and where? Also make sure they are licensed to operate a piercing studio by their state’s department of health. In most states this is now mandatory. Also check the date to make sure it isn’t expired. Finally, look for a certificate of membership in a professional society such as the Association of Professional Piercers, an organization that supports safe and professional piercing practices and offers extensive ongoing training.

6. Why can’t I just pierce myself?

You can pierce yourself, but it’s not really a good idea. It’s simply too hard to keep the area in your own home (or wherever you happen to be) clean and sterile enough. You also may have trouble lining up and placing a piercing squarely where you want it, and if you lose your nerve half-way through the piercing, you’re stuck with it half done.

If you do it at home, you’ll probably do it on an impulse, which will mean you won’t have the right tools. Piercing needles are incredibly sharp in order to reduce the pain and make a good, clean cut. No matter how sharp that sewing needle is at home, it’s not as sharp as a piercing needle, so it will hurt more, bleed more, and may not heal as cleanly.

7. What should I clean my piercing with?

Today most professional piercers agree that the best way to clean a fresh piercing is with a mild antibacterial soap. These should not contain perfumes or dyes, which can irritate a piercing and lead to discomfort or an allergic reaction. There are a few on the market that are specifically designed for body piercings, including Provon® and Satin®.

After cleaning, you should follow up with a sea salt water soak. Sea salt is available at natural health stores, piercing and tattoo studios and a variety of other stores. The sea salt solution helps soothe the area and draw impurities out of the wound to promote faster healing. H2Ocean is an excellent pre-mixed sea salt solution that can be sprayed on for ease of use. It’s highly recommended by many professional piercers and is convenient especially if you’re traveling or on the go.

8. What kind of jewelry should a piercing be done with?

A body piercing is, in the simplest terms, a puncture wound, so you want to use a high quality metal that won’t react with your body chemistry to create an allergic reaction or contaminate the open wound.

Never use cheap or base metals to get a body piercing. The best metals to use are titanium or surgical steel, both or which are essentially inert and won’t react with your body. In some cases, you can use high quality gold, but even this sometimes creates a reaction because of the nickel content, so do be cautious.

Once a piercing is completely healed, you have more leeway on what you can use, but if you are at all nickel sensitive, you will probably always have to stick with surgical steel and titanium for your body piercings, unless you are using alternatives such as glass, which is completely non-reactive and safe for nearly everyone.

9. What causes migration? Is it the same as rejection?

Rejection is a more severe form of migration. Migration is when a body piercing begins to move through the flesh because the body is trying to force it out of the skin and get rid of it. In some cases, the body only partially succeeds, and the piercing “migrates” so that it ends up being crooked or misaligned.

When the body completely forces a piercing out of the body, it is called a “rejection,” because the body has completely rejected the piece of jewelry, basically “spitting it out.” This is because any piercing jewelry is a foreign object that the body sees as an invader to be gotten rid of, especially if the piercing is poorly done so that the jewelry aggravates the skin tissues.

10. What if I want to become a professional piercer?

Behave responsibly. Visit a few piercing parlors that you know are top quality and ask about internship programs and other options. Order some videos that take you through the introductory steps of piercing and educate you on the process of proper preparation and sterilization. Many of the larger piercing websites offer these video series’ at a reasonable cost.

You should also take courses in first aid in blood borne pathogens and other illnesses that are commonly transmitted by needles. Many of these courses are offered through community colleges or local hospital extensions. The most important thing is to be fully trained and completely experienced in all manner of piercing before setting yourself up as a piercer on your own—both for your own legal protection and the safety and well-being of those who come to you for body piercing.

The Association of Professional Piercers (www.safepiercing.org) is an excellent source of information on how to get started as a professional piercer.

In Conclusion

Body piercing and wearing body jewelry should be an informed choice, not a snap decision. If you have been thinking about getting a body piercing, talk to others who have done the same and get their feedback. Ask them if they are happy with the results and for their suggestions on good piercing studios. Ask yourself if you’re ready for the commitment to proper care and the expense of a body piercing.

Remember that a body piercing is a form of body modification that will affect how others perceive you. Obviously, this is part of the appeal for most people. However, the reactions will be mixed, and you should keep in mind that while some people will love it, others will not. So think through the consequences of body piercing thoroughly before you proceed. Then, if you decide its right for you—follow the tips above for a safe, attractive body piercing you’ll be proud to wear!

Tongue piercing

What are the Real Risks of Body Piercing? -- Advice for Parents and Teens

Are you or your teenager considering a body piercing? Is it difficult to see eye-to-eye on this subject, or are you just not sure what the real risks of body piercing are? Sometimes it’s hard to separate the facts from the myths surrounding body modification. When that happens, it can make it even harder for parents and teenagers to come to an agreement on whether a body piercing is an acceptable form of self-expression.

First, you should understand that the risks of body piercing are very real. There are genuine problems that can and do arise, and these shouldn’t be ignored. On the other hand, by taking certain precautions and taking proper care of your piercings, you can minimize your chance of having a problem and greatly increase the chances that you will be one of the millions of people who will end up with a healthy, normal piercing.

What are the health risks of body piercing?

• Infection. Without proper care, infection can lead to scarring and even blood poisoning. Infections of piercings are unattractive and can be very dangerous.
• Allergic Reaction. Some people are sensitive to certain metals and only discover this when they are pierced and have a severe reaction to the jewelry. The rash, swelling, and difficulty breathing can lead to shock and hospitalization.
• Nerve Damage. If a piercing isn’t placed carefully, it can be pushed through a nerve, severing it and making the surrounding area permanently deadened to any feeling.
• Excessive Bleeding. This is just what it sounds like. If you get pierced and happen to hit a large blood vessel, you could have difficulty stopping the bleeding and may end up in the emergency room getting it cauterized. Not pretty.
• Risk of Cross-Contamination. You may become cross-contaminated by Hepatitis, the HIV virus, or another blood-borne pathogen is you are pierced by improperly sterilized needles.
• Keloids. These are toughened knots of scar tissue that look like cysts at the base of a piercing that sometimes form for no reason at the site of a piercing.
• Can’t donate blood. Is it important for you to be a blood donor? Is there someone in your family who is ill and may need blood donations in the near future? Don’t get pierced. You cannot donate blood for one year after getting pierced –- no exceptions.
• Dental Risks. There are several problems that can arise from oral piercings, including chipped teeth, worn tooth enamel, damage to the gums and jaw line from wear, and even aspiration (inhaling) of a loose piece of jewelry into the lungs. Infection and swelling of the tongue is also a possibility, and is very unpleasant.

Are there other body piercing risks?

It depends on what you consider a risk. There are certainly things you should consider that you could call potential drawbacks to getting pierced. Among these are:

• Pain. How much of a weenie are you? If you can’t tolerate pain, you may be risking suffering more than you like for your vanity. Some piercings hardly hurt at all, others can be pretty rough for a few weeks.
• Cost. Do you have the money to pay not only for the piercing and jewelry, but for the aftercare products, such as Provon® or Satin® and H2Ocean®?
• Commitment. You are putting yourself at risk if you can’t clean your piercing every day, twice a day. Period. End of discussion. And you have to do your sea salt soaks or H2Ocean® treatments without fail.
• Judgment of Others. Let’s get real. You may not want to hear this one, but face it; others may judge you based on your piercings, so really think this one through. Will it bother you if others stare as though they are afraid of you? Do you want to have to explain yourself or remove your piercing for job interviews? Will you feel badly if your piercing upsets your grandparents or family friends?

Okay, we’ve looked at the risks of body piercing, and you (or your teenager) are still certain that a piercing is a “must have.” How do you prevent all of those scary possibilities we mentioned in our list of health risks? By doing your homework! A good piercing with a low risk of infection or other complications is the result of choosing a good, professional piercer and having the piercing done in the proper environment.

What should you look for in a piercing parlor that will reduce the risks of body piercing?

First impressions count! When you walk in the door, scan the waiting area. Is it clean, neat and professional looking? If the front of the shop isn’t clean, it’s a sure thing that they can’t keep the back area clean. If you first impression makes you wary, turn around and walk out the door.

Credentials

Check to make sure they are licensed by the local board of health to operate as a piercing studio, and make sure their license hasn’t expired. Also look for membership in a recognized group such as the Association of Professional Piercers (APP), which sets high standards for membership and requires extensive training. An APP certification will indicate that the piercers have taken classes and been through a rigorous apprenticeship program.

Helpful, Knowledgeable Staff

Ask questions, and lots of them. If the employees don’t know the answers and are more like sales clerks pushing jewelry than anything, you should be wary. They may have a high turn-over of staff for some reason; this is also a red flag. If, however, they can answer your piercing questions and give you good, clear advice, then they have been well-trained by someone with experience.

The one exception may be if the studio is very large and they have a few sales people who only work the front counters. If this is the case and you begin asking questions, they should answer honestly that they are salespeople, and be willing to refer you to a piercer or apprentice who can discuss your concerns with you. There should always be a piercer on location at the studio or parlor when it is open –- always.

Printed information

Ask to see the aftercare information they provide to individuals getting pierced. If you hear, “Oh, your piercer will explain all that to you,” insist on seeing the printed version before getting pierced. If they don’t have printed, step-by-step instructions, walk away. It is too easy to forget what you need to do, forget the name of the product you should be using, etc. if you don’t have printed instructions. If they aren’t willing to spend the money to print the instructions for their clients, who knows where else they might be cutting corners!

Read through the aftercare instructions and see if they are current with the prevailing standards. A good way to evaluate this is by checking them against what you see on sites such as BME, Tribalectic and APP. If the piercing literature still recommends using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, for instance, to clean your piercing, then the studio is not keeping up with the current research in body piercing care and may cause you unnecessary suffering and longer healing times.

The rules are there for a reason

If you’re a teenager and they don’t ask for I.D. or tell you to come back with a parent or guardian, do not thank your lucky stars. Leave! The law says your parent has to be present, and any studio that bends or breaks the rules on one issue will do the same on others.

In other words, if they are willing to “ignore” one rule to grab your money, they will ignore others to turn a higher profit. They may decide that the expense of an autoclave is unnecessary, or that reusing piercing needles is a great way to save some money. You are a minor and have little or no protection without your parents present, and they know this –- that’s why they do it -- to take advantage of you, pure and simple. If you are going to get pierced, make sure you take a parent or guardian with you for your own safety. If they’ve been cool enough to get this far with you, they’ll survive going to a piercing parlor, trust me.

The rest of the place

We’ve made it past the waiting room and decided that the piercing parlor seems okay so far; they have current credentials and health certificates, their aftercare instructions look good, and they had Dad sign a consent form. Are we ready to go? Not yet. You still need to check a few more things. Don’t be afraid to interrogate them about the piercing room and the sterilization process itself. These are two of the most important things to consider.

Ask these questions before ever getting pierced:

• Do you sterilize your tools in an autoclave? May I see your most recent spore test results? If they don’t do spore testing at least once a month, don’t get pierced there. Spore testing is the only way to know if an autoclave is effectively sterilizing the equipment, and autoclave sterilization is the only method approved by the Association of Professional Piercers.
• How long have you been piercing, and how did you learn? Body piercing is complex, and any piercer who is a professional will gladly explain where he learned and from whom. It takes quite a while to learn what types of jewelry and needles are best for each piercing and to learn how to place the piercings optimally. If a piercer seems defensive or less than forthcoming, be hesitant to let him touch you with a needle.
• May I see the room where you’ll be doing the piercing, and can I watch you set up? Check out the area where the piercings are done. Do they wipe down the area before and after every piercing? Do they maintain a clean, dust free environment at all times? When setting up, make sure that the sterilized instruments are put on a tray and not touched except with washed, gloved hands. Make sure the piercer uses gloves for the entire piercing and changes them frequently.
• What type of piercing needles do you use? There is only one correct answer: Single-use, pre-sterilized, disposable needles. These should not be opened except in your presence at the time of the piercing. If they use a piercing gun for any piercing, leave immediately. No body piercing should ever be done with a piercing gun, which causes bruising, trauma and excessive tearing and bleeding.

“I’ve chosen the parlor and piercer and I got a really cool body piercing. Now what?”

AFTERCARE!!! There is nothing as crucial to addressing the risks of body piercing as properly following the guidelines for piercing aftercare. Since you’ve chosen a reliable, professional piercer, you will have a set of aftercare instructions that will tell you what to do to properly care for your piercings.

Do not skip a day because you are too tired, too busy, or because you “forget.” Aftercare is literally preventative care –- you are taking care of your piercing in order to prevent an infection and to enable the wound to heal properly. While following your aftercare instructions, watch for signs of trouble so that you can address them early on before they turn into real problems.

Signs of a potential problem that you should bring to the attention of your parents (if you are a minor) or your piercer are:

• Discharge that is green or yellow from the piercing
• Splitting, oozing or cracking and bleeding of a piercing more than a week old
• Swelling and redness after the first few days
• Pain and redness or red streaks radiating out from the piercing
• Migration (movement of the piercing) up through the layers of skin
• Difficulty breathing and swelling of the tongue within hours of a piercing, especially an oral piercing
• A rash or hives soon after a piercing
• A lump or bump forming at the base of the piercing

In some cases, you will need to see a doctor; in others your piercer will be able to advise you on the proper steps to alleviate the situation. The important thing is to catch any small problems before they turn into big ones. If you follow your aftercare instructions and monitor your piercing carefully, you can minimize the risks of body piercing so that you can enjoy your new body piercing completely!