Piercing Methods

Body piercing literally means making a hole in a
part of the human body with the purpose of wearing
jewelry in the opening created. After a process of
healing, a fistula will be created. This is an
abnormal 'passageway' in your body or skin so that
there's a genuine 'hole'.

Body piercing Methods

* Needle Method (Standard)
The most common method used in the United States
to make a piercing is with a medical hollow needle.
The needle makes an opening in the skin you want
to have pierced but doesn't go all the way through.
The jewelry then is inserted and follows the needle
back. It's necessary to insert the jewelry
immediately to hold the slit the needle made open.
The needle method doesn't involve removing any flesh
(some methods do). The opening is always made with
a needle larger than the initial jewelry to be worn.
This is done to reduce the pressure on the healing
piercing, giving it more room to heal and allow a
fistula to form.

* Piercing Guns
Piercing guns are gun-shaped devices that mechan-i
cally makes the piercing by forcing a stud through
the body part.You can compare it with a stapler.
This method is often used by non-professional piercers
and mostly to pierce holes in the earlobes. You
should avoid this method because the piercing
gun is hard to sterilize. The risk is infection
and transmission of bulletproof pathogens.

* Cannula Method
The cannula method is similar to the standard method.
The difference is that at the end of the needle there's
a cannula (a hollow plastic tube) where the piercer
puts in the jewelry. So at the piercing process, the
cannula and the jewelry is entirely pulled through
the opening. This method is often used in Europe.

* Scalpel method
When you want an opening for a large gauge body
piercing, a medical scalpel can be used to make
a slit. This method is often used for large gauge
ear piercings. It's also used to correct an
asymmetry for example if the ear piercing on one
side is larger than the other because of an
incorrect placement. When you don't want your
piercing anymore and you remove the jewelry,
the fistula will not shrink or close from itself. The
only solution there is surgically.

* Pierce and Taper
This method is for larger gauge piercings and
only works on body parts where the skin is very
elastic. It's similar to the standard method, but
after the hole is pierced with the needle, the
piercer inserts a tapered steel bar (one of larger
gauge then the needle) in order to make the opening
bigger. The jewelry is directly inserted, following
the tapered bar.

* Dermal Punching
Piercings in the upper ear require removal of
skin and cartilage to lift the pressure of the
piercing and guarantee a longer viability of the
piercing. Therefore, a dermal punch is used to
remove a circular area of tissue, where the jewelry
will be worn. Like scalpelled piercings, the healed
fistulas will not shrink or close on their own.

What piercing should you get?

Body piercing has increasingly become part of the main-
stream culture in our society. However, people who are
new to body piercing are often confused and need information
about which part of the body should they get pierced.

The most common body piercing parts include: Ear Lobe,
Ear cartilage, Eyebrow, Nostril, Nasal septum, Nasal Bridge,
Tongue, Lip, Nipple, Navel, Female Genitalia and Male
Genitalia. Different area varies in piercing pain and healing
time. For example, piercing on eyebrow has the least
piercing pain while genital piercing is most painful. Piercing
on tongue takes around 4 weeks to heal while nipple
piercing takes 3 to 6 months to heal.

Whether you want to pierce your arm, eyes, chest or
neck, keep in mind that piercing can virtually be accomplished
in any different area of the body. Piercing of one area
versus another is no longer reserved for one sex or the
other in many instances - and in fact, most piercings are
considered to be unisex, with some daring piercings
being the exception. So, deciding on the right location
for your piercing is half the battle. If you are not sure
where exactly to pierce, your best bet is first considering
the consequences, suitability and healing times of
different areas.

For example, bold, daring, and increasingly popular
genital piercings are an exciting and sexy way to show
off your nether regions... BUT -- how long will you have
to wait for those area to heal? Well, for female genitalia
you can expect a healing time of 4 to 10 weeks, but for
male genitalia you can expect to wait 4 weeks to a full
6 months, depending on the piercing. So, for some women
this may not be as big of a decision as for some men. In
some other cases, nipple piercings can damage some of
the milk-producing glands in a women's breasts, which
can cause problems later if the woman decides to breast-
feed her baby. Some pierced areas, like, belly button
piercings, are more likely to become infected because
of irritation from tight clothing.

Is there anything wrong with piercings?

When you spend a day at the mall, you see people with
body piercings. Perhaps you see someone with a nose
ring. Another may have a belly button ring. In fact, you
may see people with some really crazy body piercing. Is
there any reason that people should not have so many
body piercings? When it all comes down to it, it is every
one's separate decision to be made, but we must ask, is
there anything wrong with it, really?


Body piercing is popular, especially among teens.
Something that once started as earrings led to the piercing
of many other body parts. Do you have your ears pierced?
Is there something wrong with people who have their ears
pierced? Many teens find body piercing to be a way of self
expression and a way to rebel. Today, people get their
noses, tongues, eye brows, belly buttons and even other
places pierced. You can go into any jewelry store at the
mall and find belly button and eye brow rings. The jewelry
itself is not tacky or ugly, but can be very regular pieces.
So, what makes body piercing so bad, then?


People have preconceived notions about people who are
different from them. When ladies started to get their ears
pierced, that was taboo as well. As time goes on and things
become more "normal" the preconceived notions about
body piercings will go away as well. As long as the piercing
is done properly, in a clean environment and is taken care
of properly, then there are no adverse side effects to having
body piercings. Again, they must be taken care of and
cleaned properly though as infections can spread rapidly
this way. So, the next time you are at that mall and see a
group of girls walk by with belly button rings, think twice
before you judge them. Consider why you don't like that
eye brow ring on the boy who is taking your order's face.
Think twice when judging others because as you judge
them, they may be judging you right back!

Belly Button Facts

Body piercing is when a needle is put through part of
the body and then a foreign object is inserted as jewelery.
Eventually, the skin around the jewellery heals and a hole
is left. The hole is the piercing. It is perfectly safe when
done by professionals who are careful. DO NOT pierce
your own belly button. The piercing needs to be done
with a sterilized needle, gloves and other sterilized pieces
of equipment.

Belly button piercings may migrate within about five to
ten years, and then they will fall out. Belly piercings take
time to heal - approx 4 months to 1 year Belly piercing is
a big decision. The following information will help you
make a decision that's best for you. Make sure you go
to a reputable piercer and see your doctor if you have
symptoms of an infection!

What kind of jewellery should you buy?
Only jewellery made of a non-corrosive metal, such
as: surgical stainless steel is safe when you first have
your piercing done. It is least likely to produce a foreign
body reaction or infection in the skin. Other choices for
when you first have your piercing done are metals like
solid gold (at least 18k), titanium, or niobium. All of these
cost more than surgical steel. For people who are extremely
sensitive to metal, Teflon or nylon piercings may be used.
Gold plated jewellery should NOT be used.

Regulations
Since the law is different in each country, you will need
to find out what the law in your country says about:
. Minimum age for belly piercing
. Whether or not you need parental permission to have a
piercing
. What qualifications and regulations the salon should have
and should be displayed

How is it done and does it hurt?
Immediately before piercing, the piercer should wash
and dry his or her hands and put on latex gloves. The
gloves should be worn at all times during the procedure.
If the piercer leaves the procedure and touches something
or returns later and you haven't seen everything he or she
has done, ask them to put on new gloves.

An experienced piercer uses a hollow needle to create a
hole by passing the needle through the body part you
want pierced. The body jewellery is then inserted through
the hole. Sometimes there can be a small amount of
bleeding. You should not take aspirin or any pain medication
that contains aspirin the week before any piercing is done,
since these medicines may cause you to bleed a little bit
more than usual. As for the 'pain' issue. It's going to vary
from person to person as different people perceive pain
in different ways. Everyone has a different tolerance
level, so really you just have to experience it for yourself.
The piercer should give you instructions about cleaning,
maintenance, etc., if they don't, ask questions (it's your
body, you deserve to know how to take care of it).

What are the risks?
The most common piercing problem is infection. Infection
is quite common and is easily cured with the proper care
and attention. Another risk with a piercing is that your
body might reject it. If it does, this may cause swelling
and pain. If your piercing is causing you a lot of pain or
continually gets infected, you may want to remove your
piercing and get it re-pierced once it has healed. Infections
may be caused by hepatitis, HIV, tetanus, bacteria, and
yeast. If the piercer washes their hands and uses gloves
and sterile equipment and you take good care of your
piercing, the risk of infection is lowered (but still exists).
As with other piercings, the belly button piercing is going
to be swollen, red, and have pus. It could be painful. If
the piercing does not improve in the next couple of days
pull out the piercing. Some bodies do not like piercing. It
will not heal properly and it has nothing to do with the
piercing itself or the piercer. It has to do with that
particular person's body. The belly button piercing can
be rejected by the body. There is no real danger by the
piercing itself, but it is important to take care of it. The
dangers are once it is in. The reason is that it is on the
front of the body with clothing constantly rubbing against
the piercing. People have a tendency to touch the piercing
and transfer germs from their fingers to the ring. Once
it rotates into the piercing a few bellybuttons can get
infected. Infections caused by bacteria getting into the
puncture of the piercing may also happen later, even
after the piercing has healed. Another cause of problems
from piercings is the wrong kind of jewellery for the area
pierced. If the jewellery is too small, it can actually cut off
the blood supply to the tissue, causing swelling and pain.
If the jewellery is either too thin or too heavy or if you are
allergic to the metal, your body can sometimes reject the
jewellery (your body reacts against the jewellery because
it is a "foreign object").

How to take care of the piercing
Clean the piercing at least twice a day until it has healed.
This is done by;
. Always washing your hands with soap and water (or
antibacterial soap) before cleaning
. Removing and crusty skin from the piercing and from
the jewellery with warm water
. Gently washing the piercing with a saline solution (sea
salt mixed with water) or antibacterial soap
. Gently rinsing the area to remove the solution or soap
. Gently drying the area with a paper towel (do not use
cloth towels as these may contain bacteria)
. Do not over wash or scrub as this can irritate the piercing
Check your jewellery while cleaning it to see if any parts
have come loose. Do not use alcohol or peroxide or any
other strong solution as this will cause irritation and/or
discolour the jewellery. Do not let anyone touch the
piercing until it is healed. If you are not cleaning the
piercing then do not touch it!! Avoid taking baths, take
showers instead to avoid sitting in bacteria. Do not use
hot tubs, swimming pools, lakes, seas as these are
breeding grounds for bacteria. Always clean the piercing
after exercise or playing sport as bacteria love damp
moist spots. Do not use antibacterial cream as these
trap bacteria. Always wear clean loose clothing while
the piercing is healing to allow the air to circulate around
the piercing. Clothing should be made of soft fabric and
should not cling or rub the piercing. Avoid jeans, leotards,
belts, body suits and tights until the piercing is healed.
Change your bed sheets once a week to help avoid
infection. Do NOT attempt to change the piercing during
the healing process. When you get it pierced ask the
piercer how long you need to wait before you can. Always
look out for signs of infection; bad smell, discharge,
redness, soreness, swelling, rash around the piercing.
If you think you have an infection always go and see
your doctor. Be careful with your piercing - it will take
time to heal and for you to get used to it.

Body Piercing

Body piercing is a fabulous way of expressing yourself and
your personality in an outward fashion. Many individuals
choose to pierce one or several parts of their body in order
to either make a statement or add a unique aspect to their
appearance. However, before you decide to pierce any part
of your body, carefully consider the choice since this form
of self expression is a bit more permanent than changing a
hairstyle, experimenting with cosmetics, or creating your
own fashion statement.

Body piercing has been used as an art form for thousands
of years. Everyone from ancient cavemen to ancient
culturesand civilizations has used body piercing to
express a varietyof thoughts. Some cultures, including
the ancient Aztecs, usebody piercing to commune with
the gods, whereas othercultures, including those in
several African tribes, use bodypiercings to express
beauty, status, or wealth.

Men and women choose to pierce all parts of their bodies
for a variety of reasons. The most popular reason given for
body piercing is to add a unique feature to the individual.
Many people to either want to pierce their body parts or
have already pierced different parts of their body wish to
break out of the norm that our society has set. Although
body piercing is a more permanent way of expressing
yourself, it can be done in a subtle and tasteful fashion for
those individuals worried about how their personal
expression will affect different aspects of their lives,
including their public, private, and business lives.

By far, the most popular body piercing involves the ears.
From simple holes on the lobes of the ears to piercings in
the cartilage, earrings are available in all shapes, sizes,
colors, and styles. For individuals looking for more
envelope-pushing piercings, consider piercing noses,
labrias, eyebrows, or even tongues. Just like the
selection of earrings, most reputable jewelry stores
or body piercing salons offer a wide variety of quality
body piercing jewelry. Use different styles, colors,
and jewels to further showcase your personality
through your body piercings.