The ins and outs of how body piercing works
August 27, 2004
By: Lori Wilkerson
Body piercing (defined as any piercing beyond the standard
earlobe piercing) has become such a popular form of body
modification that between five and ten percent of the population of
the United States has indulged in at least one form of it at some
time in their lives. In most cases, once a person gets a body
piercing, they follow the first one with more. There are lots of
considerations; however, for making sure that your body piercing is
done safely so that you don’t end up with either an infection or a
poorly done piercing that could leave an unsightly scar.
It ain’t ear piercing, honey…
The procedure for a good body piercing isn’t the same is for
getting your earlobes pierced. Most earlobe piercings that you see
done in a mall or jewelry store involve using a piercing gun that
quickly shoots the actual earring post through the earlobe. This may
be fine for an area of the body that has soft tissue and is easily
pierced, but it isn’t a good idea for other parts of the body for a
few reasons.
First, it isn’t as accurate as a needle, so lining it
up won’t always work. Just as with any gun, there is a recoil that
will make the aim inaccurate. Second, the force of the gun will
cause bruising and damage to the skin that isn’t necessary and will
slow the healing process. Third, a piercing gun can’t be sterilized
completely, so there is a higher risk of infection. The message is
clear – never get a body piercing done with a piercing gun. Always
go to a professional who follows procedures approved by the
Association of Professional Piercers (APP).
Once you get to the piercing parlor, there are several steps to
the body piercing process that will take place to ensure both the
success of the piercing and your health and safety. Each of these
steps should be followed and nothing skipped.
Getting the preliminaries out of the way
You must be comfortable in the environment and comfortable with
your piercer before moving ahead with anything. If he or she
attempts to rush you through the procedure without answering your
questions or putting you at ease, do not continue. This is a
long-term commitment you are making, so it’s up to you if you want
to go through with it.
There is paperwork to be filled out, and don’t let a piercing
parlor tell you otherwise. A good piercing studio always keeps
accurate records to ensure the health and safety of their clients.
If there would ever be a question of contamination or some other
health hazard, they must be able to contact you. If you are a minor,
they must have the signature of your parent or guardian, who must be
present at the time of the piercing.
Sterilization – the only route to safe body piercing
Sterilization is all-important in body piercing – the piercing
area must be sterile, the piercer’s hands must be sterile, the tools
used must be sterile, and the piercing needle must be sterile.
A separate area for sterilization should be available in the
piercing parlor where a steam heat autoclave is operational. The
autoclave is the only approved sterilization device that can
sufficiently heat tools such as forceps to a high enough temperature
to kill all bacteria. Before beginning any piercing, all tools will
be sterilized in an autoclave and laid out carefully on a clean
tray. After this, they will not be touched until your piercing
begins, and then only by your piercer when he has safely cleaned and
gloved his hands, just as a surgeon would.
You can’t be too clean
The piercing chair or table will also be cleaned, usually by
being wiped down thoroughly with an antibacterial spray and
disposable cloths or paper towels to prevent recontamination. You
will not be allowed to enter and prepare for your piercing until the
area has been prepped and sterilized.
The needles used for body piercing are sterile and individually
packaged, and no reputable piercer will ever use a needle that has
already been used once. When you are pierced, the sterile needle’s
package should be opened in your presence just before your piercing.
The same is true of your starter jewelry – it should be sealed in
sterile packaging and only opened in your presence.
The piercer will wash his hands and wrists with an antibacterial
liquid soap and dry them before donning disposable gloves. At this
point, he will be ready to begin your piercing.
Prep work means straight piercings and fewer complications
With properly gloved hands, your piercer will first check the
area you want pierced to determine if you are really a candidate for
the type of body piercing you’re seeking. In some cases, he may tell
you that the conditions aren’t appropriate. For instance, if there
is damage to the cartilage or heavy scarring in the area you want
pierced. He will also tell you if you have a current cut or skin
condition that means you should postpone piercing. If this is the
case, in order to protect your health and prevent possible problems
down the line, he will not go any farther with the procedure. If
everything looks fine, he’ll tell you so and you’ll move on to the
next step.
- He’ll change to a fresh pair of gloves after having handled
your skin to examine the area.
- He will clean the area to be pierced with an antibacterial
solution.
- He will mark the area to be pierced with a sterile, disposable
marker.
- You’ll have the opportunity to check the marking (in a
mirror if necessary) before he proceeds to the piercing stage.
- He will ask you if you are ready for the piercing procedure
and allow you a moment to get comfortable.
- He will arrange his tools at hand and open the sterile package
with the piercing needle.
And now, you’re ready for the real deal – the piercing itself!
But first, a word about those piercing needles...
Piercing needles are not your average sewing needle or push-pin.
Piercing needles are highly specialized and were designed
specifically to pierce the flesh while causing the least amount of
pain possible. They also help encourage faster and cleaner healing
than a regular needle.
These needles also come in a variety of gauges suited for
specific types of piercings. For instance, if you are getting a
nipple pierced, the piercer will probably not want to use anything
smaller than a 12 gauge (the smaller the gauge, the larger the
needle), while a lip or nostril could be pierced with a 14 or 16
gauge. Thicker gauges prevent migration in areas prone to this
movement of the jewelry, and prevent tear-out of piercings in more
delicate flesh.
Piercing needles are made from surgical steel – the same material
that hospital scalpels and lancets are made from. This ensures that
they are biocompatible with all skin types and won’t cause an
allergic reaction. They are also extremely sharp because they are
laser cut with precision edges so that they slice cleanly through
the skin without tearing or pulling. The piercing needles are hollow
rather than solid so that they actually cut a tiny hole through the
skin being pierced rather than punching through the skin.
These hollow needles leave a clean-edged, precise hole in the
flesh that will heal relatively quickly, while a regular needle
(which is much duller by comparison) actually pushes its way through
the skin, tearing and bruising the skin along the way.
This is why a professional piercing needle provides a much less
painful piercing with minimal bruising, and is much safer and easier
for your body.
The main event – the body piercing
The basic procedure is the same for most piercings, but all
piercers have their own way of handling the process. Some piercers
will clamp the area with forceps to stabilize the area before
putting the needle through, while others prefer to use a steady hand
and their own eyes to guide the needle. If the person being pierced
seems like they may flinch, it is more likely the forceps or
surgical pliers of some type will be used to steady the area and
hold the skin in place. This doesn’t hurt, and is simply to make
sure you don’t get a crooked placement.
When the needle is lined up with the marking, the piercer will
ask one last time if you are ready, and then quickly push the needle
through. Some piercers use a cork as a backing, others don’t. This
usually only takes a moment and feels like someone is pinching the
skin hard. In most cases, the build-up to the moment is far worse
than the actual piercing. Areas that are more sensitive include the
genital area and the bridge of the nose.
Starter jewelry needs to be high quality
After the needle is removed, the starter jewelry is immediately
put into place. One of the most important things to know about
starter jewelry is that it is being put into an open wound, which is
what a fresh piercing really is. Obviously, you don’t want your
starter jewelry to be something that can cause an allergic reaction
or infection.
There are three materials recognized by professional piercers as
acceptable for starter jewelry for their high quality, purity and
their low incidence of allergic reactions:
- Surgical Steel
- Titanium
- 14K or 18K gold
Other materials are more likely to cause either an allergic
reaction, rejection of the piercing by your body, or migration of
the piercing.
Starter jewelry is generally a captive bead ring or barbell. The
piercer will choose an appropriate size for the area that is
slightly larger than what you would normally wear to allow for some
swelling, which is normal for the first several days after a new
piercing. He will screw the ends onto the new jewelry and make sure
it is securely in place.
At this point, the piercer will remove this set of gloves and put
on another fresh set, clean the area around the new piercing and
examine it one last time. He will let you take a look at your new
body jewelry while he explains the aftercare and any potential
problems you should watch for. He will also give you a sheet of
detailed aftercare instructions to take home with you.
Before you leave, take a few moments to relax either in the
piercing room or the waiting room, as sometimes the adrenalin rush
and its aftermath can leave you feeling a bit light-headed. Once you
feel steady and sure of yourself, it is a good idea to get something
like fruit juice to drink or a light snack. Your piercing is done!
What if I want to try body piercing myself?
If you love body modification, you may be considering piercing
yourself. It’s really not a good idea for a number of reasons. If
you want to try piercing, do it the right way – become a fully
trained, licensed professional. Without the proper training and an
understanding of proper sterilization techniques you risk scarring,
infection, and permanent damage to the area. Using makeshift
piercing tools like sewing needles is also a great risk because they
simply cannot be sterilized properly. Even heating over an open
flame (such as a lighter) will not kill all bacteria. The only
guaranteed way to kill all germs is with an autoclave or by using
packaged, sterile surgical needles. Even then, the entire area and
all tools must be sterilized properly.
If you are truly interested in piercing, consider it not as a
hobby or a momentary activity but as a career. Becoming an
apprentice at a piercing parlor means learning proper technique and
learning a trade at the same time, combining your interests with a
way to make a living.
An apprentice usually trains for at least a year under a
licensed, professional piercer learning all aspects of
sterilization, piercing and customer service. In many states they
are also required to take courses in first aid, blood borne
pathogens, anatomy and other Health and Safety standards and
practices. You will observe piercings and work with the
sterilization process for several months before actually doing any
piercings, but when you do pierce you will be doing it properly and
professionally. A good place to find out more information is through
the Association of Professional Piercers’ website at
www.safepiercing.org.
About the Author:
Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer who loves her work
because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world
every day. Right now, she knows a little bit about almost
everything, and a lot about body jewelry, nipple jewelry and
temporary tattoos. She has two dogs who are spoiled and one teenager who
is not.
Also See: [ Risks of
Body Piercing Minimized By Good Piercer Choice ]
[
Piercing Aftercare &
Healing Essentials for Piercings ]
[
Historical Information About Body Piercings ]
Home Page: [ Body Jewelry You Seek ]
Body Piercing Jewelry
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