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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 thepiercing 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 eachpiercing 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 instru
ments are put on a tray and not touched except with washed, gloved hands. Make sure the piercer uses gloves for the entirepiercing 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 thepiercing. 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 coolbody 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 youraftercare 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 youraftercare instructions and monitor your piercing carefully, you can minimize the risks of body piercing so that you can enjoy your new body piercing completely!
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, wholesale body jewelry, and toe rings. She has two dogs who are spoiled and one teenager who is not.
This article "What are the Real Risks of Body Piercing?" reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2004 Evaluseek Publishing.
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