Official Piercing Thread, Need help? Click it. Updates ( 12/18/07 ) Options

[Suspence]

I see that every where I look I see something more about piercings " DOES IT HURT!?!?!?!" and such. So I figured I would help some people out by making something for them if there wondering.

So if you have a piercing post about it to help others out. Even pictures will help everyone. Just explain how they do it and what they do and how much it was and the pain factor. Ill post as much as I can about piercings since I like them and i have a good ammount of them. Hopefully same with you. So don't go out and make a new thread about if it hurts or asking about it just come here.

BEFORE

Having a part of your body pierced is a very unique and personal experience. Like the saying, �one person�s trash is another person�s treasure� it is also true that �one person�s pain is another person�s pleasure.� Furthermore, every piercing experience that you have will vary, depending on the body part, your state of mind and mood at the time, the piercer and the setting of the shop where you are getting pierced, and your level of piercing comfort.

People get pierced for a number of different reasons. Some do it for aesthetic or fashion purposes. Some do it because they enjoy the intensity of the moment. Some people get pierced as part of a group or collective experience, and some do it to stimulate or enhance physical sensation. Regardless of whether you want to be pierced for these or any other reason, once you decide a piercing is for you, you are ready to make the next step to the piercing shop.

To the newcomer, a body piercing or Tattoo shop may be a bit intimidating at first. But once you have been in one a couple of times, you start to realize that they are kind of fun. So when you�re ready, find a shop that you think suits you, and pay them a visit. You�ll meet your piercer, they will make sure that you are of age, and not uncontrollably intoxicated, then they will take you into a sanitary piercing booth. Sanitation is a relative description�obviously getting pierced does not require the same precautions as open-heart surgery, but you should make sure that you are comfortable with the level of cleanliness in the piercing booth. Most piercers are extremely meticulous when it comes to sanitation, and the first thing they will do is pre-sterilize their booth if they have not done so already.

DURING

The piercer will put their gloves on, then sit you down or stand you up (depending on the piercing and his/her particular piercing style), and examine the area to be pierced. Not every piercing is for everybody�especially genital piercings, which can present potential rejection or infection situations�but a knowledgeable piercer can determine right away if your body can accept a particular piercing. After examining the piercing area, the piercer will then clean the area and somehow mark the area to be pierced. Some piercers do this with a one use, disposable sterile water-based marker, and some will just do it with their eyes.

The piercer will then ready their tools on their instrument tray. All piercing instruments and jewelry should be in sealed sterile packages, which the piercer opens in front of you just before the piercing. If you do not feel that a piercer�s instruments are adequately sterile, politely request that they use ones that you see them open. If at any time during your piercing experience, you doubt the sterility of a piercer�s instruments or procedures, simply ask your piercer to explain his/her sterilization precautions.

Once your piercer has removed the instruments from the sterilization pouches, they will then be sure you are ready, and begin aligning their needle. Some piercers clamp the piercing area with a rubber band wrapped around piercing pliers called forceps, and some just use their hands and maybe a cork on the exit side of the piercing. Again, this depends on the personal style and preferences of your piercer�there is no right or wrong method, some piercers use the forceps to more accurately align and guide the needle, while some feel that without forceps they have greater control and dexterity. When the needle is in line, the piercer will make sure that you are ready for a final time, and then they will slide the needle right through.

Most piercings last for only a moment�the most anxious part of your experience will be the few minutes it takes your piercer to set up. But after a quick prick, before you know it, your piercer will be inserting your new starter jewelry. Most oral, facial, and body piercings take only a moment and don�t hurt that much at all, but if you are getting a unique surface piercing or a larger spanning genital piercing, expect the actual piercing to take a little longer, and feel more intense. This is understandable, though, as the more sensitive the area of your body, the more sensitive it will be while being pierced.

AFTER

After the needle is in you, and your wait is over, your piercer will insert one end of your starter jewelry into the back of the needle, and in one continuous motion, slide the needle all the way through and leave the jewelry in the piercing. Piercers prefer stainless steel captive bead rings or stainless steel barbells as starter jewelry, as these will be the easiest to clean and the least prone to infection or adverse reaction. After your jewelry is in place, your piercer will either clip in or screw on the ball at the end of the jewelry, and you are almost ready to face the world with your new piercing. Lastly, your piercer will make a final examination of your piercing, clean your piercing one last time, then instruct you on proper cleaning and aftercare procedures.

In the days subsequent to your piercing, you will notice that the pierced area is a little sore, and may be swollen or slightly black and blue for a few days to a few weeks. This is normal and to be expected. Over time, as your piercing heals and strengthens, it will become a more innate and comfortable part of your body. After a few weeks to a few months (depending on the piercing) your piercing will be fully healed, and you will be ready to upgrade your style from starter jewelry to something a little more personal (See Tribalectic Jewelry and Accessories). If you have any questions or concerns regarding your new piercing, always feel comfortable asking your piercer, or refer to the Tribalectic Healing and Aftercare pages for general information.

So that was for a Peircing STUDIO as in where you can get them done with needles or get a tattoo most of them time. If you don't want to read then it shows you usualy don't care about it or you have other resources.

Piercing Pain Rankings
(from least painful to most painful)

1. Eyebrow
2. Earlobe
3. Tongue
4. Navel
5. Nostril
6. Labret/Lip
7. Female Nipple
8. Cartilage Piercings
9. Male Nipple
10. Genitals

note: pain is completely relative to the individual

I can agree with it very much. I have 4 cartilage piercings and they did hurt more then The ear lobe because i've had them done 2 times as well.

As you think of The piercing The eyebrow is a fatty tissue rather then to Cartilage is a harder skin surface and type. You can feel all these on your body and feel how the skin has its thickness or fatness.


Body Piercing Myths
(click question to see the answer)

Getting pierced with a gun is safe.

Getting pierced is extremely painfull

Getting pierced is not sterile or safe practice

Piercings are Punkish, Devilish or evil

Piercings are a " fad " or " trend "

If I get my navel pierced it may damage my stomach, uterus, or some veins.

Drinking beer will give you a yeast infection after an oral piercing.

Half of your face will go numb if an eyebrow is pierced incorrectly.

There is a vein in the tounge that if punctured will cause you to bleed to death.

So that's that. Check those out and they should be a good help.

BEWARE!!!

This link has some certain bad videos such as the.

Prince Albert Piercing performed by Marcus at East Street Piercing in Stockholm, Sweden

Clitoral Hood Piercing Submitted by Don

DO NOT CLICK THOSE ONES. The other ones are fine. Just beware some certain pain is in the videos.

BEWARE of these sites to.
Sources...
http://www.tribalectic.com/pierced.asp
Now this one BMEZINE can be bad and fine at times. Just be carefull.
www.bmezine.com

Looking for jewelry?
http://www.tribalectic.com/Home.asp
www.bodycandy.com
http://www.tribalectic.com/Home.asp
www.bodypunks.com
www.steelnavel.com
www.painfulpleasures.com
www.thechaingang.com
www.bodywings.com
www.steelskin.com


Pictures.
http://www.bmezine.com/pierce/bme-pirc.html
http://www.zentastic.com/entries/200505131335.html

UPDATES August 23rd

Ok, today I got new ear ring in. if you want to know what Gauging out is here you go..

What Spencer says...

Gauging out is a thing that many people do. It is basicly putting a thicker ear ring into the hole that you currently have. Just to make the hole bigger. Perhaps. here is what happend for me. I had gotten 4 cartlilage piercings and i got them pierced at 20Gauge. Now they are all 16Gauge. whitch is much thicker. As the number goes down the size gets bigger. GAUGING out can cause problems. Such as bleeding or very much pain.

SIZE CHART


(IMG:http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/SBeer19/GAUGE.jpg)

Sorry for the smallness
ALSO MORE INFO...

(IMG:http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/SBeer19/ONE.jpg)

(IMG:http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/SBeer19/TWO.jpg)

(IMG:http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/SBeer19/THREE.jpg)

(IMG:http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/SBeer19/FOUR.jpg)

(IMG:http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/SBeer19/FIVE.jpg)

I hope that helps. This was all done by me for some help for you wanted piercings out there. You are more then welcome to post more sites or help please!

Don't forget to post your experiences or pictures.

new personal pics!!!

(IMG:http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/Sbeer15/Picture011.jpg)

(IMG:http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/Sbeer15/Picture013.jpg)

(IMG:http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/Sbeer15/Picture023.jpg)

(IMG:http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/Sbeer15/Picture028.jpg)

(IMG:http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/Sbeer15/Picture034.jpg)

(IMG:http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/Sbeer15/Picture090.jpg)

(IMG:http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/Sbeer15/Picture105.jpg)

more to come! (IMG:http://www.aimgirl.com/talk/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)


UPDATES AGAIN!!!

9-12-05

Piercing


Piercing has been practiced in many cultures for many centuries. Body piercing was often identified with royalty and portrayed courage and virility. Egyptian pharaohs pierced their navels as a rite of passage. Roman soldiers pierced their nipples to show their manhood.
# How is it done?
# How do the holes heal?
# Caring for Your Piercing Site
# Average Healing Times for Piercings
# Signs of Infection
# Signs of Sensitivity to Cleaning Products
# Signs of Sensitivity to the Jewelry
# Oral Piercing and Dental Health
# Teen Experience Article





How is it done?


A hollow needle is passed through the body part followed by the insertion of the body jewelry in the hole. A piercing gun should not be used because it crushes the tissues that are pierced and it cannot be properly sterilized.
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How do the holes heal?


Skin heals after piercings by forming a layer of cells called epithelial cells along the inside of the piercing to protect the body from the foreign object. The epithelial cells form a tube-like layer of skin along the inside of the piercing. The process takes at least six to eight weeks, although most body piercings require at least six months to a year before the jewelry can be removed for any length of time without the risk of the hole closing.

After the epithelial layer has formed, the piercing may constrict around the jewelry. The epithelial layer can be easily torn or dislodged, so do not force the jewelry to rotate without first applying warm water. Once the epithelial cell layer forms, it must toughen and strengthen for up to a year before the piercing will become more flexible and relaxed around the jewelry.
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Caring for Your Piercing Site


First, make sure that your piercing is done with a sterile object, and that jewelry inserted in the new piercing site is also sterile, to prevent bacteria and foreign objects from entering the body.

All new piercings produce a sticky white to off-white discharge that dries into a crusty formation around the openings of the piercings and on the jewelry). The area around the new piercing should be kept clean.

* Do not touch the new piercing. Wash your hands with soap before cleaning the piercing.
* Clean the pierced area with antibacterial soap. Remove all crusty formations, and rinse off the soap.
* Salt-water soaks are good to loosen up crusty formations. You can make salt water by adding 1/4 teaspoon of salt to one cup of clean water.
* Do not use alcohol or peroxide to clean the area at any time. They will dry out your skin. Betadine will discolor gold jewelry.
* Always wear clean clothing and change the bed-sheets every week during the healing period to avoid infection.
* Sweat and clothes rubbing against the piercing may be irritating.
* For piercings in your ear or around your face, avoid make-up and powders in that area during the healing process. Cover the pierced area with a tissue when applying hair spray.
* For body piercings, do not wear tight clothes. For navel piercing, do not wear large belts, stockings or body suits, and do not sleep on your stomach. Good air circulation is important for healing.
* Be careful where you swim. Avoid public pools and hot tubs until the piercing has healed.
* For mouth care following tongue or lip piercing, choose an antibacterial mouthwash that does not contain alcohol and rinse your mouth after all meals and snacks. If you notice bad breath and an off-colored tongue, the mouthwash may have killed bacteria that live naturally in the mouth. If this happens, switch to salt water rinses instead of mouthwash.
* Saline solution should be used to clean the inside entrance of nostril piercings.
* Do not use antibiotic ointments on piercings.
* Avoid kissing or oral sex while piercings in mouth are healing.

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Average Healing Times for Piercings


Piercing Location Average Healing Time
Ear lobe 6 to 8 weeks
Ear cartilage 4 months to 1 year
Eyebrow 6 to 8 weeks
Nostril 2 to 4 months
Nasal septum 6 to 8 months
Nasal bridge 8 to 10 weeks
Tongue 4 weeks
Lip 2 to 3 months
Nipple 3 to 6 months
Navel 4 months to 1 year
Female genitalia 4 to 10 weeks
Male genitalia 4 weeks to 6 months
Cheek 4 to 5 months

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Signs of Infection


If you experience pain that does not go away within a day or two, increased pain, unusual pain or swelling in the piercing site, or see signs of infection, see your health care provider. Do not remove your jewelry. If the jewelry is removed, the openings of the piercing may close and trap the infection, which can create an abscess (a pus-filled, painful area).
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Signs of Sensitivity to Cleaning Products


Symptoms may include redness, irritation, itching or burning when the piercing is cleaned, or a rash surrounding the piercing. Over- or under-cleaning of the piercing can cause the openings of the piercing to become red, overly dry and cracked.
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Signs of Sensitivity to the Jewelry


Symptoms may include redness, irritation, itching or burning when the piercing is cleaned, or a rash surrounding the piercing. Piercers recommend non-toxic metals such as surgical steel (316L or 316LVM), 14K or 18K yellow gold, 18K palladium white gold, niobium or titanium to avoid infections and allergic reactions.
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Oral Piercing and Dental Health


No matter where you put pierced jewelry, you could have an infection or sensitivity. Piercings in the mouth have some specific additional risks, according to the American Dental Association.

Metal jewelry in the mouth can cause irritation to the soft tissue in the mouth, and it can cause the gums to recede due to constant irritation. Constant contact of the jewelry against the teeth can cause chipping and cracking of the teeth, and jewelry that comes unfastened can be a choking hazard.

Q and A about Lip Piercing

Question

People say that getting a ring is better than getting a stud when getting a lip piercing. Why is that? And I hear that there can be problems with receeding gums and such with lip piercings. What are the possible health hazards for getting lip piercings?

Answer


I did some research in order to respond to your question. I did not find any recommendations for using rings instead of studs for lip piercing. In fact, there was a suggestion that studs might actually be safer since they have less of a tendency to move around, therefore having a slightly lower risk of infection. Also, there have been reports of dental problems such as receding gums from a lip piercing. It is thought that this is due to the metal rubbing on the teeth and gums. The other main complication from lip piercing is infection, especially since the mouth is constantly filled with bacteria no matter what. It is impossible to sterilize the mouth completely.

Therefore, all the dental organizations whose information I reviewed discourage any type of piercing in the mouth.

Answered by Irene Lin, M.D.
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Update!!! 2/25/06

I havent been into piercings as much as I was, but I still have some. Just for fun, Take a look at my ear rings now. Pretty much all healed.

(IMG:http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/9086/picture0509ys.jpg)

(IMG:http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/6568/picture0550lf.jpg)

UPDATE 12/18/07

I ended up taking out my ear piercings probably around March 2007, I was sick of them. I could not sleep on the side of my head ever and it was just hard to deal with Haircuts and the whole shit thing blah it was annoying.

I took them out after I got my eyebrow pierced, since then my eyebrow has healed and it's perfect. I plan on keeping it for awhile and a tongue piercing in the future.

The day I took out all my ear rings, lots of shit lol

(IMG:http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6889/earbt4.jpg)

Then a pic with my eyebrow, not the best but it works.

(IMG:http://a139.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/52/l_a7134893b3098ac14f5d5bdcfaeb4e32.jpg)

This post has been edited by Suspence: Dec 18 2007, 03:23 PM

[supppASHLEY]

Wow, lots of info here. Too lazy to read, but, I'll sticky it (IMG:http://www.aimgirl.com/talk/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[meeshy28]

oh wow i always thought the tongue would hurt more than the belly! tx for the info though!!!!

[Refused]

And I thought the female nipple would hurt more than the male nipple.

[Neeters is neat]

Ooooh, very helpful! Wish I'd had read it before piercing my earlobes two weeks ago.

[HeavyMetalBabe]

oh wow i always thought the tongue would hurt more than the belly! tx for the info though!!!!

I'd think it would hurt more
because when I got my navel done I didn't feel it and I was even having a conversation during it

From what I heard from someone, it hurt really bad
then from two people it didn't hurt at all
who knows
it all depends on how much your body can handle I guess

Out of the 20 I got done
I think my nose hurt more then all of them

18 ear piercings (first lobe piercings are gauged to a 2 g), right nose, and my navel

This post has been edited by HeavyMetalBabe: Aug 18 2005, 06:20 AM

[Raven Morgana]

very good idea Spencer!

wow, out of the six I have, the one that hurt the least (to me) was my Monroe piercing (a piercing where a beauty mark would be).

not to steal your thunder Spencer, but I found another site that you should put in the first post:

http://www.safepiercing.org

it even tells you where their credited piercers are

[chellabellax]

yeah i got my second cartilage peircing tonight & i love it.

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/xobelladancer1ox/cartilage.jpg)

[Suspence]

Oh my god. That's nice. BUt I know, Its hard as shit to take a picture of your ear. But yeah mine was purple for a long time. Well lol I have 2 on each cartilage so I have 4 all together. Lots of purple though. Happy healing!!

[chellabellax]

lol its not purple. well it kinda is but thats from the marker. the earrings are pink :-p

[comeasyouare514]

i got my eyebrow peirced yesterday and it didnt hurt at ALL, i love it too

[Raven Morgana]

Spencer, you're quite welcome, but you spelled my name wrong, oh well lol

[lyn_lynx3]

I want to get my tounge pierced but my mom doesn't want me to. So I have to wait until next year when i turn 18 (IMG:http://www.aimgirl.com/talk/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
Im sort of afraid it will hurt but apparently the only thing that hurts is the clamp, says my friend. But im still afraid (IMG:http://www.aimgirl.com/talk/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[meeshy28]

ooo ya i wanna get my tongue pierced too!! how bad does it hurt??? i think ill get one for my 16th birthday

[Raven Morgana]

for those of you wanting/asking about tounge piercings, it doesn't hurt. all you basically feel is pressure from the clamps. the only time it would REALLY hurt was if you got a tounge web piercing, or a horizontal tounge piercing.

here are some pics:

Web Piercing

Horizontal Piercing