Body Piercing - Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does it hurt?

This is by far the most asked question. Unfortunately, there is no definite answer. How much a piercing hurts, if at all, depends on many factors- your pain threshold, the pierced location and size of jewellery used. Anaesthetic will help numb the area, but most body piercers are not allowed to use injectable anaesthesia and can only use spray or cream anaesthetics. These work, but should not be considered as effective as injected anaesthesia.

Another factor to consider is that the piercing is very quick- any pain felt is momentary.

2. How long do piercings take to 'heal'?

This varies according to the location of the piercing and the jewellery used. It is not uncommon for tongue piercings to 'heal' in a week or two, neither is it unknown for nipple piercings to take many months. Remember though, that it takes much longer for the piercing to be truly healed and it should always be treated with care.

3. How do I look after my piercing?

THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF INFECTION IN PIERCINGS IS DIRTY HANDS.

I'll say that again.

THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF INFECTION IN PIERCINGS IS DIRTY HANDS.

Your hands are dirty 99.9% of the time, and 99% of people don't wash their hands properly.

Don't fiddle with it.

It won't get any better if you pick at it.

Leave it alone.

Wash your hands before you touch it, and only touch it to clean it, and only clean it twice to three times a day.

We recommend Savlon wound spray for cleaning, or saline solution (1/4 teaspoon salt to 1/2 pint boiled water). Saline solution is also available from opticians.
DO NOT use surgical spirit!
Nipple and navel piercings are harder to look after because they are in constant contact with clothing and get less air. Use an antibacterial soap- like Carex- and when showering carefully wash and rinse the area with cold water.
Tongue piercings will heal quickly if you use an antibacterial mouthwash. To assist with swelling, suck ice. The best painkiller to use, if it is needed, is soluble aspirin since this will help with swelling. Avoid spicy foods and garlic until the piercing is healed.
The same applies for lip and cheek piercings- treat the outside of the piercing with saline as above.

4. What can go wrong?

Although rare, piercings do occasionally cause problems. Some swelling and redness is common after a piercing, and may take a few days to go down. Piercings will also occasionally get 'crusty'- just clean your piercing as normal. DO NOT pick at scabs or crusty bits. If you are at all worried, contact your piercer.
Some people worry about allergic reactions to piercings. The most common allergen is nickel, found in surgical steel. All steel used should comply with EU regulations on nickel content. If in doubt ask. If even the most miniscule amount of nickel makes you allergic then there are nickel-free alternatives such as Titanium.

Piercings can 'reject' or 'grow out'. This is mostly due to bad luck- it's impossible to predict. See 8 - Rejection and Migration.

If you are at all worried, contact your piercer. We cannot really deal with enquiries about such matters via email since without seeing the problem it is impossible to assess.

5. What about infection and injury?

A while back the British tabloid press had a minor hysterical outburst when Posh Spice had her lip pierced. Except she hadn't. And we all found out the next day. Yet by the next morning several teenage girls were complaining they had been led astray by Posh's example. The papers duly warned us of the dangers of piercing, claiming that 90-odd percent of doctors had treated someone with a piercing related problem.

We would happily bet that 90-odd percent of those patients had been fiddling with their piercing or neglected it and got an infection.

Tongue piercings are known to be a cause of chipped teeth- just be careful until you get used to the piercing. Try to avoid catching piercing on clothing etc, although obviously accidents do happen. Mouth piercings can erode gums if they rub- use well-fitting jewellery and remove it should the gums show any damage at all.

Don't get a piercing if you haven't thought about it properly, and don't get a piercing if you're too lazy to look after it.

It is also true that there has been a few reported cases of serious illnesses such as Hepatitis being spread due to poor practice by tattooists or piercers. This would be caused by lack of sterilization and uncleanliness. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE AT SEVENTH SUN. As a London piercing clinic we are regularly licensed by the local Borough Council, and all our implements are sterile. All "needles" used are sterile and the disposable type.

6. Can I have it done in gold?

Possibly. Many piercings can be done in 18 carat gold though we would STRONGLY recommend the use of a gold coloured metal more suited to piercing like Titanium. 9 carat gold should be avoided in most piercings even when healed.

7. If I have a nipple piercing, can I breastfeed?

It is possible. Very little research has been done, though anecdotal evidence would suggest that in many cases the ability to breastfeed is not altered.

8. Rejection and Migration

These are naturally occurring phenomenon, and are rare but not uncommon.

Migration is when the jewellery 'moves' into place or 'settles down'. It can stay in its new place or carry on moving until it grows out of the skin. This is rejection.

The most common piercings for this to occur are eyebrows and navels, and it is likely in all surface piercings done on flat areas. It is an individual reaction and it is impossible to tell prior to the piercing if it will occur.

If you are at all worried, come back and we will be happy to advise you.