Piercing Questions

Yet another recent message from a woman who got a navel piercing and she didn't think it was done properly:

Hi! I got my belly button peirced at a body peircing shop called "the purple scorpian" in Salem, MA. The lady there wasn't friendly but not rude either. She was straight to buissness & didn't ask or say anything. I saw her take out all the necessary tools out & they all looked new she cleaned me & the tools & she wore gloves. She did use a captive bead hoop & I asked if that was ok because I heard not to get those & she assured me they we're better because I'll be sweating & its the summer I confessed I was a little nervouse & I just don't want anything to go wrong but she told me after 8 weeks I can change to a barbell but she needs to start me off with this one. I just want to make sure I have nothing to worry about & I'll be ok to change to a barbell in 8 weeks.Also I did purchase the sea salt spray but is there anything else I must do. To keep it safe & for it to heal fast? All she told me was to read the instructions. I want to be as safe as possible so I can keep it healthy.I have looked things up online but I rather know from an expert. If you can please help me be educated I would appreciate it soooo much!!!!!!

My reply:

I received this message from a concerned piercee:

Hi, I would like your help and advice on a recent spontaneous piercing.
 
I went into a tattoo and piercing shop yesterday at niagra falls, inside the tourism area and got the piercing done to my belly button. However, the girl did it wrong the first time (it was not straight), so she pierced the same ring again a second time. I do not remember her sterilizing my belly or ring. She only sterilized the ring by dipping it into dollarama hand sanitizer gel the first time. She did not give me any cleansers or solutions, and I was not asked to sign a consent form or anything like that.

Today my piercing area is a bit red and sore, it hurts when I bend over or even sit down on a bus or chair. I am a fitness instructor and my movements are very limited at the moment I can not exercise. I am wondering if this is a sign of infecton? I have applied water and sea salt mix with a Q tip, and coconut oil and tamanu oil to reduce the redness, and to help heal any possible scarring... is that ok? I am now worried about the two piercings, will the first one create a scar even though the barbal was taken out immediately after? Any information you have is greatly appreciated.
 

My reply:

I got a message from a woman who had a really bad cheek piercing experience:

I recently had an awful experience with some cheek piercings. Long story short, after 2 days of what I decided was an unjustifiable amount of swelling on my right side I went back to the piercer to ask them to change out the bar which just wasn't able to cope with it. After some time, which was partially spent trying to find some way to blame me for the swelling, they agreed to change it. Immediately my face started gushing out blood, the woman who took it out blanched and leapt away from me while the other ran from the room to call an ambulance. I just can't stress how very much blood was coming out, both congealed from 2 days of sitting under the skin and fresh.

I had done some rather substantial research on cheek piercings prior and although people did mention that there was a chance of hitting a vein I never actually came across any stories of this happening, most people finishing the warning with 'it's nearly impossible though'. I was wondering if you've heard any stories similar to this and if there were any long term affects I should be wary of. At the moment it seems fairly superficial, some bruising and the healing opening but I can't seem to shake a kind of not-quite-but-nearly-numb, stiffness in my cheek. My doctor, not seen this before, could only prescribe me some antibiotics and tell me to come back if I don't feel any improvement.
Thank you.

There's a new piercing-related product that I wanted to let people know about. It is called "Funk-Off" and it is a piercing deodorant.

This is what I say about it in The Piercing Bible, specifically as related to nasal septum piercings:

Septum Piercing: Septum Stench
Once your piercing is healed, you may encounter septum stench (the pungent, rot- ten odor that comes from the sebum that accumulates in healed piercing channels). It is a normal secretion from piercings throughout the body (see “Normal Piercing Secretions,” page 182). However, because your septum piercing is inside your nose, the distinctive aroma is obvious when the smelly substance is present. Don’t worry: only you can smell it!

And this is what it says in the section, Normal Piercing Secretions:

I received a message from a girl who was interested in becoming a piercer:

Hello,

I've been interested in becoming a piercing artist for a while and have asked about apprenticeships, but have had no luck until today when one of the artists at a nearby shop said that he would apprentice me for one hundred dollars a week. Should I consider this? Would a reputable place ask for this or are they just interested in getting my money?

This is something I'm serious about doing and am willing to do anything for at this point.

Thanks,

J.

I received a question about tongue piercing risks:

I wanted to ask about the tongue piercing. I've been doing research on it and I see that there are prons and cons of having it. I've done my research but I do value your opinion and expertise on any type piercing. Despite of everything that I've read and heard, (negative comments..i.e., chipped front teeth, nerve damage in the tongue, a permanent lisp) is there any reason a 44 yr young lady shouldn't get a tongue ring? Also, how do you feel about PTFE or Bioplast in the tongue after it's healed?

Take your time answering me back. I'm in no rush and I know you're busy. In the meantime, take care and God bless! T.

My reply:

I recently got a question from someone who got a septum piercing that didn't get placed in the correct location:

I got my septum pierced today and I have to say it was the most painful piercing I've had in a while. I was expecting a small quick pinch through the skin below the nasal cartilage, but instead it was an excruciating needle push through the thicker skin near the tip of my nose. It doesn't hurt now and I love the way it looks, I'm a just wondering if maybe the piercer did wrong? Or of I will have any problems with healing? 
Thanks so much,
G.

I was asked a question recently that I hadn't heard before:

At one of the tattoo shops I work in, one of the apprentice tattoo artists wants me to pierce a helix on both ears. No problemo. However he has "cauliflower ear" in both. I've been doing some research about specifically what causes it, also I've talked with him about it. He told me that he used to be a boxer, which is somewhat common. But he never had them drained.

I have never pierced a cauliflower ear, and honestly I've never been presented with this question. So I'm curious to know if its something that I should or should not do ? I'm also curious to know what your experience is, and what you think. :) Thanks.

My reply:

That's an awesome question! It is one I have never been asked before. And in all my years of experience, I've never had a request to pierce an ear that has been injured in this way.

From my understanding of the situation, I'd be very wary about piercing such anatomy. As I imagine you know, the condition itself results from the surface tissue being separated from the cartilage, and is a problem that is caused by a lack of vascularity. To me that would indicate that the healing capacity of the area is even worse than usual (and we all know cartilage is rather finicky when it comes to healing).

If he can bring you a doctor's note that says piercing is not medically contraindicated in his case, I'd consider it. Short of that, I'd personally stay away from an area that is highly likely to be problematic healing.