Piercing Questions

I received this message from someone with surface anchrs who was concerned about them:

Hi Elayne, I have four microdermal anchors, two in my fingers, and two in my wrists. I have had them for a few months, when I first got them done they were fine, but recently they have had infections (due to my job and all my animals) and I have been taking antibiotics for them. I have just noticed that on my wrist dermals small mounds have been forming, is this a sign of rejection, or just scar tissue? Thanks alot, L.

My reply:

Hi L.,

Without seeing them, I can't necessarily offer an opinion on exactly what is wrong, but I can say that such adornments are bound to be temporary. Surface anchors seldom last for the long-term--especially in such high-trauma areas. Also, such locations are more prone to infection than other spots. I hope that your piercer counseled you about these important facts before agreeing to do the piercings on you.

Did you consult your piercer? Did you visit your doctor for the antibiotics? What did your doctor say? Are you doing saline soaks and making sure there is no build-up of matter under the threaded jewelry end? Here's the aftercare instructions I advocate:

http://www.safepiercing.org/piercing/body-aftercare/

Sincerely,
Elayne

Elayne Angel, Author
The Piercing Bible--The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing
Medical Liaison, Association of Professional Piercers

elayneangel@piercingbible.com
http://piercingbible.com/
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I received this message from a woman I pierced many years ago.

I received a message from a piercee who is concerned about the size of the tongue jewelry in his new piercing:

So recently i got my tongue pierced, and ive been taking care of it rather well if i dont say so myself but something is bugging me, and i have asked my piercer and he says its fine but it still bugs me. You know how when you get your tongue pierced the ball of the barbell creates that crater? well the ball of my piercing is all the way sunken into it and i can't see it when my tongue is laying relaxed in my mouth. But i can push the piercing up and the ball will pop out of the crater just fine but will always sink in after. Now the guy who pierced my tongue said that this is fine and that my tongue is just swollen and this will go away, but for some reason the people I talked to about this ( who have their tongues pierced as well) hasnt encountered their ball sinking into their crater this badly. So im just a over worring person.Im wondering if something happened or im just that small percent of people where this happens all time and im just not aware of it.

If you can help me thank you so much !

Sam

My reply:

Hi Elayne,
 
You did a VCH piercing for me on December 30, 2004 and, per my notes, it's a J-curve (JC 5085) 14 gauge, 1/2", 6 mm bezel cup with two teal gem stones.
 
I received a message froma woman I pierced who was concerned about taking her jewelry out for an MRI:

I'm having an MRI of my knee on Sunday and they want the piercing removed - which, needless to say, I'd rather not do.
 
I had a brain MRI done about two years ago, with piercing in place, without a problem.
 
The radiology tech suggested I hold a magnet to the piercing to see if it reacted - it did not, so I think I'm fine.
 
I think you said the metal was titanium - but not sure, and wanted to check with you before undergoing the knee MRI since it is "closer" to the genital region than my brain ...
 
BTW, I LOVED your book and only wish I had read it before coming to see you as I would have been much better informed and prepared - and therefore a better/easier client for you !!
 
Any thoughts/suggestions/feedback re: MRI would be greatly appreciated.
 
Let me know if/when you're planning to be in the Los Angeles area again, I would love to see you and likely get another piercing ... K.
 

My response:

I received this message:

I have heard that surface piercings, eyebrow, navel, anti eyebrow and some others, have a tendency to reject. I was wondering if there are some ways you could prevent or slow down the rejection process for these piercings? If it does start to reject and you take the jewelry out are there fluctuations in rejection risk( more or less risk) that would possibly result in a different outcome if you had it repierced? And also what are some signs to tell if a piercing is rejecting? Thanks! G.

I received this message from a woman who is worried about her piercing:

I got my industrial done back in November....my boyfriend and i were doing a little rough houses and i hit my ear with his knee and when i went in the bathroom to look my bottom hole on the back side was bleeding. The only time i bleed was when i got my piercing 4 months ago. What could this be, and what can i do to stop it???

I received this message through my website:

Hi Elayne,

About five months ago I got my waist pierced. The piercer did not perform the piercing right neither did he use the PTFE in the piercing and it rejected within a matter of weeks and left a really unattractive scar that has slightly faded but is still there.

Three months ago I went to another piercer and I got my belly button pierced & also a surface piercing below my belly button. My piercing did not reject but I still had dark circles around the piercing and ended up taking it out.

attached are pictures of the scars.

I received this message from a Facebook friend:

Hi Elayne i would like to learn body piercing. My problem being i have been round the local studios and no one will show me because i tattoo and most piercing is done in other tattoo studios i know you are in the states but thought you may have links or knowledge of some one in the north east of scotland. any advice or help would be much loved. Garry

My reply: