botched piercing

I received an excellent question from a client about how she would know her triangle piercing is healed:

About the triangle I received from you 5 months ago - what particular indicator of healing should I look for so that I will know that the healing process is complete?  This piercing remained relatively moist so I never noticed any "crusties".  It was never painful (aside from the one or two times it got accidentally knocked during sex), and once the swelling and bleeding stopped a few days after the initial procedure, it has looked pretty much the same ever since.  Will this type of tissue produce sebum in the piercing?  How can I be sure the piercing is healed?

Thank you.

My reply:

I received this message from a woman who got a "triangle" piercing done in NYC, and it was nowhere near where a triangle should be placed:

I just got this piercing done at a pretty reputable studio in NYC. But after reading up (even more) and seeing even more pics online, I'm wondering if it was placed too low? Would you please see the pic attached and give me your professional opinion? Thanks!! I wish you were near, but I felt confident in the piercer I ended up choosing locally :-)

Below is an email exchange I had with a woman in the UK who got a botched VCH piercing, and then got it redone properly:

Hi! My name is S., I live in the UK. I looked at your site before getting my VCH, I am happy with my piercing but it dosn't look like any on the VCH I've seen on your site and wondering maybe he's made a mistake? It's still a bit swollen as I've only had it a few days, I hope to hear back from u soon! Thanks! S. =)

HI S.,

You definitely do NOT have a properly placed VCH piercing. You have a piercing located on the side of your clitoral hood. A VCH goes in the center.  Further, the jewelry is not touching your clitoris, which is the thing that is potentially stimulating about the VCH piercing. Also the way the jewelry is resting, the piercing is higher on the inside of your hood than it is on the outside. This is not a proper placement and it causes your clitoral hood to be hooked over the top of the jewelry, so you're likely to get migration, scarring, or both. Additionally, you can expect that it will be uncomfortable, or downright painful.

I'd ask for my money back, take the jewelry out, and seek a more qualified piercer to do it for you.

Elayne

I received yet another message from a woman who received a botched genital piercing (a triangle). But this one was far worse than many of the others, as it has resulted in her loss of genital sensation:

Hello, my name is E. and I am from the U.K, I have so much respect for you and what you,ve accomplished, therefore I feel that I will get the best advice on this matter.

I had a triangle piercing and it has had disasterous consequences, due to the fact that the piercer pierced right through the clitoral shaft with no anaesthetic and I can no longer feel anything down there. I had this piercing checked by an outstanding female piercer, she trained the other piercer that i go to, and she confirmed that it had gone right through the shaft and that the piercer had got the placement completely wrong.

I have since got the wrong triangle taken out and had the piercing done by this female piercer. It is not a proper triangle due to the fact that it would of done a lot of damage to all the scar tissue, however its straight, its right away from the shaft and it looks beautiful so I am very happy with that. I am considering taking legal action against the male piercer who has mutilated my genitals, but what i want to know is would it be worth it, or is it a case of my word against his? Thank you, E. xx

My reply:

I received a message today from a gal who was concerned that her piercing hadn't been properly placed. Wow was she right!

I received a message today from a gal who was concerned that her piercing hadn't been properly placed. Wow was she right!

I got an email today from another unfortunate woman who got a misplaced VCH piercing that was terribly painful to receive:

Hello

I got a vertical clitoral hood piercing in Fargo, ND and it does not even look like its in the right spot. I went back and had the piercer take a look at it and she said the top is in the right spot but the bottom is off a little. I researched and researched before doing this and thought that it is supposed to go up under the clitoral hood. It is off to the side not even by the clitoris itself.

I’ve read and talked to people who have had it done and everything says that the pain when having it done was like a pinch. This pain I had was excruciating…not once or twice but THREE times. My husband was with me and said she stopped in the middle of it and went to get a bigger tube to pierce with. In getting a second opinion from another place…the lady looked at it and says, “that’s not right, I am sorry honey”. When we called back to where I got it done at, she argued and said that it was done right…after she had said that the bottom was not right. We tried to call the manager who also started a piercing school there and they said she is out of town and they didn’t know when she would be back. I was looking so forward to this and it turned into a nightmare. Is there anything that I can do?
Thanks, D.

My response: