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 We love to
decorate our bodies, some with cosmetics, some with clothes, while others go
further, making their bodies attractive (or the opposite of attractive, different
strokes for different folks, as they say) with body piercing and tattoos. However, we
won't judge and discuss what is good and what is bad. Instead, we will tell you
more about safety rules and tips for those who decided to decorate their bodies
with piercing, and dwell on the implications of various types of body piercing.
Body piercing
is a surgical procedure (rather than cosmetic one, as many believe), which is piercing
of the skin surface for implanting jewelry in the area. The most common (and safe)
type of piercing is earlobe piercing. However, this piercing variation is rather
common, therefore, now young people get every part of their body pierced, and
you can observe more and more people sporting naval rings and nose rings. If
you have decided to follow this significant trend and to pierce any part of your
body, you need to know a lot. For example, there are restrictions which could
prevent you from getting body piercing. Unfortunately, in many parlors they do
not even ask about your health problems and conditions, to say nothing of
rejecting customer's request, so we recommend you to pay attention to these counter-indications
to body piercing, which would save you a lot of pain and discomfort in the
future.
So, body
piercing may not be the best idea, if:
1. You're
under 18, and your parents do not approve of your idea and have not given their
permission;
2. You're
suffering from a chronic condition at the moment.
3. You have
fever and poor blood coagulability, or have allergic reactions to metal jewelry
or drugs of lidocaine group (they're frequently used as anesthesia during some
types of painful piercing procedures). Moreover, in this case body piercing is strongly
discommended.
If you do
not have counter-indications, and already are on your way to piercing salon, please,
remember your rights and obligations of the piercing professional.
Anyone who
is planning to get body piercing has the right to demand strict hygiene and
cleanness of the piercing professional, an expect him or her to use only
sterile disposable needles, which must be destroyed immediately after the
procedure, to choose the jewelry, which has the proper size and is made of safe
material. Moreover, the design of the jewelry should promote speedy healing of
the wound, etc.
But even if
you think it is totally unnecessary, at least remember the most important thing:
piercing gun should never be used by the piercing professional, because it's very
dangerous, even if used for earlobe piercing!
The point
is that, first, the guns are made of plastic, and are therefore cannot be subject
to heat or chemical sterilization, as they will simply melt during the process,
while cleaning them with alcohol solution or other antiseptic preparations does
not kill pathogenic bacteria. Blood of one customer may be left in the aerosol
particles and spread by piercing gun, which results in the infection and contamination
with deadly viruses.
Second, piercing
guns do not pierce but rather force ear studs through the skin (unlike in a
needle piercing, guns puncture your skin by blunt force). They cannot be made
as sharp as special piercing needle (triple laser sharpening) since ear studs are
made of soft metal. The result of such procedures is extraction of internal
tissues in the puncture area, which leads to scarring and aides infection.
Third, ear
piercing studs fully close the puncture on both sides, which prevents proper after-care.
Due to its super-clinging backing, the stud cannot perfectly fit in the
puncture, which leads to severe irritation and ingrowth of the stud into skin
tissue. Most ear studs, even those with non-toxic gold plating, have very thin
short rods which can easily rip, tear and migrate in your ear. Also, because
the bar is too short, it cannot accommodate swelling which is natural body's
reaction to trauma.
If you read
these recommendations and understood what you need to pay attention to in the first
place, let us now dwell on the piercing types, where and how the procedure is performed
and how to take proper care of your body piercing to ensure quick healing.
Earlobe
Piercing
Absolutely
any kind of jewelry can be used for primary standard earlobe piercing,
including rings, horseshoes, tunnels, etc. Ordinary navel rings look amazing in
the earlobes. The healing time for body piercing depends on the type of
piercing chosen, as some parts of the body heal very soon. For example, earlobe
piercing heals quickly, in almost two months time and you are ready for jewelry.
Problems and complications are usually rare, so are rejections.
There is a
terrible myth that if you pierce earlobe you can hurt some vital point, and
slowly (or immediately) go blind, deaf or numb. In fact, about 150 points are
found on the ear surface by affecting which one can stimulate functioning of
all body organs. They are scattered on the outer and inner surface of the ear
auricle, forming specific zones, which can be affected in order to stimulate
the organ systems (eyes, digestive tract, respiratory organs, and others).
Contrary to popular belief, piercing of earlobe in the point which is
responsible for sight will not make you go blind, but will help to improve your
sight.
Ear piercing
in these vital points can only result in elimination of the corresponding active
zone and thereby in inability to «control» individual body organs. Therefore,
the disastrous consequences (like losing sight and hearing) of earlobe piercing
are complete and utter nonsense.
Eyebrow
Piercing
Barbells,
curved barbells or bead rings are types of jewelry best suited for piercing of
this type. Their shape and thickness (1.0mm x 10-12 mm) are best for formation
of a seat in the eyebrows. Usually, eyebrow piercing will take approximately 6
- 8 weeks to heal (just like earlobe piercing), unless, of course, you begin to
touch, turn or otherwise twiddle with your eyebrow jewelry. As you might know, eyebrows
are highly veined, and the slightest injury will lead to the rupture of tissues,
profuse bleeding, and infection. The jewelry will have to be removed in order to
clean and disinfect the wound. Repeat piercing can be done only when the
rupture is completely healed. You cannot have two punctures at a time, because
tissues tighten during the healing process, and the seats interfere with each
other.
Nose
Piercing
Optionally,
studs and barbells are most common jewelry types used for nose piercing. Their
size varies from 1.0mm x 6mm to 1.0mm x 8mm. They are traditionally made of titanium
or 14-carat gold. Nose-rings and captive bead rings of 1.0mm x 10mm/12mm can
also be used for this type of piercing. Nose piercing is one of the most common
varieties of piercing after earlobe piercing, and it seldom results in
infection or inflammation. Rejection is also very rare.
Tongue
Piercing
Straight
titanium barbells measuring 1.6mm x 18mm/20mm are most frequently used for
primary tongue piercing. Rings measuring 1.6mm x 14mm/16mm can only be placed into
the healed puncture.
Please, keep
in mind that immediately after the procedure you cannot drink alcohol, smoke,
eat for 4 hours and be very careful throughout the healing period. You must
monitor your diet, limit alcohol consumption, and refrain from smoking. You can
eat yogurt and other dairy products, as well as cereals, pastries, fruit
(except citrus) and other «gentle» food. You cannot have hot, salty, spicy
foods; drink «colored» drinks (coffee, juices), as your tongue may take their
color. Alcohol is absolutely prohibited because its consumption will lead to
the destruction of the protective film and dissolve the newly formed tissue and
the wound will open again.
After every
meal or beverage you should brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with a sea
salt solution or antiseptic solutions containing chlorhexidine, for example, Perideks,
Periogard, Lizoplak, Stomatidine. Make sure to brush the barbell and the area
around the puncture and rinse thoroughly.
Lip
Piercing
In this
case, you should use titanium or plastic barbells measuring 1.6mm x 8mm/10mm.
You can also use small rings measuring 1.6mm x 12mm/14mm. The aftercare is the
same as for tongue piercing: you should not drink or smoke. And no kisses! Beauty
requires sacrifice, you know.
Navel Piercing
Whatever
you might say, various rings, pendants or large jewelry with jagged edges (flower-shaped,
for example) cannot be used for primary navel piercing. There has been a
special standard established for navel barbells (also called «bananabells» or «bananabars»).
The standard bananabell is 1.6mm thick and 9.5mm or 11.1mm long. If you're
pregnant and you already have navel piercing, it is recommended to change the jewelry
to flexible teflon bananabar. If you're a regular visitor of sunrooms, you should
cover the puncture with a sticker when taking tanning session.
The advantage of this type of piercing is that
if you are not satisfied with the puncture, you can immediately make repeat
puncture without any risks or disastrous consequences. However, if you have sported
navel jewelry before, then repeat piercing of the navel is possible only after
the complete healing of the old puncture.
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