Will it hurt?
How long will it take to heal?
When can I change the jewellery in my new piercing?
How do I look after my new piercing?
What metal is used in jewellery for new piercings?
Can I use my own jewellery for a new piercing?
Can I get a ring in a new piercing or do I have to start with a stud?
Do you use a gun or a needle?
Can I swim in a pool after getting a piercing?
I had a piercing but let it close; can I be re-pierced in the same place?
What are the risks when getting a piercing?
Will my piercing close up if I take the jewellery out?
Can I get more than one piercing at a time?
Can I get a piercing if I am pregnant?
Will I still be able to breast feed later on if I get a nipple piercing?
Can I get a piercing anywhere on my body?
How do I tell if my piercing is infected?
What do I do if my piercing becomes infected?
Should I take the jewellery out if my piercing becomes infected?
My new piercing is getting 'crusty', is that normal?
Q. Will it hurt?
A. It varies from person to person and for different piercing sites. A lot of people say “it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be”. But it is usually very quick with any painful parts lasting only a second or two.
Q. How long will it take to heal?
A. Different piercings take different amounts of time to heal. Most piercings take at least 6 weeks, some can take over 6 months. Your general health and fitness will also affect the healing time. See the healing times table for more details.
Q. When can I change the jewellery in my new piercing?
A. The piercing should be fully healed before it is changed. You should usually wait at least 2 months before changing jewellery depending on the site and healing time. One exception is tongue piercings which are pierced with an over sized bar to allow for swelling which should be changed to a better fitting bar approximately 10 days later.
Q. How do I look after my new piercing?
A. Don’t touch new piercings with your hands for the first 2 weeks at least. All new piercings should be cleaned twice a day with an aftercare product specifically designed for piercings. Mouthwash should also be used for oral piercings. See the aftercare page for details of care of each type of piercing.
Q. What metal is used in jewellery for new piercings?
A. Only Surgical Stainless Steel (316L), Titanium or 18ct Gold can be used. Also Poly Tetra Fluro Ethylene (PTFE) or ‘BioPlast’ is a type of soft plastic which is also suitable for new piercings. Gold plated, 9ct gold, sterling silver and UV plastic are NOT suitable for new piercings.
Q. Can I use my own jewellery for a new piercing?
A. No. We have no way to tell what compound your jewellery is made from, therefore we only use our own jewellery. Also, all jewellery must be sterilised in an autoclave before using in a new piercing.
Q. Can I get a ring in a new piercing or do I have to start with a stud?
A. Yes, rings can be used in new piercings, whether it’s in an ear, nose or other site. There is no need to start with a stud before changing to a ring. Performing a new piercing with a stud is only necessary when using a gun to pierce earlobes.
Q. Do you use a gun or a needle?
A. We use a needle for nearly all our piercings. The only piercings we use a gun for is earlobes, and only if requested by the client, usually for young children. Guns should never be used for ear cartilage piercings, nose piercings or any other part of the body. Piercing guns use force to pierce which can cause tissue damage, where as a needle is very sharp and cuts cleanly.
Q. Can I swim in a pool after getting a piercing?
A. No, swimming in a pool or spa bath is not recommended during the healing time of a piercing as pools and spas can carry bacteria that can cause infections. Swimming in the ocean is fine as the salt water should help keep the piercing clean.
Q. I had a piercing but let it close; can I be re-pierced in the same place?
A. Yes, a new piercing can be done at the site of an old one. A new piercing can be done through a scar as long as the scar is not hard or lumpy. Ask your piercer for specific advice for your scar.
Q. What are the risks when getting a piercing?
A. The main risks are infections in new piercings and migration or rejection in healed piercings especially in areas with tight skin, or scarring.
Firstly, we use sterile single use needles, sterile tool and jewellery which we sterilise ourselves in our autoclave, and we clean the piercing room surfaces before every piercing to eliminate the risk of infections at the time of piercing. Once you leave, it is up to you to make sure your piercing is kept clean by following our after care procedures.
Further, the risk of migration or rejection can be minimised by making sure the piercing is placed correctly and is suitable for your anatomy in the first place.
This is why using a well trained and experienced piercer is important. There are other issues that can occur but are fairly rare. Most piercings heal with no trouble at all and last for a long time without issue. If you have any concerns discuss them with your piercer before getting your piercing.
Q. Will my piercing close up if I take the jewellery out?
A. If the piercing is not fully healed it will close up if the jewellery is removed. Once healed some will close up quickly while others will stay open for a while before starting to shrink then eventually close over time. Nostril piercings may stay open but will often close quickly, overnight or even during a jewellery change. Earlobe, Septum, Prince Albert and inner labia are the only piercings that will usually stay open indefinitely.
Q. Can I get more than one piercing at a time?
A. Yes, we can do more than one piercing in a session, for example both ears or nose and navel etc. We usually don’t do more than four piercings at a time to make sure your body can heal them all without over taxing the immune system.
Q. Can I get a piercing if I am pregnant?
A. No, you shouldn’t get a piercing while you are pregnant. Your body is already too busy with the pregnancy to deal with anything extra. You can keep existing piercings when you become pregnant except for nipple navel and genital piercings.
Q. Will I still be able to breast feed later on if I get a nipple piercing?
A. Yes, you will need to remove the jewellery in order to breast feed as it is likely to get in the way, but a nipple piercing should not affect the normal function of the nipple.
Q. Can I get a piercing anywhere on my body?
A. Most body parts can be pierced as long as the skin at the site is not too tight. We don’t pierce the bridge of the nose and only the outer third of eye brows as there are too many nerves in these areas. There are variations in anatomy and therefore some people’s anatomy doesn’t suit all piercings. If in doubt, ask us for advice and we can tell you if your anatomy is suitable for a particular piercing.
Q. How do I tell if my piercing is infected?
A. If your piercing is infected you will usually have one or more of the following:
- Skin is pinkish or reddish, swollen, and warm to the touch
- Localised tenderness
- A small amount of puss
- Swollen lymph nodes
Remember that some redness, swelling and tenderness is normal during the first two weeks of a piercing, and doesn’t necessarily mean you have an infection. Check with your piercer if you are unsure.
Q. What do I do if my piercing becomes infected?
A. Keep the area clean and wash it twice a day. Soak it in a warm mild saline solution for 10-15 minutes twice a day. Take ibuprofen to reduce the associated inflammation. If there is no improvement in a few days then come in and see us for advice, if there is no improvement in a week then see a doctor. Remember, don’t take the jewellery out if it is infected.
Q. Should I take the jewellery out if my piercing becomes infected?
A. No. If a piercing is infected the jewellery needs to stay in until the infection has been treated to allow the infection to drain to the surface. If the jewellery is removed and the piercing is allowed to close up the infection can then be trapped under the surface which can result in an abscess, making the situation worse.
Q. My new piercing is getting 'crusty', is that normal?
A. Yes. During the healing process a small amount of clear or pale coloured liquid seeps from the channel then dries in contact with the air forming the crustiness on the skin or jewellery. The crustiness needs to be removed during normal daily cleaning of the piercing. (see aftercare instructions) This is different to pus which is usually thicker and darker in colour, and does not mean you have an infection.