About Piercings
Almost any part of the body can be pierced but it is always important to consider your individual anatomy before getting a piercing. Everyone’s body is different and piercings such as upper ear piercings and intimate piercings are very dependent on the individual shape of your ears etc. You can then choose not only the placement that will suit your body but also the jewelry that has the best chance of healing your piercing. As with any piercing placement queries, we recommend that you consult a professional body piercer with any questions before you decide to go ahead with a piercing.
At Southernmost Tattoo we have 3 piercers on staff most days. It is usually easy to walk in and get pierced although appointments are preferred.
Are Piercings Right For You?
It is also important to think about your lifestyle – will your new piercing be practical in day-to-day life? Simple things such as clothing and work dress codes can cause problems with certain body piercings. For example, if you wear a helmet or headphones often it may make it difficult to heal upper ear piercings. Many workplaces do not allow facial piercings and if you work in a dangerous environment certain body piercings pose a health risk. Most of these issues can be overcome with careful piercing placement and the right jewelry but it is always better to be safe than sorry!
Some body piercings are known by different names in different countries and communities Some piercing names are also dependent on the type of jewelry you wear in the piercing – for example an industrial piercing must use a long barbell, or it becomes simply two upper ear piercings.
Body Piercing Aftercare
Our piercers say that, in general, the aftercare for a piercing is similar no matter where it is located. “Most piercing professionals agree that the best aftercare is a twice daily saline soak to gently remove any debris that may build up, followed by patting dry with a clean paper towel,” Faris says. “Otherwise, the piercings should be left alone and not touched.”
We agree that additional important aftercare instructions are to keep your hair up and away from your piercing for a few weeks and avoid swimming for at least 30 days to minimize the risk of infection. “Avoid sleeping on the piercings, if possible. If [you’re] not able to, simply using a travel pillow can help alleviate any sleeping discomfort,” she notes. “[And] avoid wearing face makeup for a couple of weeks as that can promote bumps and irritation.”
Lastly, always make sure your hands are clean when caring for your piercings. She adds, “It is important to leave the earrings in for at least six weeks to prevent the piercings from closing.”
