Does it hurt?
This is a difficult question to answer because everyone has a different pain tolerance so each and every persons experience will differ slightly. Generally though most people report that it was nowhere near as painful as they had imagined it to be. A good thing to remember too, is that the more you relax the easier the experience will be.
How long does it take?
It really doesn't take very long at all, in fact, it takes longer to fill in the consent form.
How do I care for my piercing?
That depends on which piercing you are talking about, but first and foremost, exercise common sense; Don't touch them unnecessarily, always wash your hands before you touch your piercings, keep them clean and form good hygiene practices. Hand sanitiser is one of the best ideas ever invented, especially for those times when you simply can't wash your hands!
For oral piercings, the best thing is to keep the area cold as possible to reduce the swelling. Always rinse with saline solution several times a day, particularly if you are a smoker. If you are a smoker make yourself a bottle of saline solution and carry it around with you to rinse your mouth and spit it out each and every time you have one.
Avoid knocking or bumping your piercing in any way, shape or form as this can cause many problems from swelling to irritation to infection and hypertrophic scarring.
Lip/Labret/Medusa/Beauty Spot - swab the outer area around and under the ball with the saline solution and then rinse your mouth out with the saline solution, gargle and spit it out. Keep it cold for the first few days and this will alleviate any swelling to the area.
Tongue – Keep the environment of your mouth cold for several days, until the swelling has subsided. Do not eat anything solid, eat only soft, cool, non-spicy foods. Don't try to play with it too soon as you are not use to having it there, besides which you may irritate the piercing and keep it swollen for longer than necessary. Rinse your mouth several times a day with saline solution. We do not recommend using mouthwash as the alcohol content can keep it swollen for longer. If you do use it dilute it, do not use it full strength. Avoid kissing and other tongue play until it is well healed. We recommend a new toothbrush as well as they can harbour bacteria. Gently clean the surface of your tongue being very careful not to catch the piercing in the process.
What are the Healing times for piercings?
This can vary significantly from person to person due to different factors. Poor health, poor sleeping patterns, bad diet, a stressful lifestyle , excessive drinking and drug taking can all slow down the healing process. Generally though, the healing times are something like a week for a lip piercing, 2 weeks for a tongue and medusa or beauty spot, 6 weeks for all other basic piercings like nose, ear, eyebrow, nipple, navel etc. Thre are quite a lot of other piercings that have significantly different healing times but there are too many to list here.
What is this crusty stuff on my piercing?
Don't be alarmed by the crusty stuff on your piercing, it is a natural part of the healing process; basically it is your immune system doing its job. Once it drains from the body, it crystallises and can set as hard as concrete. Don't pick at it with your fingers or sharp objects, just subject it to water until it softens and comes off easy with cotton tips. When cleaning your piercing, make sure you get all the residue off and then gently dry the area.
What should I do about an infected piercing?
Firstly, make sure you actually do have an infection, often people think they have an infection and actually don't, they simply have a crusty piercing that needs cleaning. Usually after cleaning the piercing thoroughly the discomfort will disappear. Those crusty bits can be extremely painful!
Other times, they have a mild irritation caused by an external source such as tight clothing.
Sometimes it is a reaction to another product being used or to the type of metal used in the piercing. Before you believe you have an infection and run off to the doctor to get antibiotics, make sure it is not something like the products you are using that is causing it. If you were given some kind of product to put on your piercing, cease using it for the time being, it could be that simple. If it is a case of some product you are using, a course of antibiotics will not fix it.
Another simple thing to try is to change the metal of the jewellery to something else and this may fix the problem because your body may not like what you have. For instance, if you have surgical stainless steel, change it to titanium, if you have gold or silver, change it to surgical stainless steel, etc, it could also be that simple. Once again, if it is an allergic reaction to the metal in the piercing, antibiotics will not fix the problem.
However, if you do have a mild infection, there are many things you can do for it, from proper cleaning to better hygiene. Often it is treatable with more a more vigilant cleaning routine, or with a natural remedy like Epsom salts. As a last resort, go to the doctor and get the doctors opinion
What is the main cause of infection?
The main cause of infection is actually the person with the piercing themselves, usually touching it all the time and playing with it unnecessarily. All you have to do is think about it logically, we touch things constantly. Things like shopping trolleys, door handles, keys, money etc and then we touch ourselves and hence transfer billions of micro organisms (germs) to our body, and if you touch the piercing, it may get infected because the skin is punctured and not fully healed there fore bacteria can penetrate easier.
The best course of action is to take preventative measures like avoid touching it constantly and using antibacterial hand sanitiser. These are two simple things everybody can do easily with a bit of brain training.
What causes the bumps on my piercings?
Bumps on your piercings are caused by some kind of trauma, ie bumping it, knocking it etc. They are very similar to a blood blister and they are actually full of blood. They are simply a traumatised blood vessel that has swollen, hence the blood.; it is referred to as hypertrophic scarring.
Can I get rid of these bumps on my piercings?
Yes, these bumps can be treated quite simply with tea tree oil. Don't just try to pop them. When you use tea tree oil they will kind of dissolve and a lot of blood will come out of them. It is quite simple to do but you have to be vigilant and continue to do it on a daily basis until they are completely gone. It is a little harder to explain it here so a good idea is to come down and speak to one of us and we will explain in great detail and even show you how to do it if necessary.
What is the most painful piercing of all?
There is no generic answer to this question because as I said earlier, everyone has a different pain tolerance, so what one person thinks is excruciatingly painful is said to not hurt at all by another person. Therefore they cannot be categorised in this way. However, after having said that, what I believe to be one of the most excruciatingly painful piercings is without doubt, the Nasallang. If you are unsure what a Nasallang is, it is a piercing that goes from one side of your nose (nostril) then through the thicker cartilage in the centre and out the the other side nostril. OUCH!
Is it true that a tongue piercing does not hurt?
This one I can honestly say is the least painful of all the piercings. Most people don't believe us until after they have had it done and then they are in awe of the fact that it did not hurt anywhere near what they were expecting. Most people comment “Is that it, I was worried for nothing”.
Will my tongue swell if I get it pierced?
Yes, it will swell, very few do not. Most of the time it swells while you are asleep on the eve of the piercing because you have stopped icing it. It is nothing to worry about, it is simply a reaction to having a muscle pierced. Any other place you get an injection swells too except the fact that you have skin there to contain the swelling, so to speak, you simply don't notice it as much.
How long will my tongue stay swollen for?
Generally this has a lot to do with how well you look after it. It is advisable to keep it cold in order to keep the temperature of your tongue and this will in turn reduce the swelling. Directly after the initial piercing of the tongue it is advisable to start administering cold or iced water. This swelling is usually gone completely within 7 to 10 days, however some people do not experience any swelling at all.
Can I still breast feed if I have nipple piercing?
Yes you can breast feed if you have your nipples pierced. Of course you would not feed the baby unless the piercing was clean and free from infection of any kind. You would first take the jewellery out and clean the piercing thoroughly before each and every time you feed your baby. After feeding the baby you can place the jewellery back into place in order to keep the piercing open.
Is it true your face can drop if you get an eyebrow piercing?
Yes it is true that your face can drop after an eyebrow piercing. However, there are safer places than others to place a piercing along the eyebrow and bridge area. If it is done correctly by a professional, there is no reason why it should happen. The risk is significantly reduced by placement alone.
Do I need an appointment?
At Pattie's Piercing Parlour, an appointment is not necessary with the exception of a few (Dermal Anchors and Genital Piercings), therefore it is advisable to phone ahead just to make sure your needs are catered to.
Is it safe?
Most piercings are safe, however there are a few that Pattie believes are not safe, such as a Bridge piercing. We do not perform this piercing in our clinic for this reason. Your safety will NEVER be compromised at Pattie's Piercing Parlour.
Does it take long?
No it doesn't take very long at all, in fact it takes longer to fill in the consent form before hand.
Can You numb it before piercing?
Usually not, there is no need to. As we are not doctors we are not allowed to administer anaesthetic. It only takes a few seconds and the piercing is all over. Before you can say 'stop, it is finished.
However, there are certain instances where we will numb a piercing before hand, like the vch piercing (vertical clitoris hood) and the septum piercing. There is a topical cream we can use on these particular piercings for this purpose. Even in these instances it is not necessary to numb, it is simply for psychological reasons to make the customer more relaxed and at ease with the procedures.
Will it leave a scar?
Some piercings will leave a worse scar than others. Usually there is little more than a tiny mark left on the skin where the piercing use to be. I have seen pimples leave bigger scars. Although it can depend on how the piercing was treated throughout its life-cycle, for instance, if you constantly fiddle with the piercing and get a serious infection in the piercing, it can leave a very nasty scar. It is extremely important to keep your piercing healthy with the proper cleaning routine and good personal hygiene practices.
Can my body push my piercing out?
Yes, your body can push the piercing out, this is called migration. There are many reasons for rejection and far too many to list here, although one main one is the fact that the persons immune system is over-active and simply pushes it out like a splinter. Another common reason is too much pressure on the piercing constantly, such as someone with an over weight navel (while sitting for instance).
How long do surface piercings last for?
For some reason they seem to last longer in the nape of the neck. Surface piercings in most other places will not last as long. As a surface piercing is shaped like a staple with two balls on the part protruding from the skin, by the sheer nature of it, you bump one side you are bumping the other side at the same time. It's kind of like double jeopardy! For this reason, the constant trauma to the piercing will cause it to fail very quickly. Be very cautious about getting a surface piercing, some piercers do some really strange things. If a piercer tells you that a surface piercing will last for ever he or she is undoubtedly telling you untruths, RUN.
What is a dermal anchor?
A dermal anchor is a much better choice than a surface piercing. It is a semi permanent piercing, it is a small flat object under your skin that has a tiny shaft in which to screw in the top that you see on your skin. They can be removed by the piercer without a great deal of trouble and will not scar nearly as badly as a rejected surface piercing.
Am I too old to get a piercing?
You are never too old to get a piercing. In fact the trend towards older people getting a body piercing is on the increase and the statistics might stagger you. However, it is true.
What is the age limit for piercing?
Age restrictions do apply and they do vary from state to state, so it is best to check with your state laws on the subject, however as a general consensus, you must be over 18 to to get a piercing without your parents consent. Some piercings are illegal to perform on people under the age of 16 with or without the parents consent.
Is there a gay side or lesbian side?
In short, NO that is not true, you get your piercing anywhere you want it, after all you have to wear it.
What material is the best for my piercing?
Usually g23 titanium is the best option for any piercing, it is bio-compatible metal, contains no nickel, is extremely light weight, reasonably priced, comes in a range of colours other than plain