Considering Getting One?

It can be your first or fourth piercing, somewhere already pierced or completely unpierced on your body, but with every bodily modification comes preparations that are conducive to a successful, safe experience. Here are some things to check before going to get your piercing.

1. Know Your Piercing

Do some research on the piercing you’re thinking of getting. Some questions to keep in mind are:

• Where is it on the body?
• Do I possess the right anatomy for this piercing?
• What are the expected healing times for this piercing? What complications can arise during the healing process?
• Is this piercing meant to be permament? How long is it expected to last on your body?

Look up images online to see how they look on different bodies, watch videos from piercers about the piercing process, and/or ask some friends about their experiences!

2. Know Your Piercer

Don’t know where to start looking for a piercer? The Association of Professional Piercers (APP)’s website has a page where you can search your area for APP-certified piercers. If you already have some piercers in mind, check out their websites and socials— they will usually have galleries and portfolios for you to look at. Their workplaces usually also have pages on review sites like Yelp or Google Reviews; check out the pictures and visitor consensus there, and judge how comfortable you’d feel getting pierced by them.

3. Know Your Limits

Really think about the limits of your body and the possible ripples a particular piercing can have in your life. Some questions to keep in mind are:

• Do you have allergies to certain metals used in piercing?
• If you’ve gotten pierced before, how long does it take your body to heal piercings?
• How costly will this piercing be? Can you afford the time and money for the aftercare?
• How might this piercing impact your social, personal, and professional life?

Once you have gotten to know your piercing, piercer, and limits extensively...

Go Get That Piercing!