If you’ve been tempted to get a piercing, whether it’s because you want to achieve a certain aesthetic, to mark an occasion in your life, or even want to keep up with the trends, you’re going to need the help of a professional piercer. However, if you’re new to the whole experience, you might have some uncertainty about it. As such, here are a few questions you can bring with you to clear things up and get some peace of mind.
Are You Licensed And Experienced With This Piercing
If you’re going to trust someone with your body, then you want to make sure that they’re qualified to work with it, first and foremost. A professional piercer should be licensed, follow health regulations, and have specific experience with the type of piercing you want. It’s not rude to ask how long they have been piercing or how often they have worked with a specific location. They should be able to show you a portfolio of healed results, especially with some areas that require a little more expertise, like daith, dermal, or industrial piercings.
What Kind Of Aftercare Is Required?
All piercings require some level of healing time, whether it’s a few weeks, like with earlobes, or other parts of the body, such as cartilage or your navel, which can take months. Your piercer should give you a detailed care routine plan before carrying out the procedure, including how often you should clean, what products you should use, and what activities to avoid. For instance, if you like to actively take care of your health through exercise, you might have to swap out swimming for running for some time.
Will It Hurt?
The honest answer in practically every case is “yes.” All piercings come with some degree of pain, and your piercer should give you an honest answer that goes into a little more detail. Pain varies depending on placement, your personal tolerance, and even your mental state, so being at ease is important. For instance, the pain with industrial piercings can be a little more intense than the brief sting that tends to come with earlobes and nostrils. Some piercers will also offer numbing sprays or talk you through breathing exercises to help you stay calm.
What Jewelry Do You Use?
Getting to know the different kinds of body jewelry isn’t just going to help you with your aesthetic choice. You want to make sure that they’re made of safe materials, such as implant-grade titanium, surgical steel, or solid gold. Ask if the jewelry is hypoallergenic, and whether it allows for swelling during healing, as well as any potential downsizing issues, or if you can swap out the jewelry once it has healed. Every procedure comes with some risks and complications, but you can make sure that the jewelry itself doesn’t provide any.
The right piercer is going to be happy and willing to answer all of your questions and make sure that you’re comfortable before going ahead. If they’re reluctant or don’t offer good answers, then you might want to look elsewhere.
