Does it hurt?
Based on the feedback I’ve gotten from thousands of people, I would answer no. I always get a response like “It wasn’t as bad as I thought!” Or “Is it really done?” . No one has really indicated to me that a well-executed procedure was agonising. Sometimes a slight pinch is reported – but that’s about as far as it goes, even with the more intense variety.
What are your hygiene standards like?
At Cape Town Body Piercing, we like to keep everything that touches your body single use, or, if the instrument is non-critical, sterilized by autoclave. Both a standard autoclave and a StatIM will be used in sterilising your tools. Even single-use items are passed through the autoclave eg. Q-tips, and stored in prep packs.
What are the risks of infection?
If you have been pierced at Cape Town Body Piercing, the chances of infection are extremely low. If you follow aftercare instructions and practice good hygiene, an infection would even more so be an extremely odd event. We have seen next to no infections from our studio, and irritation is often mistaken for infection. If you do however get an infection, which is always a small possibility, and is sometimes nobody’s fault as rare events do happen with pathogens, please contact the studio. Infections are easily treated if instructions are followed.
What is the difference between getting pierced piercing gun vs going to a professional?
The difference is everything! Please read our blog article here on the differences between them, and why you should never be pierced with a gun.
My piercing has a bump. Why?
here are several reasons why your piercing could have a bump. But don’t worry, we can and will fix it. The first thing to look at would be your care routine around the piercing. Are you moving it to clean it? Are you cleaning it unnecessarily after 2 weeks of having the piercing? Are you using cotton buds not appropriate for use on piercings? Did you go for your downsize? How long have you had the bar that was pierced with in? Did you use titanium or steel? Did/do you fiddle with your piercing? All of these questions are some of the reasons why you may still have a bump.
I think professional piercings are expensive. Why is this?
Well, how much does it cost you to get cosmetic injections put in? This is not a jewellery shop where someone who “has to” perform piercings shoots an earring through the ear to perform a “piercing”. We are trained professionals who specialise in all aspects of body piercing, including medicine, patient relations, phlebotomy, bloodborne pathogens, first aid, and of course, body piercing/modification.
The second point is that the cost of the equipment we use at CTBP is way more than the average piercing shop, so if we charge the same amount, we are actually not making the same amount of money as another shop that cuts costs and uses cheaper equipment.*The needles we use are more expensive than standard piercing needles… the brand of needles matter! The way these needles are made differs greatly from factory to factory, some of them are made in low-class factories and marketed as the same thing for a better price. The prestige needles (B-Braun Introcan, Industrial Strength, Stiletto) are sharp enough to slide through skin like butter. The B-Braun cannula needles are pre-lubricated with a high-quality sheath for easy jewellery insertion and the standard piercing needles like stiletto are coated in Teflon, making them a “game changer” in the piercing world. This takes away the need for lubricant, as the needles are “drag-free”, and super slippery, making them glide through skin without any problems. Standard needles are not like this, the factories in which they are made cut corners in production making them less sharp. They also aren’t coated in Teflon, making them require lubricant for piercing, which most people who use these cheap needles don’t bother to use. If they do use lubricant, odds are they will use a petroleum based lubricant, which is incredibly harmful and inappropriate for a piercing. The finish on these needles is also not as smooth, there are rough spots and tiny grooves on the outside of the needles, making them way more painful as they pass through skin. They are also not nearly as sharp. The sharpness on the needles we use comes from lots of time and dedication from the manufacturers and those who cut costs and buy cheap needles made in bulk in china do not have reputable manufacturers and quite often do not know who the manufacturers are! Inspection of the needles does not happen with these mass-produced junk needles and more than half of them are duds. You make the choice, which one would you want passing through your skin?
The setup we use to pierce you is completely disposable. Everything that passes through your body is single use, and, unless the item can be passed through an autoclave (a steriliser that uses heat and pressure to make surgical instruments free of all microorganisms), it will not be used on you after use on a previous person, and all critical instruments are autoclaved. This means that the only items that may be sterilised and used twice on you are a calliper for marking or the metal end of a surgical marker. The markers we use on you, besides the rare case of us using the one where only the tip is disposable and the metal pen part is autoclaved, are all single use. That means when we draw dots on you, the pen is thrown away (or kept for bookkeeping, or given to you!) and will not touch another person. The gloves we use are different to the standard ones used by other people. They use simple examination gloves, not surgical sterile gloves. And yes, there is a difference. Exam gloves say “non-sterile” on the box, and this is often true with most glove brands. We only use one brand of gloves, and we use it because we know that the company is reputable, the material used is suitable for people with latex allergies while at the same time having a “hands-on” grip that allows me to work swiftly, like a magician, making your piercing quick and painless. The box of standard examination gloves are not sterile even before opening, but because of me getting from a reputable brand, I can be sure that the gloves inside the box of my gloves are indeed sterile. While these are great for setting up, I will always don sterile (single-packed) gloves before piercing you. This ensures that you are only getting an aseptic procedure, being touched only by items that come out of sterile packages. Think about it, everything else should be sterile, why shouldn’t the gloves?
The setup (gauze, cotton buds, swabs, etc) we use for you is sterile too. It is either kept in sterile packages that have been autoclaved, along with your marker, jewellery and needle. This is a huge step up from simply taking cotton buds out of the packet and using non-sterile gauze, which has no guarantee of sterility. Most shops use basic paper towel (kitchen towel) to work on as opposed to sterile dental bibs and medical towel. The dental bibs/drapes we use have a polyethylene layer on it that prevents contamination from person to person. This means the medical tray that we perform your procedures on gets no contamination from one person to the next due to the polyethylene blocking any pathogens from getting onto the tray. With regular kitchen towel, this doesn’t happen… pathogens can simply sink through the layers of paper towel.
Although we use this barrier on your tray, we still ensure that the surface is as decontaminated as a surface can possibly be. Not only do we use the most prestige, expensive surface disinfectant as opposed to those who simply use alcohol, we use disposable wipes for the first round of cleaning, which will be a mixture of alcohol and benzalkonium chloride. The second one being quatery ammonium compounds. This ensures that the surface is safe for the spray as pathogens are gone so we will not create cast-off germs. We then spray Distel High Level Surface Disinfectant, which ensures that your surface is completely disinfected, near sterility, to be used for your aseptic procedure.
The jewelry we use is completely different to any other you will find around here. The standards for jewelry are documented and there are something called “mill certificates” that show the grade of metal used for the piece of jewelry. There is a term that goes around known as “surgical steel” – this has no real meaning. Yes, steel can be appropriate for a piercing, but it needs to be implant grade steel. Metal used in body jewelry needs to meet ASTM standards. The grade of steel we use is ASTM-F138 implant designation steel. The term used by other studios is “surgical steel” and has no real meaning, at least coming from the people who use the term. When they call it that, they will never be able to show you a certificate stating the grade of metal, nor will they be able to give you a name of a reputable source they got the jewelry from. We rarely ever use steel though, that is only used on occasion, The jewelry we use is implant grade titanium. This metal is a lot more biocompatible and the body is a lot more accepting towards it. It has no nickel (no alloys), and is completely hypoallergenic. The jewelry is also internally threaded as opposed to externally threaded, which makes the production way pricier.
The swabs we use are sterile and pre-packaged, and the way we prep the skin is far more complex and advanced than simply wiping it with a non-sterile cotton bud in alcohol. The way we prep the skin involves removing oils and debris from the skin.
I think all of these expensive features might be able to show you that the piercing you receive is more than reasonably priced. Also, you are being pierced by a very passionate, highly trained in medicine, ethics, bevel theory, bloodbourne pathogens, cross contamination and wound care.
Help! I think my piercing is infected!
Don’t panic – it most likely isn’t! Regardless, I certainly would advise stopping by the studio to check out whether it is or not, but irritation and infection are so commonly mistaken for each other. A piercing shows a little bit of redness and people will yell hysterically “it’s infected!” – no…. Infection is bacterial. If you have a minor localised infection, your piercing and skin surrounding will be pinkish or reddish and warm to the touch, there will be localised tenderness, burning and/or itching, swollen lymph nodes, and a small amount of pus. Now, pus is very different to plasma, which is a completely normal secretion to expect while healing a piercing. Plasma is watery, while pus is white/yellow or green and thick, and often foul smelling. This type of infection can often be treated without antibiotics and just with a more consistent use of piercision, a stronger saline soak, and emu oil.
When to panic and start your levofloxacin/ciprofloxacin:
Your symptoms become worse, you experience fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or disorientation, and your piercing is very painful, swollen, red, and has a high level of pus leaking from it, the pus being yellow/white or green/greyish.
What do I do if my piercing is infected?
Whatsapp me straight away to come and see me. I will diagnose if you have an infection or not. Do NOT remove the jewellery! Doing so could trap the infection thereby causing an abscess. Worst case scenario, you will need a course of antibiotics. Let me be the judge of this. If that is the case, I will swap your jewellery to a material that the infection cannot stick to, and I will write your doctor a letter instructing what antibiotic to use for your specific infection. Doctors have never been trained in piercing and that’s why it’s important that we work together. If the doctor recommends an ointment, do not use it. Bactroban is great, but only if you can get the cream. Any ointment will suffocate your piercing and not allow the infection to drain. Emu oil would be the best bet in times of infection, along with a spray of Piercision at a higher PPM level which I will make for you when I see you.
What can I do to minimise irritation?
Wear titanium jewellery, leave the piercing alone completely unless there is crust that needs to be removed, keep jewellery internally threaded, do not twist your piercing, avoid bumping your piercing, do not clean it beyond 2 weeks (unless of course there is crust), always come for your downsize, when cleaning, spray your piercing rather than wiping it, use emu oil
Am I allergic to surgical steel?
Well, that’s a hard question to answer…. Possibly, yes! You could be allergic to what another studio described to you as “surgical steel”. The question is, are you allergic to implant grade ASTM-F138 stainless steel? I highly doubt it… even if you are sensitive to nickel, the content is so low due to the fact that the steel we use is polished in such a way that it leaves it coated in a layer of “chromium oxide” which prevents any nickel from passing through into the skin. That’s why with all jewellery, whether steel or titanium, it’s of paramount importance that it’s polished to a mirror finish. The answer to this question, though, does not take away from the fact that being pierced with titanium far outweighs the benefits of steel.
Can I be pierced with a ring?
Depends. Rings are not as much of a devil in ALL scenarios as much as they are made out to be. For example, a nose can be pierced with a ring, it just takes some extra care, and probably some extra expense to make sure that the aftercare that you follow is exactly on point. It might also be a good idea to get a titanium ring. Although, the septum for example, will heal fine with a steel circular barbell ring, and that is what we recommend. Also, the daith will always be pierced with a ring. There’s a way more complicated explanation to this, but for now I’ll leave you with “depends”.
In short, why should I opt for titanium?
It has no nickel, it is way lighter, it is way more biocompatible, it can be anodised, the body accepts it way better, there will be less swelling, you will be less prone to infection, the jewelry can be almost any colour, you can have the colour gold without buying gold, there will be less scar tissue, the threads are internal more often, you will heal faster, you will have less complications, you cannot possibly have a reaction, the list goes on…
Why does Piercision use electrolysed saline (HOCL) instead of 0,9% isotonic saline?
Firstly, both can be great. Piercision is a brand that has just started, and we do plan to do 0.9% saline in the future, but that type should be in an aerosol can, and Piercision has not gotten there just yet. Also, there are benefits that HOCL obtains as opposed to saline, which are:
HOCL causes blood to coagulate faster
HOCL boosts the bodies immune reaction to infectious microbes and disrupts biofilm
HOCL promotes new cell growth on wounds
HOCL is a known anti-inflammatory
HOCL stimulates enzymes that reduce and improve scarring (less piercing bumps!)
HOCL imitates what the white blood cells produce in response to inflammation and infection
Is there anything else I can use on my piercing? Is there a miracle product/ointment?
Yes! There is Piercision aftercare which contains HOCL and Emu Oil has excellent benefits for piercings – but I would stop at those two, the only other I would go to would be an aftercare soap provided by me, but this will be rare.
Will my piercing get stuck if I don’t twist it or rotate it when I clean?
Absolutely not! Metal does NOT get stuck to skin and twisting will just delay healing!
What happens if I run out of the saline you gave me?
Simply pop by and get a refill, remembering that I work by appointment so kindly let me know and wait for a response before showing up.
Can I make my own saline with salt? Is any salt fine?
You can do so, and a warm saline soak can be highly beneficial, but this is all dependent on the circumstances surrounding the making of the salt water (saline). Firstly, it’s absolutely not true that any salt is fine! If I could control the salt that everyone used, it would be strictly the Dead Sea salt that the studio stocks, as it super healing, due to it containing a high content of minerals and bromides, and an extremely low level of pollution. Any other salt can be risky as we do not know the pollution levels. Sea salt used to be great 100 years ago, but things have changed since then. At Cape Town Body Piercing, when we do not use Dead Sea salt, we use Nature’s Choice natural sea salt. That is what we feel is the best alternative to the Dead Sea salt. It is also dependent on your water quality. Luckily, if you live in Cape Town, you’re safe! So, since this is Cape Town Body Piercing, I’ll just leave my answer at that. Please note, however, that the water needs to be FULLY boiled in the kettle before attempting to use it, though. The ratio of salt to water is extremely vital, and you need to use a measuring spoon to make sure you get it right, you cannot just guess with a random spoon. The ratio is 1/4tsp into 250ml (1 cup) of pre-kettle boiled water. Once at a temperature where it is hot but not at the point that it will burn you. The high temperature of this solution stimulates blood flow to the area and at the same time softens crust, making it easier to wipe away without irritating your piercing. If you are doing this technique with a nose piercing for example, simply dunk your nose in the cup (and blow bubbles as you wish!) or if you are doing it on a nipple or a navel (which I highly recommend!), bend forward, place the cup quite harshly onto your stomach, creating a “suction” type of motion where no saline can leak from the cup even while you are standing with the cup pressed on your stomach. Do this with your navel and lie down and let it soak for 5-10 minutes. In places harder to reach, for example the cartilage, use gauze and soak the gauze in the hot solution. Then, once the gauze is dripping wet and very warm, hold it up to your ear, until the gauze goes cold, and then repeat with another dip, until the cup of saline goes cold. Preferably use different gauze for each soak, but if you’re on a budget and your piercing is long after being fresh, it should be okay to use the same one. Always remember to buy gauze when getting a piercing!
Is it true that tongue piercings get infected easily?
No, it’s not! It’s quite the opposite! Tongue piercing infections are rare, and this is because your saliva has its own anti-bacterial defense system. It’s the same with any piercing inside a mucus membrane, the mucus is antibacterial (eg.septum, smiley). There is a natural “flora” that inhabits the mouth (a healthy bacteria that inhibits a certain area) and it is very important to not upset this balance, as this is a large part of what keeps your piercing from getting infected. That’s why we only use natural, alcohol-free mouthwashes, without chemicals or harsh antiseptics, as we don’t want to disrupt the flora that is naturally balanced inside the mouth.
Do tongue piercings/lip piercings or oral piercings damage your teeth or gums?
Firstly, if placed properly, and not played with, they shouldn’t be a problem in general. But for tongue piercings I recommend PMMA (dental acrylic) beads on the ends of the bar (and possibly a bioplast, non-metal bar!) as there is always the chance of biting down when wearing metal. It is way more expensive to replace a tooth than a piece of piercing jewellery! For lip/monroe/philtrum piercings I always recommend wearing bioplast. Yes, metal can be fine if properly placed, but there IS always that chance of biting down on it when we (as humans) play with the jewelry. I love bioplast! It has gotten a bad reputation over the years due to knock-offs being labelled as “bioplast” when it is actually some type of different mystery polymer. The brand name bioplast is of a superb quality! And one should feel more than safe wearing it. It is even listed as an approved material on the APP starter jewelry brochure (2021). It has a smooth finish and does not deteriorate over time the same way Tygon does. Even if this isn’t necessary, why not wear bioplast? It is a completely biocompatible, safe material, it can be autoclaved, it is non-porous and has a smooth finish, the threads are press-fit, the temperature (unlike metal) does not heat up to exterior temperatures so there is no winter suffering. It is the best material for piercings. This is why I question why not to wear (brand name) bioplast.
What is the truth about internally and externally threaded jewellery? Can either be okay?
Aaaaah, the controversial question of the century…. Many piercers are not going to like my answer, and many will use my answer as an excuse to use shitty jewellery (bastard!), but the truth is, yes, externally threaded jewellery CAN be okay and procedures CAN be performed safely using externally threaded jewellery should it be of ASTM-F136 standards and a cannula sheath was used to transfer the jewellery, and it was NOT scraped through the fresh site on the back of a blade needle. Unless the blade needle is 1G larger than the jewellery so the threads can fit inside it, it should not be used at all. Even still, this should only be done on close friends who are on a budget whom you know will come to you for their downsize and you can use a cannula sheath to cover the threads when downsizing the jewellery (hopefully to something internally threaded this time). The main exception I’m speaking of (which is what my studio uses on people who are on a heavy budget) is something called “step-down threading”, this is where the threads are slightly smaller than the size of the jewelry itself. This makes it way safer and easier to use. I also think too much focus is put on the threading and not on the finish of the jewellery which is the most important thing! I’ve seen internally threaded pieces vs externally threaded pieces where if I had the choice I would put the external in! You shouldn’t be removing the jewellery anyway… so, if a piercer is changing it for you every time and a cannula sheath is covering the threads each change (which is happening only after healed)… where is the problem? The grade of the metal is prestige, the finish is superb, the piercing was performed properly?… It may be controversial, but in my opinion, if implant-grade jewelry is used, it is perfectly fine to use an externally threaded quality product on a close friend whom you will be covering the threads for during future jewelry swaps.
Why should I get jewelry from a piercer and not from a jewelry shop?
Material. Material is the main reason to get jewellery from a piercer. You can almost always guarantee that the material the piercing studio uses will be more biocompatible and accepted by the body than mall jewelry. For example, many of them use “sterling silver”, which is a precious metal of which earrings are often made. Does this make it safe? NO. This metal, although precious, can cause severe reactions and even stain the ear green. It sounds like a good material to wear when you hear “genuine sterling silver”, but this is misleading and is what you will most often find at jewelry shops. Let me not mention that it is better to support the people who are passionate about you wearing the correct materials and not people running chain stores.
Should I wait until summer to get my belly piercing to show it off?
Absolutely not! It is always better to be pierced in winter. They are way easier to protect in winter, and then have time to heal up for you to show it off by the pool in summertime!
Are cartilage piercings a lot more sore than flesh piercings?
Some people say this, and their opinions are valid, but I respectfully disagree. There are no real nerves in cartilage – the only part that feels anything is the skin surrounding the cartilage. I find it to be a very numb ‘pressure’ type of feeling. These piercings are also so quick, whereas flesh is 1 second vs cartilage being a split second.
Surface anchors (dermals) are so pretty, but they look so sore! I’m scared to get them.
They do have that look, but it is so misleading! If you are worried about them being sore – come to me! I specialise in them and have come up with a method that takes away the need for a biopsy punch (most people punch a piece of skin out when they perform this piercing), as I find punching the tissue out to be very invasive and takes the body so long to recover from, and they also reject far more often with the punch. I make a tiny, painless incision and slide the anchor in, so that there is actually skin around it to grow into the anchor and there is room for it to heal and successfully stick to the skin.
Is it fine to use any shampoo/conditioner/face wash in the shower?
Usually yes, all products are fine. Just be sure to do a good, proper clear water rinse once you’re done using all your products in the shower. If the product is particularly harsh, eg. Benzac face wash with benzoyl peroxide, then I would keep it away from the piercing as much as possible, or do an extra long clear water rinse, and maybe use a studio soap afterwards to make sure all residue is washed out!
Which is the ‘gay ear’?
Firstly, if you’re homophobic, I would not like to pierce you. So if that’s the case, kindly go somewhere else. If you are just curious, back in the 1970’s (and it’s not the 70’s anymore!) gay men used to pierce their right ear as a code for other gay males to know their orientation. This, however, is not the case anymore and is way outdated. The right ear is no longer the “gay ear”, because there is no such thing. If, for your own piece of mind, you want to go back to the 70’s and make sure you don’t pierce what used to be the gay ear, the left side is for you.
What are your rules on piercing people who are intoxicated?
If someone is visibly drunk, and being dared to get a Prince Albert, I will obviously use my discretion to assess the situation and see that this piercing may not be a good idea. However, I believe that people with addictions deserve love, care, and dignity, and are entitled to a proper procedure. So what if the person being “intoxicated” has built up a tolerance to the drug they are using and they just feel normal on it? Or they have an addiction and have learnt to function on that substance? I will not turn a suffering addict away, as they deserve a safe and professional procedure just as much as anyone does. That answer will get me in a lot of trouble in my industry but I will stand by that belief.
I am quite well known and want to keep my (eg. genital) piercing confidential, is this possible?
Absolutely! This is the best place to come for a confidential procedure. It will be only you and me in the appointment, and I take confidentiality as seriously as any doctor or psychiatrist. I also book out quite a long slot so you can rest assured that you can get a confidential procedure without bumping into anyone. Just let me know that this is your wish before booking, so I can make extra sure.
Can I still breastfeed after having my nipples pierced?
Absolutely! With breast milk, it doesn’t come out of a single pipe that can be blocked by getting a piercing, it comes out of hundreds of little ducts that squirt the milk out like a sponge when squeezed. A piercing has no negative effect on breastfeeding. Some doctors even recommend leaving the jewellery in so that the baby has something to suck on, however, I disagree with this, as there is always the possibility of jewellery coming loose, and God forbid that happens to a baby!
Are male or female nipples more sore? Why is this?
The male nipple is more sore, by far. I heard from a piercer that they are 12x more sore, but haven’t seen any evidence backing that claim besides experience. Female nipples perform a function, and that is breastfeeding; they are meant to be hurt, and irritated, and are thereby less sensitive. The male nipple has no sensitivity block and I would say is the most intense piercing one can get. Even still, it’s so quick that most men laugh after getting it done. No piercing is really traumatic.
A piercing I want to keep is rejecting - what do I do?
It depends on if it’s migrating or in a full state of rejection. Some rejecting piercings respond by applying Miracle Emu Oil one night and the next day it’s completely normal again, others will, unfortunately, need to be removed and repierced before it rejects to the point that you cannot repierce the same spot.
Do you offer anaesthetics, painkillers or calming tablets?
I do! I offer a numbing cream so powerful that you lose all sensation at the site of the piercing. I offer a combination of paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine before and with certain piercings (the tongue) after getting pierced. I also offer a tablet that calms you down and elevates your mood if you are super nervous. None of these are necessary, but they are there for your peace of mind.
Why do you pierce with a longer bar and when can I make it shorter?
I pierce with a longer bar due to the swelling that occurs during the first two weeks of you getting pierced. After exactly 2 weeks, you will come and swap the bar to a shorter one, so that you can avoid the irritation from the longer bar.
When doing lobe piercings, does your jewellery have butterflies on the back?
It can if that’s what you want! But it’s not what I recommend. I recommend going with flat back (labret) jewellery, for comfort, better sleep, and healing. Some people chose to be pierced with butterflies so that they can remove it themselves more easily, and that is okay, considering the butterfly earrings I stock are of a way better quality than what you would get pierced with at the mall, and I can put a silicone stopper on the pointy back so that you are more comfortable during sleep. However, with the flat backs, there is a MUCH larger jewellery choice (a selection of every Swarovski crystal in existence, and opals plus a couple of precious stones, and any anodised colour should you go with titanium) and much greater comfort, they are also way easier to clean and harbour less crust and bacteria).
How much does it cost for you to stretch my ears?
It costs R100 to stretch both ears, unless you buy the jewellery, then it will be R50, or unless you got pierced by me with a plan to stretch, then I won’t charge for the stretch, you can just buy the jewellery.
I want to pierce my ears and I'm planning to stretch them, can I pierce them thicker at first?
The thickest I will pierce you at is 3mm, and we can stretch from there. I think that is the best size to pierce at in terms of larger gauges.
What are the rules on waiting to upsize my lobe stretchers?
I’m super conservative on this, so my recommendation is 2mm every 2 months. It should go something like this: 1.2 (4 weeks), 1.6 (4 weeks), 2mm (4 weeks), 3mm (4 weeks), 4mm (4 weeks), 5mm (4 weeks), 6mm (2 months), 8mm (2 months), 10mm (2 months), 12mm (2 months), 14mm (2 months), 16mm (2 months), 18mm (2 months), 20mm (2 months).
My philosophy is that you stretch 2mm after the time (or double the time) it took your lobes to heal (which is usually 2 months – but follow what your timeframe is). There are other good things to consider doing such as “resting”, and waiting longer between each stretch. It is also advisable that you wear heavier jewellery (hence why the tunnels that I stock are stainless steel) so that the weight makes the next stretch-up easier.
Can I stretch cartilage?
Short answer: Yes, with great difficulty, a lot of patience, and a lot of pain.
What type of needles do you use?
The brands we use are Sharpass, Stiletto, Mosquito and Introcan. But the type of needles these are are similar to hypodermic needles and cannula needles. The brands we get are of the best quality and even with the extra cost we take care in ensuring that we stock the sharpest and best quality needles to make your experience painless.
What is your policy regarding age and piercings?
16 and up can get pierced without a guardian, apart from genital piercings. Due to the studio strongly believing in gender equality, we do not consider female nipples, genitals, or any type of body part sexual. Going with this rule would be supporting patriarchy and oppressing women, which we refuse to do. Female nipples are NOT a sexual body part (unless chosen to be), and we will not oppress women any further by telling them that they cannot get their nipples done when males can.
With other places the gem always falls out. Why is this and will this happen at your studio?
This is due to the gem being held in by glue/adhesives. All jewellery at our studio is bezel set/prong set and uses no adhesives. If a gem does fall out (which is very rare), you will get a replacement immediately. All of our jewellery has a lifetime warranty.
Can I drink/take drugs after getting pierced?
Of course, I want to say no, but you’re going to anyway. Just try to live a healthy lifestyle in other ways, such as taking supplements, drinking lots of water, avoiding stress, eating a healthy diet with mostly plant-based items and lots of greens, veg and nuts.
What would be the best immune booster or vitamin to take to help your body heal a piercing?
The best supplements to take would be 1) Moringa (which you should get from SupaNutri – they sell Wild Harvested, even better than organic! 2) Zinc, 3) Magnesium, 4) Collagen, 5) Vitamin B (get the injections!) 6) Vitamin D/C/Calcium. If you’re going to chose one of these, just go with moringa, as it contains all of these vitamins/minerals…. And make sure you get it from Supa Nutri! You can get capsules from “empty capsules”.
What are the best and worst materials to wear in piercings?
Best:
Bioplast
Titanium
Worst:
Sterling silver
Costume jewellery
What can I do to help the fact that I can’t help if I roll onto my side of the piercing while asleep?
Just avoid any other type of irritation if this is something that can’t be helped. A neck pillow would be advisable, but not many people will go to that effort. None of this should be a problem if your piercing has been downsized to the appropriate length. The neck pillow will only be necessary while the piercing is in the inflammation phase.
Why is the jewellery I bought from Lovisa/any non-professional place staining my ear green?
Because it is made with non-biocompatible materials such as sterling silver, which contain copper and other irritating alloys. Always get your jewellery from a piercing studio. I guarantee there is nothing that you will find anywhere else that you can’t get me to order for you.
Besides your studio, where can I get jewellery that I can wear in my piercings? Can you give an online shop?
Diablo body jewellery and bodyartforms
Can you rate piercings from least to most painful?
10) surface anchor/dermal (done with Jarryd’s non-invasive method) *Virtually painless
9) earlobe/frenulum *Virtually painless
8) septum/eyebrow/surface *Slight pinch
7) helix (when done properly – NOT with a gun) *slight pinch
6) lip/tongue *slight pinch
5) tragus/rook/forward helix *pinch/crunch
4) conch/nostril *sensitive pinch/crunch
3) philtrum/navel(belly)/female nipple *a second of a strong pinching sensation
2) Industrial/daith/Prince Albert – (not the piercing part, but putting the receiving tube in the urethra)* a second of an uncomfortable pinch close to being painful
1) male nipple/apadravadya *a second of pain
Can nipple piercings increase the risk of breast cancer?
Absolutely not. This has been confirmed by the breast cancer association in America
Can a 13 year old come and get a bellyring and a nose ring?
The nose I will not object to, as I remember being 13 and hating people telling me what to do with my body. The belly, however, is a grey area and I will almost always decline navel procedures done under the age of 16. This is because of the way the torso grows from age 12-16 and if a navel piercing is put there before the age of 16 the stomach will stretch and the piercing will end up migrating so far forward that it will be hanging on a small piece of skin (I’m sure we have all seen this – not pretty). So when it comes to age, it’s not really about maturity, as that differentiates from person to person, but more about the development of the body.
