Body Piercings

[[A]venged [A]sh]

I have a few questions about body piercingd and I really didn't know where I could put this so I decided on this one since it seems to be a social issue...

Alright... I have my own piercing kit and I would like to pierce (or have a friend pierce) my ears, my tongue, and my labret (I believe that's how you spell it). The needles is a 14g hollow needle and I want to know if this will be alright.

Also, how long will I have to leave each piercing in before removing it? How should I care for each piercing? What precautions should I take before piercing my own body parts?

Please don't post things such as, "Get a professional, you're a moron, etc." I'm just looking for some basic information and one way or another I am going to do this... Thanks for any help anyone can give me, I much appreciate it before hand!

AA

P.S. I forgot to do this and I'm too lazy to go back up, but how would I stretch my ears? I want to get to (at most) a 00g. Thanks again!

[telekinetic]

All this information and more available on bmezine.com

[qtpye4u84]

The ears are easy, the tongue, and my labret or labray are the ones that if you do it wrong you could have problems, the tounge needs listerine before you decide to pierce it and after you pierce it, you need to get some sort of chart that shows you were certian nerves are in the labret or tounge so you dont hurt your self.

Labrets are sexy

[majik_6]

I won't tell you NOT to pierce yourself, but I would recommend studying a TON more.

I mean, you neglected to mention if you had any sterilization equipment, ring opening/closing pliers, clamps, etc....those are all very important parts of the process. If you're not even sure how to care for a piercing, or what the specific healing times are, jump on a few websites (www.tribalectic.com and www.bmezine.com) and read...not just a little but, but TONS...read about professional techniques, at home experiences, good piercings, bad piercings, EVERYTHING.

I've studied piercing/tattooing in-depth on my own, and I've found that the more I learn, the more I realize I'd be afraid to pierce myself or others without a little bit of professional help. It's much more complex than it seems!

If you've never been professionally pierced (and piercing guns don't count), then I'd recommend getting at least one piercing done by a professional first, just to get an idea of how the process works. There's definitely a reason that piercers apprentice for so long before they start working professionally.

I also second the recommendation to check www.bmezine.com...just realize that you will have a lot of professionals that will give you the "DIY piercing is dumb" speech. And they don't just say that to get your money. There's a lot involved in making sure your tools are clean (and boiling water or a candle is not adequate) and that your aftercare routine is up to par.

Also, realize that you will need a fresh, sterile needle for every hole you poke. A piercing needle dulls every time it goes through your flesh, and the labret and tongue especially are thick tissue that requires a little effort to pierce. I never realized until I had a few piercings done that they don't go through the same as a standard lobe. It takes a little "umph" to get the needle to go through.

Also, as far as materials, you're going to need gloves (which you'll change everytime you touch ANYTHING that hasn't been sterilized), lubricant, hemostats, sterile workspace, anti-bacterial mouthwash (for oral piercings), a sterile surgical marker, a mirror, etc. In the end, unless you plan on doing a TON of piercings, it's really more economical to find a professional to do the piercings for you (that's the main reason I don't do my own currently).

Once again, let me stress that I'm not saying DON'T do it, but I'm just saying, be careful. Educate yourself on healing, aftercare, cross-contamination/sterilization, what to expect pain-wise, and proper piercing procedure. I understand there are reasons for DIY piercings, though. In fact, I'm planning on doing several "personal" piercings on myself this summer. But, I wouldn't even consider doing it without tons of learning and preparation.

Good luck, and be sure to ask ANY questions you have. It's better to ask, and take a chance of someone saying something unkind than harming yourself. If you have any questions, PM me, and I'll try to answer them, or direct you to a place to get an answer.

[pigmann]

I agree with majic. If you don't know how long things need to remain in before switching you don't know enough to pierce yourself.

[majik_6]

Yeah, but like I said...everyone starts somewhere. But, if there's anything you're not totally sure of, then piercing yourself isn't the "somewhere" that you should start.

Let me know if any of those links help you out.

[Frenchie]

To have your own kit shouldn't you know some of that stuff already? But if you are gonna do it yourself... hmm... don't pierce your tounge by yourself... that is a pretty big risk. But make sure that you keep the piercings in for 6 months or longer and don't over clean them... it could infect it.

[[A]venged [A]sh]

Awesome, thanks a lot you guys. I've gotten all the information I need and I plan on getting everything I will need soon enough. Those websites are amazingly helpful. I plan on researching as much as I can so don't worry. Are there any tips you can give on stretching?

[majik_6]

That depends on what you're wanting to stretch. The procedure's slightly different depending if the piercing is cartiledge, lobes, tongue, etc.

For a standard lobe piercing, wait until your lobe is FULLY healed (not just 6-8 weeks, but truly healed) and take your time. Go very, very slowly, always use lube, and don't try to skip sizes.

Those are just the basics. There's a ton more "rules" for good stretching.

If you want some other sites and info, feel free to shoot me a PM.