Tattoo City – Skin Art Studio

Frequently asked piercing questions.

Does it hurt?

It's not as bad as you think.  You will feel a quick pinch and some pressure for less than a second .  With our state of the art techniques and good bedside manner, the experience will be a comfortable one.

Why don't you numb the area first?

Topical anesthetics don’t do anything for you and injectable anesthetics are more uncomfortable than being pierced.  Also, when tissue is injected, it puffs up and would make perfect placement impossible.

Can I be pierced with a piercing gun?

No!  Piercing guns take a dull stud and tear through your tissue with blunt force, causing pain and excess trauma.  Also, piercing guns cannot be sterilized in an autoclave, making them unusable.

Could my piercing become infected?

Whether or not your piercing becomes infected is totally up to you!  You will leave with a clean, properly placed piercing done with the appropriate jewelry, and care instructions given verbally as well as on paper.  If you follow these instructions exactly for the entire healing period, the chance for infection is zero.

What materials are safe to wear in my body?

For new or healing piercings it is advised that 316L or 316LVM stainless steel or solid 18 or 14 karat gold be used.  For healed piercings: Titanium, Hard Woods, Bone, Glass, and Acrylic as well as those previously listed will work well.  Materials that should never be used include Silver, Copper, Brass, Plated Jewelry, and Grainy Woods.  These materials can cause severe reactions in the body!

How long does it take to heal?

Healing times will vary from piercing to piercing, as well as from person to person.  Follow the care instructions properly, and never touch your piercing with dirty hands.  This will minimize healing time.  Also, keeping a balanced diet and taking a zinc supplement has been shown to help with healing.

Do you use new needles?

YES!  A brand new needle is used for each piercing.  Needles are individually packaged and sterilized in an autoclave before use, and are disposed of in a sharps container after use.

Will I set off metal detectors?

No, you would not normally set off a metal detector unless you have a great deal of jewelry in one concentrated area of your body, or if you are wearing very large-gauge jewelry.

Why can't I go thinner or smaller with my jewelry?

You need to have a thick enough piece of jewelry to withstand the body's natural tendency to push out foreign objects, such as thin jewelry.  The skilled eye of the professional body piercer decides the diameter of the jewelry, so the appropriate clearance and curvature are achieved for proper healing.

How long can I leave my Jewelry out before my piercing closes?

Even after your piercing is completely healed, it will take some time before the new skin inside the piercing will be ready for daily removal.  From the moment you remove your jewelry, your piercing begins to shrink, and how long it can stay out will have to be experimental on your part.  Never force your jewelry back in if it doesn't want to go.  Come see a professional at Tattoo City and we will re-insert the jewelry.

Will I still be able to breast-feed if I get my nipples pierced?

If your piercing is fully healed you will have no problem.  Nipples contain hundreds of milk ducts and piercing will only affect a few, if any, of them.  Be sure to remove your jewelry before feeding, or your baby could choke on loose jewelry.

Can I still exercise with my new piercing?

Yes!  By all means stay active.  The basic rule here is: it hurts, don't do it.  If it's not bothering you, you're not doing any damage.  Just make sure to take a shower and clean your piercing after any excessive sweating.  Your sweat is sterile when it comes out, but rapidly collects bacteria.