Body Piercings

Body piercing is a form of body modification in which the human body is punctured or cut, creating an opening where jewelry is adorned. There are various reasons in different cultures why people choose body piercing as a form of identification. These include religion, spirituality, fashion, eroticism, conformism, or subcultural identification.There are numerous places on the body that appeal to people who decorate themselves with body piercing.

Ear Piercing

The ear-lobe was probably the first attempt by man of body piercing. The oldest recorded tests of body piercing was where a mummified body was found frozen in an Austrian Glacier. Tests showed the body was over 5,000 years old and the body had pierced ears and the holes were enlarged to a 7-11 mm diameter.

Nose Piercing

Nose piercing accentuates the face because the nose is the most prominent feature. Nose piercing was first recorded in the Middle East about 4,000 years ago, when in the book of Genesis, Abraham received a gift from his wife that was a nose-ring.

Tongue Piercing

Tongue piercing was practiced in a ritual form by the ancient Aztecs, Mayans of Central America and the Haida, Kwakiutul, and Tlinglit tribes of the American Northwest. The ancient cultures were said to have pierced the tongue to draw blood to appease the gods and to create an altered state of consciousness.

Lip Piercing

In ancient civilizations, such as the Aztecs and Mayans, lip piercing held much religious significance. This type of piercing was practiced by tribes of Central Africa and South America.

Septum Piercing

The piercing of the septum is probably the second most common piercing among primitive people after ear piercing. People would insert pigs tusks, pieces of bone, feathers and pieces of wood into their septum.

Body Piercing Procedures

There are many different procedures to consider when obtaining a body piercing.

Standard Needle Method

A piercing is made using a medical hollow needle. The needle makes an opening in the skin, but doesn’t go all the way through. The jewelry is then inserted and follows the needle back.

Indwelling Cannula Method

This method is similar to the standard needle method. The only difference is that at the end of the needle, there is a hollow plastic tube where the piercer puts in the jewelry. So at the piercing process, the hollow plastic tube and jewelry is entirely pulled through the opening.

Dermal Punching

Piercings in the upper ear require removal of the skin and cartilage to lift the pressure of the piercing and guarantee a longer viability of the piercing. The dermal punch is used to remove a circular area of tissue, where the jewelry will be worn.

Piercing Guns

These are gun-shaped devices that mechanically make the piercing by forcing a stud through the body part.

Body Piercing Risks

Body piercing is an invasive procedure that possesses many risks.

Infection

If the person getting a piercing does not follow proper care instructions, infection can lead to scarring and blood poisoning.

Allergic Reaction

Some are allergic to certain metals and only discover this after the procedure has been done. Signs of allergic reactions include a rash, swelling, and difficulty breathing.

Nerve Damage

Improper placement of a piercing could result in puncturing a nerve, severing it and causing the surrounding area to be permanently deadened to any feeling.

Excessive Bleeding

If the piercer hits a large blood vessel, excessive bleeding could cause one to end up in the emergency room where the wound would have to be cauterized to stop the bleeding.

Cross-Contamination

One could become cross-contaminated by Hepatitis, the HIV virus, or other blood-borne pathogens as a result of improperly sterilized needles.

Keloids

These are toughened knots of scar tissue at the base of a piercing that sometimes form with no explanation.

Unable to Donate Blood

Those who receive a piercing are unqualified to donate blood for one year after getting pierced.

Dental

An oral piercing could cause such problems as chipped teeth, worn tooth enamel, damage to the gums, and even inhalation of a loose piece of jewelry into the lungs.

Body Piercing Jewelry

Body jewelry comes in many different materials. These are the three most common:

Stainless Steel

Only 316L and 316LVM are used for body jewelry.

Gold

Only solid gold of at least 14 karat is used. Some piercers prefer to use only18k gold in a fresh piercing. Gold-filled and gold-plated material is not appropriate.

Titanium

Titanium is an extremely lightweight, elemental metal. The specific alloy for body jewelry is 6AL4VELI, (6 parts aluminum and 4 parts vanadium with the remainder being titanium). Specifically 136 grade with extra low interstitial elements.

Piercing Costs

Costs vary from state to state, but most tattoo shops charge about $50 for piercing both earlobes, ($25 each lobe), $50 for nose piercing, $50-$80 for tongue piercing, $20-$60 for lip piercing, and $40 for septum piercing.