How To Prepare For A New Piercing

Piercings aren’t as serious or permanent as tattoos, but there is still some preparations that should be taken before you sit down in the chair. No matter what piercing you’re getting, here’s what you need to know to get ready for your new piercing.

Research Ahead of Time

Before going in for a piercing, it’s a good idea to always do some research. Safety and cleanliness are what you should be looking for. Make sure it is a licensed studio and your piercer is a professional. It’s a good idea to make sure they do the piercing you want ahead of time too.

Drink Water and Get Sleep

When you get a piercing, you’re introducing a foreign object to the body and causing trauma to it. The body will work to heal itself, which requires it to work harder than normal. Being hydrated and well rested will help your body do its job.

Sick, Stay At Home

If you’re sick, it’s okay to reschedule your appointment. Being healthy is important to proper healing. Plus, when you come in sick you expose others to the illness, especially your piercer who is likely working close to your face. Be considerate and stay home if you’re sick.

Disclose Medical Conditions

Toronto tattoo shops and piercers don’t need a full medical history, but have certain medical conditions should be disclosed. Some conditions may even need a doctor’s note before you can get piercer. Medical conditions like blood disorders or heart conditions should be disclosed, simply so your piercer can take extra precautions if necessary. Just because you have a medical condition doesn’t mean you can’t get piercer. We just want to ensure everyone’s safety involved.

Bring ID

Tattoo shops in Toronto require valid government ID before doing any piercings or tattoos. Certain piercings have legal age restrictions on them. Anyone under the age of 16 needs parental consent to anything more than a love piercing, and nipple and genital piercings will absolutely only be given to people over 18, regardless of if they have their parent’s consent or not.

Leave Plenty of Time

Arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment so that you have time to select your jewelry and ask any questions. After the piercing is done your piercer will chat with you and go over aftercare tips. Being rushed just makes everyone stressed, so have plenty of time.

Prepare Mentally

Piercings are quick and pretty painless (other than some initial discomfort), but if you’re squeamish prepare mentally ahead of time. Bring along a friend or two for emotional support too if you need it.

Hair and Clothing

Hair should be kept out of the way, especially for facial piercings. Long hair can get tangled in them, which can be painful if they’re new. Clothing should be loose and avoid wearing anything that could rub against or get caught in your new piercing.

Come Sober

We legally cannot piercer anyone that is intoxicated, and even if we could we wouldn’t. Alcohol thins the blood, which can lead to more bleeding during a piercing. There’s also the chance that you’ll be a drunken fool and accidentally harm your new piercing. So arrive sober, or leave without a new piercing.

Please Come Clean

We shouldn’t have to say this, but please come clean. Wash, shower, and groom ahead of time, please. We also recommend doing any shaving because it may not be possible while the piercing heals.

Aftercare

Aftercare is the most important step for a new piercing. Your piercer will go through it all with you but it’s up to you to follow it. Keep the area clean, and avoid touching it. If you think it’s infected, come back to the original piercer to get their advice.

Common Questions About Piercings

Piercings are more popular than ever before. As their popularity grows so do the curiosity and questions about them. Here are the most common questions we get asked about piercings.

Q: How old do I have to be to get a piercing?

A: In most places, parental permission is required for people under the age of 16 for piercings. Lobe piercings are the only exception to this and don’t require consent from a parent. Some piercings, like the nipples and genitals, won’t be performed on anyone under the age of 18. Proper identification is required before all piercings so make sure you have valid government ID.

Q: Do I need to make an appointment?

A: It’s always best to call ahead and make an appointment, as top tattoo shops can get busy. However, piercings don’t usually take long so walk-ins are welcome. If you want to avoid waiting you should make an appointment though.

Q: Do piercings hurt?

A: Like tattoos, piercings in certain locations hurt more than others. Lobe piercings are mild in pain but other places like the genitals are extremely high in pain. Even with this, the pain is brief so don’t worry too much. Any questions or concerns you have about can be discussed with your piercer ahead of time.

Q: Should I spin my jewelry as it heals?

A: Spinning jewelry as it heals is something we were all told to do as kids to prevent sticking. It’s actually a bad thing to do though. Most jewelry used in top piercing locations won’t stick to the skin. Spinning just causes more damage to the healing process. Your piercer will go over how to care for your new piercing.

Q: Is everything sterilized and safe?

A: We take sanitation and safety seriously at our top Toronto tattoo shop. We make sure to comply with every health code and law required by the government. Your health and safety are a priority to us. All of our equipment is properly sterilized and we will happily go through and explain and show you these steps.

Q: How long before I can change jewelry?

A: The timeframe for switching out jewelry depends on what type of jewelry you have in and where you got pierced. How fast your individual body heals will also be a factor. Ask your piercer this when you go in. If you want to change it out sooner, or need to for whatever reason, come back in and have a professional do it for you.

Q: What do I do if my piercing gets infected?

A: Following the aftercare advice given to you will reduce your risk of getting an infection. Sometimes it happens though. Your first step should be to contact and visit your piercer. They can help you with what to do next. Don’t take out the jewelry though as this can make the infection worse.

Q: Can I get a piercing if I’m pregnant?

A: Doctors and professional piercers don’t recommend getting any piercings or tattoos while pregnant or nursing. A piercing will put more stress and strain on your body and immune system. While pregnant your body needs to focus on staying healthy for the baby so any unnecessary stress isn’t good. Wait until after you have given birth and are done nursing before coming in for a new piercing.

Q: What will happen to my navel piercing when I get pregnant?

A: Your stomach will grow as the baby grows. This can cause a navel piercing to become uncomfortable, usually around the 6^th month of pregnancy. Today, many places sell large, plastic navel piercings precisely for this reason. Switch this out when pregnant to prevent any issues.

Q: Do you pierce with studs of hoops?

A: The location, your body, and our piercer’s preference will also factor into what type of jewelry used. Starting out with a stud is usually preferred as they heal easier. If you want a bar or ring this can be discussed with our piercer. Ultimately, our piercer has the right to refuse if they don’t feel comfortable putting in a certain piercing.

Q: Can I bring friends with me?

A: We encourage you to bring in friends for moral support. We limit the number of people in the room to two or three, mainly due to space. No kids or pets are allowed though. We reserve the right to ask anyone to leave if we feel they are being too disruptive.

Q: What kinds of piercings do you do?

A: From regular piercings to dermal, we do every type of piercing you could image. No location is off limits either. Our piercer will pierce anything, from the visible to the extremely intimate.

Q: How much do piercings cost?

A: It’s never a simple question to answer. Lots of factors go into determining the price of a piercing. Location, the type of piercing, the jewelry selected and our piercer will also influence the price. Contact us to determine the exact price.

Q: Is your piercer trained and qualified?

A: We would never hire someone that wasn’t. Our piercer is experienced and trained in this field as well as fully certified. We only want to best for our clients.

Contact a Toronto Tattoo Shop today to set up a piercing appointment.