Performing
piercings in a safe, clean and responsible manner is our number
one priority. It doesn’t matter how nice your piercing looks
or how cheap your piercing was if you get an infectious disease
as a result of it. We use an aseptic technique to perform all piercings.
This means:
•
We use disposable gloves for all piercings. These gloves are changed
frequently throughout the piercing to avoid contamination of the
client and surfaces in the piercing room.
•
Needles are autoclave sterilized before they are used. Needles are
disposed of, in front of the client, immediately after the piercing
is performed. Needles are never used more than once.
•
Any implements that are not disposable, such as forceps or receiving
tubes, are cleaned, disinfected and autoclave sterilized prior to
use on anyone.
• All jewelry is
ultrasonically cleaned, individually packaged and autoclave sterilized
before insertion into any new piercing. Jewelry which cannot be
sterilized (i.e. acrylic, bone, wood) is never inserted into a new
piercing, and is thoroughly disinfected before being inserted into
a healed piercing.
•
We never use ear-piercing guns, not even for earlobe piercings.
Guns typically cannot be adequately sterilized. Ear-piercing guns
have long been accepted as the way in which to have your earlobes
pierced. However, there are some things to consider about ear-piercing
guns before you should decide to have your ears, or the ears of
your child, pierced in this fashion. While you may think "it's
just my ears", your ears are an important part of your body.
As such, the same precautions should be taken when getting your
ears pierced, as when getting any other body piercing.
WHAT
IS AN AUTOCLAVE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
An autoclave
is the same device used by hospitals, doctors and dentists to sterilize
their equipment. Autoclave sterilization is the only way to ensure
that all equipment is properly sterilized and safe to use on you.
Autoclaves achieve sterilization through the use of intense steam
heat and pressure over an extended period of time. Items such as
dry heat sterilizers, chemical solutions, boiling and alcohol do
not achieve appropriate levels of sterilization.
Any autoclave
being used for piercing should be tested by an independent lab (this
is called a spore test) at least monthly. We spore test both of
our autoclaves weekly. In addition, we use a combination of indicator
strips (which react to heat exposure) and integrators (which react
to time, temperature and pressure) to monitor every autoclave load.
If a
piercer is unwilling to show you these items, or states that they
are unnecessary, it is in your best interest not to be pierced by
this person.
ARE
THERE HAZARDS IN PRICE SHOPPING?
PIERCED
OUT takes every precaution to provide our clients with a safe, hygienic
piercing environment. Unfortunately, as the popularity of piercing
has increased, so have the number of individuals performing piercing
who are far more interested in making a quick buck than protecting
your health. In order to increase their profit, these individuals
typically cut corners in the health and safety areas. Cutting corners
in these areas puts your health in danger. If someone is offering
you a deal too good to be true, it probably is.
Body
piercing, when done correctly, under appropriate conditions, is
a beautiful art. Body piercing done incorrectly, by a “hack”,
can result in infection, scars or the spread of infectious diseases.
We like
to use this analogy:
If you
or a loved one needed medical attention, would you call around for
the cheapest physician or would you look for the best care available?
A few extra dollars spent now, may save money for fixing a “good
deal” gone bad later. We
are very proud of the work we do.
Follow-up
questions, check-ups, and troubleshooting problematic piercings
are always free to customers of PIERCED OUT.
DOES
IT HURT TO GET PIERCED?
There is a small amount
of pain, but usually not as much as people anticipate. People often
tell us that the procedure was considerably less painful than they
thought it would be. We do everything we can to make the experience
as pleasant and comfortable as possible.
CAN
YOU NUMB THE AREA BEFORE DOING THE PIERCING?
We do
not use or suggest anesthetics because injectable and topical anesthetics
can be deadly in the hands of someone who does not know how to use
them. Only properly licensed medical professionals can legally administer
injectable and topical anesthetics. In addition, a properly performed
piercing by a knowledgeable professional hurts far less than such
an injection.
DO
YOU PERFORM THE PIERCING WITH A PIERCING GUN?
There
are several reasons why we do not use ear piercing guns for any
type of piercing.
First,
there is no way to sterilize piercing guns. Most guns are made of
plastic and will melt under the extreme heat and pressure of an
autoclave (the piece of equipment used to sterilize implements)
and chemical sterilization has not been proven to kill all bloodborne
pathogens; this is extremely dangerous since fluid micro-spray (microscopic
particles of tissue, blood and other body fluids) might be present
on the gun after a piercing.
Second,
guns are considerably more painful than a piercing needle because
guns use the blunt end of the jewelry to do the piercing - actually
tearing the skin, traumatizing the area, and complicating healing.
Third,
since both the instrument and the jewelry were designed for earlobes,
they are not compatible with other areas of the body, increasing
the risk of infection and further complicating the healing process.
Fourth,
standard piercing gun studs are usually made of a poor quality metal
that can cause additional complications.
Lastly,
the jewelry is poorly designed in that the backing traps and collects
waste, hair and debris, holding it against or close to the piercing.
This is far from an ideal healing environment.
HOW
LONG WILL IT TAKE MY PIERCING TO HEAL?
Healing times will vary
from piercing to piercing. The healing time will also vary depending
on your body’s own rate of healing, and the care the piercing
is given. The following can significantly lengthen your healing
time: touching the piercing with unwashed hands, moving the jewelry
throughout the day, contact with bodily fluids, and using inappropriate
cleaning solutions.
HOW
LONG BEFORE I CAN TAKE THE JEWELRY OUT AND NOT LOSE MY PIERCING?
There
are two stages in healing a piercing. After the initial healing
time, the piercing will be healed enough that you will be able to
have your piercer change the jewelry, at which time he/she can instruct
you on how to change it yourself in the future. However, it takes
significantly longer for the new skin inside the piercing to toughen
up enough for you to safely remove your jewelry for extended periods
of time. The hole will begin to shrink down as soon as you remove
the jewelry. The amount of time it takes for your piercing to shrink
down to the point where you would be unable to reinsert your jewelry
will vary. Never force a piece of jewelry into your piercing; obtain
an insertion taper, or go to a professional piercer to have your
jewelry reinserted or changed.
HOW
WILL MY PIERCING LOOK AND FEEL WHILE IT IS HEALING?
Healthy new piercings
will look attractive and feel comfortable while they are healing,
but you can expect the piercing to be tender to the touch at first.
This tenderness will remind you not to touch your piercing unless
you are cleaning it. Most piercings will go through a series of
ups and downs during the healing process. Remember to be patient.
If you have a question about how your piercing is healing, feel
free to visit your piercer.
WHAT
ARE THE CHANCES OF MY PIERCING BECOMING INFECTED?
If you are pierced by
a professional piercer and follow the procedures outlined on the
aftercare sheet (a copy of which you should receive to take home
with you), your chances of infection are virtually nonexistent.
Your piercer should go to great lengths to ensure that you leave
the studio with full understanding of appropriate aftercare and
no unanswered questions. There are some conditions that are not
infections, though they may appear to be. These can include reactions
to the cleaning agents you are using or to the metal itself. Should
any problems arise, your piercer should be happy to consult with
you and offer suggestions based on their experience. He/she should
never discourage you from consulting your physician, if that is
your desire.
CAN
I LOSE MY PIERCING?
Yes, there is always
a chance of rejection (“growing out”). This can occur
for multiple reasons (consult your piercer). There is also the chance
of an infection that can force you to abandon the piercing. If you
handle or play with your piercing too soon, or without washing your
hands first, this can lead to an infection. In all cases, jewelry
must be left in the piercing for the entire healing time, and not
removed for cleaning. If jewelry is removed for even a few minutes,
the piercing can close up and you may not be able to reinsert the
jewelry. For “lost holes”, see your body piercer immediately.
Reinsertion is possible if you act quickly.
WHAT
SHOULD I DO TO PREPARE FOR A PIERCING?
•
Bring a valid state or government photo ID, such as a driver’s
license, state issued ID, passport or military ID. In the state
of California, valid ID must be presented before any piercing service.
• Eat something
substantial one or two hours before you come in. This will help
support your blood sugar level.
• Avoid alcohol,
aspirin, excessive caffeine and all recreational drugs 24 hours
beforehand.
DO
YOU PROVIDE SERVICES TO MINORS?
We provide
most piercing services to minors. We feel that most piercings, when
done on those under 16, have a much greater chance of being problematic
or experiencing healing difficulties. At such a young age, most
people’s bodies are going through rapid hormonal changes as
well as growth spurts. These factors can influence the healing of
a piercing as well as appropriate placement for the piercing. No
one under the age of 18 will receive nipple, genital or surface-to-surface
piercings. Piercing of any minor without parent/legal guardian consent
is also prohibited by California law. We strongly urge you to seriously
question the professionalism of any piercer willing to perform such
a procedure on a minor. If a piercer is willing to break the law
to provide you with piercing services, it is unlikely that they
perform piercing with the highest possible standards in mind.
A parent or legal guardian
must accompany a minor. Guardians must present paperwork documenting
their status of legal guardianship. Both the minor and the parent
or guardian must present a state or federal issued photo ID.
WHAT
MATERIALS ARE SAFE FOR A FRESH PIERCING?
It is important to keep
in mind that there is no single metal that every person can wear
in their piercing. Individual biochemistry plays a large role in
what metals the human body can and cannot tolerate. If you are pierced
with the highest-grade metals, you can reduce your chances of a
metal reaction so drastically that it is hardly a consideration.
PIERCED
OUT uses the following metals for initial piercings:
• Implant-grade
stainless steel: 316LVM (ASTM F-138)
• Implant-grade
titanium: 6AI4V ELI (ASTM F-136)
• Niobium
• 18kt SOLID gold
We also have mill certificates
that state the origin of the metal and its molecular composition.
This helps us ensure that the metal is implant grade. If you would
like to see mill certificates for jewelry, please ask us.
WHAT
SIZE JEWELRY IS BEST?
The appropriate size
jewelry varies from piercing to piercing, and person to person.
Jewelry will have to be custom fitted to your body to ensure proper
healing. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that one size is standard
for a particular piercing. A trained professional (not a sales clerk)
will be able to tell you what is appropriate for your body.
WHY
DO YOU ONLY USE INTERNALLY THREADED JEWELRY ON A NEW PIERCING?
Any jewelry that is threaded,
such as barbells, should be internally threaded. In other words,
when you disassemble the jewelry, there should be no exposed threads
on the shaft (this is called externally threaded jewelry) of the
jewelry. Externally threaded jewelry causes many problems. Imagine
having those exposed threads pass through your brand new piercing
when the jewelry is inserted. Also, exposed threads can damage tissue
even on healed piercings and the threads can trap bacteria.
Many
piercers will use externally threaded jewelry because it is easier
to make, therefore they pay less to buy it. What this means is that
they are sacrificing your safety and comfort to make an extra buck.
In addition, the craftsmanship of externally threaded jewelry is
typically far inferior to that of internally threaded jewelry.
WHAT
DO I LOOK FOR IN A PIERCER?
There
are a lot of people - from tattooists to hair stylists - cashing
in on the popularity of body piercing by calling themselves “professional
body piercers”. Do not let your desire to be pierced prevent
you from doing careful research. Be sure the person you are considering
uses appropriate clean and sterile techniques. They must use sterile
piercing needles that are disposed of in a sharps container after
a single use. They must autoclave all implements used for the procedure
and wear fresh, clean gloves at all times during the piercing. Be
sure to find out where and when they got their training and how
much experience they have. Ask to see photos of their work, or better
yet, speak with other customers. Ask to see their autoclave and
spore test records. It is also important that piercings are done
in a specific area designated just for that task.
HOW
WILL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SWEAT AFFECT A NEW PIERCING?
For most people, this
does not cause problems, although you may want to clean your new
piercing after engaging in strenuous activity. Always listen to
your body. If something is not good for your piercing, your body
will let you know. Generally, if an activity is not causing you
any discomfort, it is probably just fine.
CAN
I GO SWIMMING WITH MY PIERCING?
Yes, but until your piercing
is fully healed, use a gas permeable patch (such as Tegaderm or
Duoderm) if you go into a hot tub, pool, ocean, lake, etc. These
patches allow oxygen through so that your piercing can breathe,
but are impermeable to water and fluids. They work best for navel
and nipple piercings, for some piercings, they may be impractical,
and you may have to stay out of the water until your piercing is
healed. Use one patch per swim. These patches are not reusable.
If you have a problem finding these patches, call us for information.
For a facial piercing, you can simply keep your head out of the
water. All bodies of water contain microorganisms, and pools and
hot tubs are treated with harsh chemicals that can irritate your
piercing. When your piercing is healed, you can stop using the patches,
just make sure to clean your piercing thoroughly when you get out
of the water.
WHAT
WILL HAPPEN TO MY PIERCINGS IF I GET PREGNANT?
You will want any piercings
to be well healed before conceiving a child. The changes that a
woman’s body undergoes during pregnancy can make it next to
impossible for piercings to heal during this time. The best thing
to do when you get pregnant is to keep in touch with your piercer
and inform him/her of your changing situation. You can expect some
change in a navel piercing during pregnancy, since your abdomen
will be stretching considerably. Many women find that the original
jewelry they had in their navel is not comfortable as the pregnancy
progresses. We suggest a barbell made of PTFE, which is a surgical
implant grade plastic. This barbell is flexible, and therefore more
comfortable for many women. We suggest discussing with your health
care provider whether you will be able to leave your jewelry in
during delivery. If you will be removing the jewelry, we can instruct
you in removal and reinsertion of the jewelry in advance.
WILL
I BE ABLE TO BREAST-FEED A BABY WITH A NIPPLE PIERCING?
In our experience, a
well-healed nipple piercing does not interfere with nursing a child.
A piercing that is not healed, however, would be problematic. Remove
jewelry when breast feeding to avoid injury to the piercing and
for maximum comfort for both mother and child. Beads, balls, rings
and barbells are choking hazards for infants if they come loose
accidentally. If you have a well healed piercing, the jewelry should
be easy to remove and reinsert. Before removing the jewelry, remember
to wash your hands with antibacterial soap. If this is not always
possible, carry disposable, germicidal, nontoxic hand wipes with
you. Be sure to lay your jewelry on a clean surface, such as a disposable
paper towel or plastic cup, and to clean your hands again before
reinsertion. You may find that a small amount of milk will come
out of the piercing. This is normal and quite harmless.
WHAT
ABOUT SEX WITH GENITAL PIERCINGS?
Piercings that are still
healing must be protected from contamination during sexual activities.
A good quality condom or dental dam is vital to protect your piercing
from contact with other people’s body fluids. Even if you
are in a monogamous relationship, contact with body fluids will
greatly increase the chance of infection. After being pierced, you
can have sex, depending on how the tenderness of the piercing affects
your desire for sexual activity. Patience and creativity are important.
And remember to always use protection!
WILL
I SET OFF METAL DETECTORS?
It is not likely, but
if you have a large number of piercings in one small area of your
body, or if your jewelry is a thick gauge, it is possible.
DO
PEOPLE USUALLY TIP THEIR PIERCER?
While
tipping is never expected, body piercing, like tattooing, hair styling,
waitering/waitressing, etc., is a service industry. Tipping is a
nice way to let your piercer know you thought they did an exceptional
job or simply let them know your appreciation for the work they
did.
The information
on this page is credited to BodyWork Productions
Pierced
Out |
Hours
of Operation:
Monday – Saturday
11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00am - 8:00pm |
Phone: (408)
559-6039 |
3014
B Union Ave |
|
San
Jose CA, 95124 |
|
|