Body Piercing
About Body Piercing
Body piercing is the creation of a small opening through the skin or cartilage so that jewellery can be worn there, using a sterile, single use needle in a clean, professional studio. Popular placements include the earlobe, the upper ear, the nostril, the navel, the lip, the tongue and the eyebrow, and each one has its own healing time and care routine. Piercing is a centuries old form of self expression found in cultures all over the world, and today it suits anyone who wants to wear jewellery as part of their personal style. The piercing itself takes only seconds, though a full appointment with consultation, marking and fitting usually lasts 15 to 45 minutes. Most people feel a quick, sharp pinch followed by warmth and a dull ache. There is little downtime, but healing takes patience: earlobes and many facial piercings often take six to eight weeks, cartilage two months or more, and a navel can take up to nine months. Choosing a registered or licensed piercer who uses quality, body safe jewellery is the best start you can give a new piercing. Once healed, a piercing can last for life with simple care.
On the day, and after
During the treatment
Your appointment usually takes 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the placement and how long you spend choosing jewellery. You will fill in a consent form and answer questions about your health. Your piercer then talks you through the jewellery options, cleans the area and marks the placement with a sterile marker. You will be asked to check the marks in a mirror, and it is absolutely fine to ask for changes until you are happy.
The jewellery and tools are opened from sealed, sterilised packaging in front of you. Your piercer wears fresh gloves and uses a hollow, single use needle, which creates a clean channel with minimal pressure on the tissue. You may be asked to breathe out slowly as the needle passes through, which takes a second or two. The jewellery follows straight away and is secured. You will be given a few minutes to sit and rest, along with clear care instructions, both spoken and written, to take home.
How it feels
Most people describe the moment of piercing as a quick, sharp pinch that is over in a second or two. Breathing out slowly as the needle passes through really helps. Afterwards the area often feels warm, throbbing or tender, a little like a bruise, and this usually eases over the first few days.
Comfort varies by placement. Earlobes are generally among the easiest. Cartilage, such as the upper ear, tends to feel sharper and stay tender for longer. Nostril piercings often make the eyes water, and the tongue can swell noticeably for the first few days, so cool drinks and soft foods are welcome.
Your own state matters too. Being well rested, fed and relaxed makes a real difference, and a calm, experienced piercer will talk you through each step so there are no surprises.
Results and maintenance
A well healed piercing can last a lifetime. Once it has fully healed, you can usually change jewellery yourself, though it is wise to have your piercer do the first change, especially for cartilage or body placements. Some piercings shrink or close if jewellery is left out, sometimes within hours in the early months, so keep jewellery in until you are confident it is settled.
To keep a healed piercing happy:
- Choose quality, body safe jewellery for everyday wear.
- Clean jewellery regularly, and rinse the area in the shower.
- Check that threaded ends are secure.
- Remove or protect jewellery during contact sport.
- Pop back to your piercer if anything changes, such as a bump, redness or a change in angle.
Many piercers are happy to do a quick check at any stage, often at no cost.
Before and after your appointment
Before your appointment
Start by choosing your piercer with care. Look at their portfolio, check that the studio is registered or licensed where your local rules require it, and ask about the jewellery they use. Many studios offer a free consultation, which is a great chance to talk through placement and whether your anatomy suits the piercing you have in mind.
On the day:
- Eat a proper meal an hour or two before, as low blood sugar makes fainting more likely.
- Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol beforehand.
- Bring photo identification, as most studios ask for proof of age.
- Wear loose clothing that gives easy access to the area, especially for a navel or nipple piercing.
- Shower beforehand so your skin is clean.
- Think about timing: avoid booking just before a holiday with swimming, or before sport where the area could be knocked.
Aftercare
The Association of Professional Piercers recommends rinsing a new piercing with packaged sterile saline sold as a wound wash, with sodium chloride as its only ingredient. Your piercer may give a slightly different routine, and following their advice is always the best plan. Pat the area dry with clean, disposable paper rather than a cloth towel.
While your piercing heals:
- Wash your hands before touching it, and try not to touch it otherwise.
- Leave the jewellery still; there is no need to twist or turn it.
- Avoid alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antiseptic creams and harsh soaps, which can irritate the tissue.
- Keep makeup, lotions, hair products and sprays away from the area.
- Avoid swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes and the sea until healed.
- Sleep in a way that keeps pressure off the piercing; a travel pillow helps for ears.
- Return to your piercer for a shorter bar once early swelling settles, if they advise it.
You can usually return to normal activities straight away, though the area needs gentle handling while it heals. Some bleeding, swelling, tenderness and bruising are common in the first few days. Later you may notice itching and a pale, clear or slightly yellow fluid that dries into a crust around the jewellery; this is part of normal healing and not pus.
Healing times vary from person to person. As a general guide:
- Earlobes, eyebrows and lips: around six to eight weeks
- Inside the mouth or tongue: around three to six weeks
- Ear cartilage: around two to four months, often longer
- Nostril: around two to eight months
- Navel: up to nine months
- Nipple: around six to twelve months
A piercing can feel healed on the outside before it has fully healed inside, so keep up your care routine for the whole period.
Safety and medical considerations
Safety essentials
Piercing rules differ around the world. In England, piercers and their premises register with the local council, and London boroughs run their own licensing. Wales introduced a mandatory licence for piercers and premises in 2024, and Scotland requires a skin piercing licence from the local authority. In the US, Canada and Australia, rules are set at state, provincial or local level, so standards and inspections vary from place to place.
Wherever you are, good practice looks the same:
- Single use, sterile needles opened in front of you
- Jewellery that is sterilised before use, ideally in sealed pouches
- A steriliser that is tested regularly, with records available
- Fresh gloves, clean surfaces and a separate area for piercing
- Training in infection control and first aid
- Jewellery made from implant grade materials
The Association of Professional Piercers states that reusable ear piercing guns cannot be fully sterilised, and some regions, including parts of Canada and Australia, limit their use to the earlobe.
Medical considerations
Check with your doctor before booking if you have diabetes, a heart condition that needs protection against infection, a clotting disorder, a condition or medication that affects your immune system, or a history of keloid or raised scarring. Blood thinning medication can increase bleeding, so mention it to your piercer and ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice.
Many studios recommend waiting to be pierced if you:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding, particularly for navel or nipple piercings
- Have a cold, fever or feel unwell
- Have a skin condition, rash, sunburn or infection in the area
- Have a known metal allergy and the jewellery has not been confirmed as suitable
Signs of infection include increasing pain, heat, swelling, redness or darkening of the skin, thick or coloured discharge, or feeling feverish and unwell. Seek prompt medical advice if these appear. Leave the jewellery in unless a doctor advises you to remove it, as taking it out can trap infection inside.
Patch testing
A patch test is not usually needed for a body piercing. Instead, the focus is on choosing a jewellery material your body is likely to tolerate well.
Nickel is one of the most common causes of skin allergy, so the Association of Professional Piercers sets clear standards for jewellery worn in a new piercing. Suitable materials include implant grade titanium (such as titanium that meets the ASTM F136 standard), implant grade steel, niobium, solid 14 carat gold or higher that is free of nickel and cadmium, platinum and lead free glass. Plated, gold filled and vermeil jewellery is not suitable for a fresh piercing.
If you have reacted to earrings, watch backs or belt buckles before, tell your piercer, as implant grade titanium is usually the best option. If you are unsure whether you have a metal allergy, a doctor or dermatologist can arrange proper allergy testing.
Knowing a good practitioner
Green flags
A professional piercer is happy to answer every question and never rushes you. Look for:
- A visible registration certificate or licence where local rules require one
- A clean, bright studio with a separate piercing room
- Single use needles and sterilised jewellery opened in front of you
- A portfolio of healed piercings, not just fresh ones
- Clear information about jewellery materials, with implant grade options as standard
- An honest conversation about placement and whether your anatomy suits the piercing
- Clear age and consent policies, with identification checked
- Written care instructions and an invitation to come back for checks or a shorter bar
Many excellent piercers are members of a professional body such as the Association of Professional Piercers or the UK Association of Professional Piercers, which ask members to meet set standards.
Red flags
Choose another studio if you notice any of these:
- A reusable piercing gun offered for cartilage, nose or body piercings
- Needles or jewellery not opened from sterile packaging in front of you
- No gloves, or gloves not changed after touching other surfaces
- No consent form, no questions about your health and no request for proof of age
- Willingness to pierce someone underage, or to pierce without parental consent where the law requires it
- Jewellery of unknown material, or plated jewellery for a new piercing
- No registration or licence displayed where your local rules require one
- Vague or no care instructions afterwards
During healing, seek medical help promptly if pain, swelling or redness keeps getting worse, if there is thick yellow or green discharge, or if you feel feverish and unwell. Cartilage piercings that become hot and very painful need urgent attention.
Questions to ask
Bring a few questions to your consultation so you feel confident:
- Are you registered or licensed with the local authority?
- Do you use single use needles, and do you ever use a piercing gun?
- What material is your jewellery made from, and is it implant grade?
- How do you sterilise jewellery and equipment?
- How long will this piercing take to heal?
- When should I come back to have a shorter bar fitted?
- What should I do if I think something is wrong while it heals?
Frequently asked questions
How long does a piercing take to heal?
It depends on the placement. Earlobes and many facial piercings often take around six to eight weeks, ear cartilage two to four months or more, nostrils two to eight months and navels up to nine months. Healing varies between people, so keep caring for your piercing for the full period.
What is the best metal for a new piercing?
Implant grade titanium is a popular choice because it is light and rarely causes reactions. Implant grade steel, niobium, solid 14 carat gold or higher that is nickel free, platinum and lead free glass are also suitable. Plated or gold filled jewellery is not recommended for a fresh piercing.
How old do you have to be to get a piercing?
It depends on where you live and the type of piercing. In Scotland, piercing a person under 16 needs parental consent, and in Wales it is an offence to perform an intimate piercing on anyone under 18. In the US and Australia, rules vary by state. Many studios set their own minimum ages too.
Should I clean my piercing with salt water?
The Association of Professional Piercers recommends packaged sterile saline wound wash rather than mixing your own salt water, which is easy to make too strong. Rinse gently, pat dry with clean paper and avoid harsh products such as alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Always follow the routine your piercer gives you.
Is a piercing needle better than a gun?
Professional body piercers use single use hollow needles, which are sterile and designed to create a clean channel for the jewellery. The Association of Professional Piercers states that reusable ear piercing guns cannot be fully sterilised, and some regions only allow guns on the earlobe. For cartilage, nose and body piercings, choose a needle.
Should I take my piercing out if it is infected?
Usually not. Removing jewellery can let the hole close and trap infection underneath. Leave it in and seek prompt advice from a pharmacist, doctor or urgent care service if you notice increasing pain, heat, swelling, coloured discharge or a fever. Only remove it if a doctor advises you to.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Speak to a qualified practitioner, and to your GP if you have a medical condition, before booking.