YOUR NEW PIERCING

By choosing One & Only Tattoo co, you can assure your piercing has been performed appropriately and that the very highest standards of technique and sterilization have been used. In order to ensure that your new piercing heals quickly and without complication, an appropriate regimen must be followed.

All of our suggestions are based on our experience and research, and also that of other professionals within the piercing industry. Since you have already trusted us to perform your piercing, please follow through and trust in our judgment regarding care of your new adornment. What follows is a general outline of information regarding a new piercing. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Your Piercing...

-May be slightly swollen, bruised, and/or tender for a few weeks.

-May bleed slightly.

-Will typically show a small amount of redness while healing.

-Will typically have a slight amount of discharge, whitish-yellow in color, which can form into a crust on the jewelry. These “crusties” are the bodies waste material generated from the healing process.

 

WHAT ABOUT INFECTION?

An infection is caused by contact with bacteria, fungi, viruses, pathogens, etc. The chances of your piercing becoming infected are very minimal if appropriate precautions and care are taken.

Most piercing infections are a direct result of:

-Touching the piercing or jewelry with unwashed hands, yours or somebody else.

-Oral contact with the piercing.

-Contact with other peoples bodily fluids during healing.

-Submerging your piercing in rivers, lakes, pools, hot tubs, oceans, etc....

 

SIGNS OF INFECTION:

Although these signs may indicate other problems, common signs of an infection are:

-Severe redness.

-Pain, particularly throbbing pain.

-Warm to the touch.

-Thick discharge: yellow or green in color.

 

WHAT IF I SUSPECT AN INFECTION?

-Do not remove the jewelry! Doing so can create an even larger problem by trapping matter inside the piercing, and closing off access to the infected areas.

-A visit to your piercer may shed some light on the situation; however the only people who can diagnose or treat infections are physicians.

-An infection in a piercing can lead to more serious complications if left untreated.

 

WHAT ABOUT REJECTION?

Not every piercing can be healed successfully. Variations in anatomy, physiology and environment cannot always be predetermined. All piercings have the potential to reject (migrate, grow out, etc.), although some are more likely to do so than others. When a piercing rejects, the jewelry begins moving towards the surface, causing the piercing to become shallow. The piercing site may be red, and a clear discharge may be present. Pain is generally not associated with rejection of a piercing. If you are concerned about rejection, we suggest letting your piercer examine the piercing.

WHAT ELSE HELPS A PIERCING HEAL?

-Generally speaking, leave your piercing alone. The more friction, movement, or contact a piercing experiences, the more likely the chances are that a problem will occur.

-Jewelry selection is extremely important. All jewelry should be appropriately sized for each individual. All jewelry should be internally threaded or thread-less. Jewelry should be of the appropriate style for each individual piercing and should be made of an acceptable implant-grade material.

-Many places now sell body jewelry, including online. Always take caution when buying body jewelry, as it may not be sized correctly or may be made of an inappropriate material for your piercing.

-Eating a healthy and nutritious diet is crucial. The general health of your body is an important factor on the length of time it will take your piercing to heal.

-Avoid over cleaning, or the use of inappropriate substances or cleansers. Products such as antibiotic ointments, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, Bactine, or ear care-type antiseptics typically do more harm than good to a healing piercing.

-Changing the jewelry too soon or wearing inappropriate jewelry can lead to complications. Remember that every persons piercing is different.

-Avoid submerging your piercing in rivers, lakes, oceans, hot tubs, pools and bathtubs for the first 3 months. If you are unable to avoid these, a water permeable bandage such as Tegaderm may help.

-Articles of clothing made of Nylon, Lycra, or Polyester blends should be avoided during the initial healing period.

 

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

Nobody can predict the future...if you encounter a problem, or a question arises regarding your piercing, feel free to contact us at any time. This brief overview of post-piercing information may not cover a particular concern that you may have. For that reason, we are always available for individual consultation, and happy to answer any more in-depth questions that you may have.

 

PLEASE NOTE:

Any suggestions or comments made regarding your aftercare, whether given verbally or printed, are not to be mistaken for, construed as, or substituted for, medical advice.

 

CLEANING YOUR NEW PIERCING (NON oral)

-Always wash your hands with a mild soap before touching your fresh piercing. Touching your piercing with dirty hands can result in an infection.

-While in the shower wash away any crusted matter from the jewelry and the area surrounding the piercing by letting  the water pressure run over your piercing.  Do your best to keep soap off of your new piercing.  Make sure to give your piercing an extra rinse before getting out of the shower.

 

Piercing Aftercare Spray

-To reduce redness and irritation of a fresh piercing, spray a small amount of Neilmed directly on your piercing 2 to 3 times per day for the first 72 hours after your piercing.

-Use as needed after the first 72 hours but no more than 3 times daily.

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR PIERCINGS (NON oral)

-If you are wearing a barbell, its important to check the ends(balls, gems, disks) of the jewelry for tightness several times daily. Especially before and after showering, before going to bed and when you wake up. Natural movement will cause friction and the balls can unscrew. Always remember to wash your hands first with an antibacterial soap. Right is tight, Left is loose! If you loose a ball we always have them in stock and they are for sale.

-Do not ever use pliers or any other home tools on your jewelry as you may scratch and damage it!

-Retainers are also available, should you need to hide your piercing, or if your having an MRI or surgery. Retainers are only to be worn in piercings that are a minimum of 8 weeks old.

-Oral contact with the piercing should be avoided for at least 3 months, unless some kind of barrier is used.

-Direct contact to the piercing should be gentle and with clean hands only.

-Keep all cosmetic and hair care products away from the piercing, If you have earlobe or cartilage piercing, you may want to let your stylist know the piercing is there and new so it is less likely to get snagged or get any products on it.

-Be careful when combing your hair, using towels or taking off/on clothing, so as not to snag the jewelry or bump the piercing.

-Avoid direct contact with telephones on any new piercing. Headphones and stethoscopes can also be a source of irritation.

-Piercings sometimes can develop a small bump near the piercing. This is often easily resolved, consult your piercer.

-Be cautious not to snag you piercing when buckling your seat belt or when using a loofah sponge in the shower.

-Change your bed sheets and pillow cases more frequently. Clean T-shirts work great as a temporary pillowcase if you cant do laundry often.

-Avoid hair waxing in the area for at least 3 months as this may irritate your healing piercing.

 

CLEANING YOUR NEW ORAL PIERCING:

We suggest the use of an alcohol-free, antiseptic mouthwash, such as Medline, Biotene, Toms of Maine, and Rembrandt mouthwashes. We DO NOT suggest the use of Listerine or Scope due to the high alcohol content.

 

ALWAYS Wash Your Hands Before Touching Your Piercing While It Is Healing! Touching Your Piercing With Dirty Hands Can Easily Result In An Infection.

 

-Rinse with 1 cap of Alcohol-free mouthwash for 60 seconds.

-Rinse with mouthwash no more than 2 times a day.

-Optionally, rinse 2 times a day (morning and evening) with bottled water for 60 seconds. Do this after brushing your teeth.

-You can gently brush around the area daily to prevent plaque build-up.

 

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR ORAL PIERCING:

-Oral piercings usually begin to swell within the first 12 hours. Swelling can be kept to a minimum through the use of ice, slushies, shakes, ice cream, and cold water. Avoid chewing or sucking on the ice, let it melt in your mouth.

-Expect slight bleeding for the first few days.

-Avoid drinking through straws and chewing gum for at least 2 weeks.

-Contact with body fluids must be avoided for 4-6 weeks. This includes wet kissing and oral sex.

-Eat softer foods for the first few days. Avoid foods that are hard, crunchy, spicy, or salty. Avoid carbonated beverages & highly acidic fruit juices.

-Avoid, or reduce the consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco for the first week in order to minimize irritation.

-Chew food slowly, taking time to realize what your chewing, food or jewelry.

-DO NOT play with your jewelry while it is healing! Doing so can make it swell more, bleed, or even tear. This will lengthen your healing time.

-You may develop a white ring of tissue around the piercing during the healing period. This is normal. A whitish discharge coming from the piercing is also normal, don’t let it alarm you.

-Its important to check the ends of the jewelry for tightness several times daily, especially before and after you eat, before and after brushing your teeth, before you go to bed and when you wake up. Natural movement will cause friction and the ends can unscrew. Left is loose, right is tight! If you lose a ball, we always have them in stock and for sale. Direct contact with the piercing should be gentle, with clean hands only.

-Do not ever use pliers or any home tools on your jewelry as you may scratch it.

-Retainers are also available should you need to hide your piercing or if you're having an MRI or surgery. Retainers are only to be worn in oral piercings that are a minimum of 2 weeks old.

 

DOWNSIZING

-The length of the jewelry installed in your oral piercing is initially longer to allow for swelling that typically occurs. Once the swelling has recessed and you are past the initial healing stage, usually 2-4 weeks for tongue/8-12 weeks for lips, we suggest that the shaft of the jewelry be downsized (changed) to a more suitable length.

-Failure to shorten the jewelry length may increase any risks of dental damage which may be involved with oral piercings. These risks may include, but are not limited to: chipped teeth, gum/tissue damage or loss, and/or excessive scar tissue at the site of the piercing.

-Downsizing the jewelry may help prevent these risks, but there is no guarantee against them.