When performed by a qualified studio, tongue piercing is pretty safe. The Yahoo! Tongue Piercing category features a handful of very helpful sites including Notes on Tongue Piercing, which features a nifty list of what to look for in a studio. To sum up:
- Find a friend who's had their tongue pierced and ask them to recommend a studio.
- Visit the studio. Ask to look at their photo portfolio. Does the studio seem sterile?
- Ask if they use a hospital grade autoclave, which uses high pressure and heat to clean instruments.
- The piercing shouldn't be done in a tattoo room, or an administrative office.
- The staff should all be vaccinated against hepatitis-B.
- The staff should be friendly and willing to answer all of your questions.
- All the needles and jewelry should be kept in sterilized packages.
- Health certificates should be clearly visible.
It usually takes four to six weeks for the piercing to completely heal, but your tongue will swell dramatically during the first couple days. Fret not -- apply ice and drink plenty of water. Don't smoke, don't kiss, rinse with warm salt water, and avoid spicy foods. After you've completely healed, you won't notice the piercing at all. It's true.
Of course, any time you have minor surgery, complications are possible, as this news article reminds us. You'll have to decide for yourself if the rewards outweigh the risks.
A body piercing is exactly that — a piercing or puncture made in your body by a needle. After that, a piece of jewelry is inserted into the puncture. The most popular pierced body parts seem to be the ears, the nostrils, and the belly button.
If the person performing the piercing provides a safe, clean, and professional environment, this is what you should expect from getting a body part pierced:
- The area you've chosen to be pierced (except for the tongue) is cleaned with a germicidal soap (a soap that kills disease-causing bacteria and microorganisms).
- Your skin is then punctured with a very sharp, clean needle.
- The piece of jewelry, which has already been sterilized, is attached to the area.
- The person performing the piercing disposes of the needle in a special container so that there is no risk of the needle or blood touching someone else.
- The pierced area is cleaned.
- The person performing the piercing checks and adjusts the jewelry.
- The person performing the piercing gives you instructions on how to make sure your new piercing heals correctly and what to do if there is a problem.
