Navel Shape and Depth
When you think of a navel, you might envision the classic "innie" – that cute little concave indentation on the abdomen. Innies are generally the easiest and most suitable for piercing. The natural curve provides a stable base for the jewelry, allowing for a secure and comfortable fit. However, there are also "outies" out there, where the navel protrudes outward. As a piercer, I love a good challenge, but outies can be trickier to pierce due to the lack of a stable base.
Navel Orientation
Imagine a compass pointing north, south, east, and west. Now picture your navel in relation to that compass. Ideally, the navel should be horizontally oriented, with the top and bottom holes aligned parallel to the ground. This horizontal orientation provides better stability for the jewelry and reduces the risk of complications. However, some navels have a rebellious nature, sporting a vertical or diagonal orientation. Piercing these navels requires special attention and expertise to ensure a successful outcome.
Tissue Thickness and Quality
Navels, like people, come in different shapes and sizes, and that includes the thickness and quality of the surrounding tissue. Thin or delicate tissue may not be able to support the weight of the jewelry, leading to migration or rejection. As a seasoned piercer, I've learned to read the signs and assess the tissue's strength and resilience. Sometimes, factors like scar tissue, stretch marks, or pre-existing conditions can impact the suitability of a navel piercing. That's why a professional consultation is crucial.
Professional Consultation
Now, let's talk about the importance of seeking professional advice. At Master piercer, our piercer passion lies in ensuring the well-being of our clients. When you come to our studio with the desire for a navel piercing, our piercers don't just see a blank canvas. We see a unique navel with its own story waiting to be adorned. By assessing your navel anatomy thoroughly, we can provide personalized recommendations based on your specific needs. Your safety and satisfaction are our top priorities, and we will always prioritize them over aesthetics.
At Master Pierce, we've witnessed the beauty and diversity of navels and the artistry of piercing. However, not every navel anatomy is suitable for piercing. The shape, depth, orientation, and tissue quality of the navel play a significant role in determining whether a piercing can be done safely and successfully. Consulting with a professional piercer is crucial to assess your individual anatomy and make an informed decision. By prioritizing safety and seeking expert advice, you can ensure a positive piercing experience and reduce the risk of complications.
Getting your first piercing can be an exciting and slightly nerve-wracking experience. Whether it's a simple earlobe piercing or something a bit more adventurous, understanding what to expect can help ease any anxiety you may have. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process and provide valuable insights to ensure that your first piercing experience is safe, comfortable, and enjoyable.
Choosing the Right Piercing Studio
The first step is to research and select a reputable piercing studio. Look for a place that has experienced and certified piercers, a clean and sterile environment, and positive customer reviews. A professional studio, an APP (Association of professional piercer) studio, will prioritize your safety and provide expert advice on the best placement, jewelry options, and aftercare.
Consultation and Selection
Once you've chosen a studio, book a consultation appointment. During this meeting, the piercer will discuss your desired piercing, assess your anatomy, and help you choose the appropriate jewelry. They will consider factors such as placement, size, material, and style to ensure your piercing suits your preferences and lifestyle.
Preparing for Your Piercing
Before your appointment, ensure you are well-rested, hydrated, and have eaten a light meal. Avoid alcohol or blood-thinning medications, as they can increase bleeding. Dress comfortably and wear loose-fitting clothing that allows easy access to the piercing area. It's also a good idea to bring along a form of identification, especially if you're under the legal age for piercings.
Paperwork
Before you get your piercing, you'll need to fill out some paperwork. This usually includes a consent form and may also include a medical questionnaire to ensure it's safe for you to get a piercing.
The Piercing Process
When you arrive at the studio, the piercer will greet you and guide you through the process. They will explain the procedure, answer any questions you have, and address any concerns. The area will be cleaned and marked, and then the piercer will use sterilized tools to perform the piercing. The sensation varies from person to person, but it's often described as a quick pinch followed by a dull ache. Take deep breaths and remain calm to help manage any discomfort.
Aftercare Instructions
After your piercing is complete, the piercer will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions. This may include cleaning solutions, how to avoid touching the piercing with dirty hands, and what activities to avoid during the healing process. It's crucial to follow these instructions carefully to prevent infection and promote proper healing.
Healing and Maintenance
The healing time for a piercing varies depending on the type and location. On average, it can take several weeks to several months. During this period, it's essential to be patient and maintain good hygiene. Avoid swimming in pools or hot tubs, excessive touching, and changing the jewelry prematurely. If you experience any unusual symptoms, such as excessive swelling, redness, or discharge, consult your piercer.
Follow up
It is extremely important to go back to your studio for a downsize. Usually after 2-3 weeks the swollen area will went down and your post/jewelry might seem longer than what it was at first. The piercer will determine if you’re ready for a down size. And help you fit a shorter length bar/ post. Skipping this stage my delay your healing process and cause some trauma to your fresh piercing.
Enjoying Your New Piercing
Once your piercing has downsized and fully healed, you can start experimenting with different jewelry options. Have fun exploring various styles, shapes, and materials to express your personal style. Remember to continue practicing proper aftercare to keep your piercing healthy and clean.
Getting your first piercing should be a memorable and exciting experience. By choosing a reputable studio, following proper aftercare instructions, and being patient during the healing process, you can ensure a successful outcome. Embrace the journey, enjoy your new piercing, and always consult professionals if you have any concerns or questions. Welcome to the world of body modification!
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Of those two, internally threaded is the preferred and used design by studios affiliated with the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). The APP is a voluntary health and safety organization for the body piercing industry. They provide educational access to members in the areas of proper sterilization, safe piercing environments, quality jewelry, and a code of conduct to uphold professionalism and non-discrimination.
Internal Threading
Internal threading is the most popular type of threading used by APP studios – for good reason. It's used in a wide variety of applications, and the most common are medical equipment and body jewelry. When it comes to body piercings, internal threading can be used in piercings that are located on the outer parts of the body, such as the ears, mouth, nose, and eyebrows.
One of the benefits of internal threading is its reliability and ease of use. It's also less likely to cause damage to the piercing site because the post has no ridging. Internally threaded jewelry is generally manufactured from higher quality materials like implant grade titanium and stainless steel. Externally threaded jewelry is mostly surgical steel. Surgical stainless steel is a blanket term that is commonly used to refer to any steel used in medical or bio medical procedures or processes.
Key Benefits of Internal Threading
If you're looking for a secure, easy-to-use, and aesthetically pleasing piercing option, then internal threading is the way to go.
Internally threaded jewelry requires a screw to be inserted into the jewelry to attach it to the post, while external threading uses a threaded post that screws into the jewelry. This can be a little confusing for those new to the world of body piercings, so make sure you know which type your piercer is using before you go in!
If you're not sure which type of threading is right for you, talk to your piercer. They'll be able to help you choose the best option for your specific piercing.
Internally threaded jewelry requires a screw to be inserted into the jewelry to attach it to the post, while external threading uses a threaded post that screws into the jewelry. This can be a little confusing for those new to the world of body piercings, so make sure you know which type your piercer is using before you go in!
If you're not sure which type of threading is right for you, talk to your piercer. They'll be able to help you choose the best option for your specific piercing.
Jewelry Material
Now that you’ve decided between external and internal threading, what kind of jewelry will you choose? This is one of the most important decisions you'll make. There are many different types of jewelry available, and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The most commonly found material used in APP studios is implant-grade titanium. Titanium is a lightweight metal that is ideal for people with concerns about nickel sensitivity. This material can be anodized to create jewelry of different colors without affecting the safety. Anodization is an electrochemical process that converts the metal surface into a decorative, durable, corrosion-resistant, anodic oxide finish. It can change the color of the titanium to a variety of different colors.
When choosing jewelry for a new piercing, it's important to consider the size and shape of the piercing hole. Most pieces of jewelry come in a variety of sizes, so you should be able to find something that will fit your piercing comfortably. The shape of the jewelry can also be important - some pieces of jewelry are designed specifically for certain types of piercings.
If you're not sure which type of jewelry to choose, ask your piercer for advice. They'll be able to recommend something that will work well with your piercing and will be comfortable to wear.
Whether you’re brand new to body piercings or already have three or 10 of them, you should always have body modification of any kind done by a professional in the piercing industry. And although it isn’t a requirement, an APP Member agrees to uphold high levels of hygiene and safety, and to use only quality jewelry in fresh piercings. APP Membership is an indication that the piercer pursues continued education and has been vetted by the organization that cares about the art and safety of body modification.
What is the APP?
The Association of Professional Piercers is a voluntary health and safety organization for the body piercing industry. They provide educational access to members in the areas of proper sterilization, safe piercing environments, quality jewelry, and a code of conduct to uphold professionalism and non-discrimination.
Don’t be afraid to ask a potential piercer questions about their studio set-up. When scheduling your appointment or during your consultation, ask questions like is their studio set up to provide safe body piercing? If the piercing studio is inside of a tattoo shop, is the room separated? Do they use a medical-grade autoclave to sterilize body modification instruments? Do they use a sharps container (a red marked box to dispose of needles and biohazard materials)? Does the shop look clean? Are they using quality jewelry that is medically and scientifically proven safe to put in the body?
While the APP doesn’t license or certify piercers, they do provide their members with a certificate of membership which must be renewed each year. The certificates of all APP Members working as piercers in the shop should have their certificates posted on the wall behind the counter. These certificates are printed in a vertical format, while certificates of APP health and safety seminars are printed in a horizontal format. The APP also provides resources for piercers, like the APP Health and Safety Procedure Manual, online courses, suggested apprenticeship guidelines & curriculum, and other publications.
Any reputable piercer should be open and honest with you about their safety procedures, as well as their experience and continuing health and safety training. They should be willing to provide a consultation to inspect your anatomy, discuss jewelry options, the procedure itself, potential risks and possible complications, the overall healing process, and aftercare instructions. If they don’t do any of this before taking your money, or you are not impressed with their qualifications, think twice about having them do any kind of body modification on you.
As an APP studio, Master Pierce takes the time and makes the effort to fulfill all these obligations and more. Maintaining standards for body jewelry and client care are our number one concern. Frequently, our piercers find themselves answering every single question the client has before, after, and during the procedure.
Studio integrity is taken extremely seriously, and every piercer is held to the highest standard at Master Pierce. In doing so, clients know they can always trust us.
Since we are gladly reopening that means we are allowed to sell our beautiful jewelry since we are a jewelry retail store. So we can sell you any jewelry pieces you may need or put you on a wait-list for custom orders but we are not allowed to pierce and or install the jewelry for you. Along with any piercing and tattooing aftercare solutions your little hearts may want. We will be showing everyone step by step in detail on how to install the jewelry on yourself or by a friend-phew! I know this is sad news because this means you won’t be able to get your new piercing or tattoo just yet but we believe in the next coming phases everything will be able to go back to normal.
Now for trouble-shooting piercings, we can still help you there! Now, yes, we still physically can’t help you with the issue but we have been trained for years to help our clients in many different states! We will still go through our typical steps by figuring out what is wrong, what changes can you do to help the situation, and what will get rid of the issue fast!
When it comes to jewelry installations and trouble-shooting your issues, we will try our hardest and safest way to help you out the best we can with much love and care. We will also be available through text, email, dm’s, and even facetime if you are needing a visual. We will help in any way!
Now for when we actually open on May 18th, 2020 there are new protocols being set in place for everyone’s health and safety.
Doing these things will help not just keep us safe but also keep you safe as well, we can’t be too sure with how COVID-19 has been during these times.
These times we are all going through is rough for everyone, especially the essential workers who had it tougher than us right now! So please be understanding with everyone and the policies we have set in place. We want to help everyone get their new body modification whether it is a piercing or tattoo but that is a little close for comfort right now hence why we are not allowed to do any kind of modification. Keep in mind every state and county will have different rules and policies for their shops as well. Information is constantly changing so our information could change at any given week, so who knows if by June Phase 2 will be in effect or we will be closed down again. This is why we say please be patient and please be kind because everyone is doing the best they can during these trying times. Once we hear when we are allowed to do our tattoos and piercings we will be making another post and blog, when that will be happening and the policies for that as well!
Thank you for reading and having more knowledge on what we are doing currently moving forward. In times like these we need to be a friend instead of an enemy but by coming together as family we will survive! The piercing and tattoo industry will be better and stronger than ever so we can be more informed to keep our friends and family strong as well! The Master Pierce Team can’t wait to see everyone and make everyone feel like a bad b*tch ;) !
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If your piercing has been a part of your facial landscape longer than your job, we encourage the use of retainers. Retainers come in plastic and shatterproof borosilicate glass. Plastic retainers do not last as long, and they tend to break or bend out of shape with repeated use. Glass retainers have a slight shine to them that can catch the light, so it can be a bit noticeable.
Another option is a textured disc. They come in a variety of shades in pink, brown, and gold that allow them to blend with almost any skin tone and appear as a freckle, mole, or beauty mark. These tend to be the most successful when family events or work require you to hide your piercings.
If you have stretched your ears, hider plugs are your most viable option. We have some in stock, and they also come in multiple skin tones. A minor application of makeup can go a long way if they do not match exactly. While it will still be fairly obvious that you have enlarged earlobes, it is still more discreet than most forms of jewelry.
While work and other ventures may become a bit of an obstacle, that does not mean abandoning your piercings are your only option. Sometimes it is inevitable, but we are happy to help you find a suitable compromise for every situation.
]]>Surgical steel is something of a mystery metal; there are roughly 450 different mixes that qualify as surgical steel. Pretty much all of them carry some content of nickel. Nickel is a known sensitizer (people become more sensitive through contact). In 2009, the European Union regulated the amount of nickel that’s considered “acceptable” to be released from jewelry and other products that come in close contact with the skin. Most people become exposed to nickel heavily as children through body jewelry, and as you age that sensitivity can turn into contact dermatitis. If you were pierced as an infant or at a very young age, you most likely have had to buy “nickel free” jewelry or earrings labeled “hypoallergenic”.
In piercings, nickel sensitivities can lead to troubled healing that can ultimately culminate in the piercing's failure. Nickel reactions are one of the most common issues we tend to see in piercings. A client comes in with an irritated piercing – sometimes fresh, sometimes long-healed – and they've been doing everything right, but the problem won't go away. The majority of the time any issues they have are resolved with a simple upgrade of the jewelry.
Implant rated titanium and stainless steel can be found in any reputable, APP piercing studio. Personally, Master Pierce has taken the time and effort to completely remove any stock of surgical steel body jewelry from the shelves. We also will not install jewelry that is not implant rated or cannot be verified as such. Always make sure to ask your piercer what materials they are using.
]]>There’s a high risk of rejection and cracking or chipping of the teeth. The tongue consists of two muscles which are connected by the piercing, preventing independent movement. This can lead to speech impediments and troubles eating. The tongue is an extremely resilient muscle, and, over time, it will force out the curved barbell as a foreign object. This will leave behind a tract of scar tissue in the tongue.
The healing time is usually 2-3 months for a full stabilization, and there is always the threat of the beads snagging on something. During the healing time, a consequence of that could be the entire piece of jewelry tearing out. A standard tongue piercings is considered safer because the placing of the piercing is in the same tissue that can be safely sheared for tongue bifurcation. This means the body will adapt to it a bit easier.
Usually, a fad piercing is very short lived in popularity. Traditional piercings a re tried and true, and they have lasted in the industry because of that fact. While we are certain, the snake eyes piercing will cycle its way back to the top of the list again, Master Pierce will not be a party to it.
]]>The most common self-help plan out there is the “DIY Sea Salt.” This is a terrible idea for multiple reasons. The water typically used is non-sterile, as is the salt. Using any non-sterile solution or liquid on a fresh piercing runs the risk of infection or contamination. Application of a DIY solution also involves using a cotton ball or Q-tip; these items aren't sterile, either. Cotton is also extremely fibrous and fibers break off very easily and insert themselves into the healing wound. This will ultimately to irritation and the possibility of your piercing not healing at all.
Another top-listed helping hand for piercings is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is sited as cure-all for keloids, bumps, and infections. There is no medical research to vouch for that. While it is an antiseptic capable of soothing most infections, keloids and infections must both be dealt with by medical professionals. There is no DIY or over-the-counter cure for either. Keloids are a permanent mass that require surigcal removal. In short, if it goes away on its own, it's not a keloid. Tea tree oil will not fix the issue.
Commonly, people use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on their piercings. This is problematic. As an ethanol-based liquid, rubbing alcohol will dehydrate your wound, leading to cracking and scabbing. Hydrogen peroxide is a debrider that clears out any contaminates in a wound. In piercings, this can cause a reopening of the wound. Therefore, it is against recommendation to use either rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
Googling “aftercare for piercings” will immediately bring up hundreds of articles. However, the majority of them don't provide adequate or even safe assistance. As always, reach out to your piercer for any help.
]]>While all piercings carry some risk, nipple piercings carry some additional risks that you should be aware of. Nipple piercings can take a full year or more to heal completely. In addition milk ducts can be damaged or obstructed leading to lower milk supply. Leaking milk from piercing holes, mastitis, reduced or extra sensitivity of the nipple, and scar tissue have all been reported.
There are risks to breastfeeding your baby with nipple piercings, however, they can be reduced or eliminated with careful planning. The most common risks to your infant from pierced nipples include leaking milk (creating too fast a flow), obstructed ducts leading to lowered milk supply, latch difficulties, damage to the baby’s mouth, and/or choking from jewelry that is not removed.
As stated, though, almost all of these issues can be circumvented. First and foremost, do NOT get any kind of piercings whilst pregnant. There is always a risk of infection with open wounds of ANY kind, and expectant mothers can and will transfer such things to their child. The introduction of foreign materials as well as the stress of healing a fresh piercing can also cause harm to the developing fetus. In some cases, it can even lead to miscarriage.
Choosing a reputable body piercer is paramount as a trained professional has the capability to place your jewelry and piercings correctly to avoid any unnecessary damage to the surrounding anatomy. Increased nipple sensitivity and hormonal changes can cause swelling of the breast tissue, so if you plan to keep your jewelry in during the duration of your pregnancy, the purchase of longer barbells or larger rings may be necessary.
Leaving the jewelry in your piercings while breastfeeding can lead to a choking hazard for the infant, so some mothers take their jewelry out before feeding and reinsert it after. However, it is advised to just remove your jewelry entirely as frequent reinsertion of your jewelry can cause irritation to the area. There is a lower risk of adornment loss with professional grade jewelry, so it is possible to leave it in – just remember to exercise due diligence and caution when it comes to the security of the barbell ends.
There is no reason for a properly placed and healed nipple piercing to prevent you from breastfeeding. While there are certain complications that can occur, professional-grade jewelry and piercers can eliminate them or lower the chance of them happening exponentially.
]]>The piercing areas of older guns (with 100-percent reusable parts) were hopefully disinfected after each use, but plastic components make it impossible to insert the guns into an autoclave. This is the process that's required for sterilization, offering the highest level of decontamination. Contemporary guns have disposable piercing inserts, but even one-use pods don't allow for full sterilized procedures.
Guns force the studs through the tissue of your ears, a painful process that can cause damage. A professional piercer will use tri-bevel needles that pierce through areas quickly without damaging the surrounding tissue.
Piercing guns should never be used on the harder cartilage of the ear. Ear cartilage can be shattered by guns. Many states have enacted laws to prevent inappropriate use of piercing guns, but be alert: if you opt for a gun piercing, and the operator says it's okay to pierce other areas, run out the door.
Most ear piercing retailers will probably use studs that are either surgical steel or surgical steel plated with nickel-free 14K gold. But gun supplies are sold cheaply all over the internet to anyone who wants to buy them, and not all ear stud contents are labeled. There is also no formal definition on what constitutes a "surgical stainless steel", so product manufacturers and distributors apply the term to refer to any grade of corrosion resistant steel. There is no way for a consumer to know if the steel used for the earrings is fit for implantation in the body.
Butterfly backed earrings are usually the standard jewelry used with piercing guns. Their many crevices and folds are perfect spots for fluids to accumulate and dry to a crusty mess -- keeping them clean can be an extremely difficult endeavor.
"Free" piercings can quickly become an expensive if the site becomes infected. A professional's procedure may cost you a little more, but there's really no price on safety.
]]>The idea of a daith piercing as a migraine cure-all spirals out from acupuncture. Acupuncture is a common treatment for migraines. In the sessions, the acupuncturist uses a pressure point located in the daith to provide pain relief. Piercing your daith is supposed to result in the jewelry putting pressure on the same point 24/7, giving you permanent treatment. However, while some people with migraines say they have experienced relief from their symptoms after getting a daith piercing, the only evidence that supports this is purely anecdotal.
Any “results” from the treatment are believed to be attributable to the placebo effect, meaning they are temporary and psychological rather than physical. That being said, mind over matter is a very powerful thing, and we typically tell clients that it's worth the shot.
]]>On the physical side, a piercing is a mildly invasive procedure that does produce some pain. An infant doesn't understand that the majority of the pain is temporary, or that there will be residual pain in the coming weeks. You can't explain to an infant that they shouldn't touch or pull on the jewelry, nor do they understand the need to clean the wounds.
As a whole, we at Master Pierce generally suggest that you wait until your child is old enough to ASK for the piercing. If your child has asked and has shown the ability to understand basic hygiene needs for a fresh wound, we encourage you to call us to schedule a consultation at (561)753-1770.
]]>If the scapha, or flat, of the ear protrudes past the helical curl, or shell, then the barbell shaft will place too much pressure on the scapha and will cause physical damage to the ear. This damage can be in the form of a cut created by the barbell or the ends of the barbell migrating out of the ear.
Another reason we will refuse an industrial piercing is if the helical curl or forward helix is too shallow to allow a proper angle to be aligned and pierced. To put it plainly, we cannot pierce something that does not exist. Attempting to force a barbell where it cannot safely fit will lead to a painful warping of the ear.
There are certain cases when we can create a modified industrial, but they require extremely specific anatomy. As ever, your safety is our number one concern, and every time we say no, it's due to that fact. We sympathize with your frustration and your disappointment, and we are always happy to offer a different kind of piercing whenever we encounter this kind of situation.
In the first picture, we have an industrial barbell not originally pierced by us that was expressing issues due to a fairly shallow helical curl. Because of the pressure caused by the barbell, hypertrophic scarring began forming.
In the second is a fresh piercing by our head piercer. The forward helix and helical curl both have enough depth to allow the barbell to pass through easily, and the scapha is shallow enough that the barbell doesn't touch any part of it.
]]>It sits under your tongue and is through such a thin piece of tissue that it can barely support the weight of jewelry. When your tongue rests on it, it causes pressure, discomfort, and warps the piercing itself. This causes migration and tearing of the healing fistula which will result in an abnormal hole. Given time, the migratory pattern will result in the jewelry exiting your lingual frenulum. This leaves behind scar tissue and permanent damage to the area.
Due to these associated risks and consequences, Master Pierce took a stance as a team to neither pierce nor install jewelry in this particular area.
]]>For more information on the Association of Professional Piercers, please visit their website here.
]]>One of the more common anatomies we see is a “closing navel”. We use this term to describe a belly button that fully collapses whenever the client sits down or bends at the waist. If a closing navel is pierced with standard jewelry (bead or gem on bottom/bead or gem on top), then the constant pressure and movement of the surrounding area can potentially lead to irritation, migration, and eventual rejection of the jewelry.
To circumvent this, we use a style of jewelry known as a “floating navel curve”. It has a disk at the bottom and a gem or bead on top. This allows the navel the ability to fold without causing any interference or issue with the piercing. Once the piercing heals, the client is free to wear almost any style of jewelry they wish without any problems.
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