Wednesday February 6th, 2008 @ 1:22 AM
I got a dermal anchor about a week ago on my chest and I was pierced with jewelry from Industrial Strength. My question is this: how long does it generally take for a dermal anchor to sink into the skin and sit flush? Does it depend on the location, and does applying more pressure daily make it sink in faster? Thanks 
A correctly-placed dermal anchor should sit flush with the the skin immediately. A dermal anchor which does not sit flush with the skin is generally going to have a higher chance of rejection, as it will get caught/bumped on more things, hindering the healing. In addition, your body will simply have an easier time rejecting it if it’s not sitting in the proper layers of tissue.
Applying pressure during the first couple of weeks can help them settle a bit, but mostly it’s just beneficial to help keep an anchor that is already flush, flush.
0 / 0 votes 
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 1 Comment
Wednesday February 6th, 2008 @ 1:20 AM
Recently I’ve been considering getting a vertical labret and so as I was doing research I saw that in the bme encyclopedia for related risks it lists things like gum recession, jaw bone erosion etc. now I thought(one of) the reasons a vertical labret is good is because it doesn’t cause these problems? was I wrong or is it just a mistake? (not that I’m blaming anyone it’s just got me paranoid now haha)
Those issues shouldn’t be a problem with a vertical labret piercing. Depending upon how it rests, I suppose a fluke accident could result in a chipped tooth, but even that is unlikely.
+1 / 1 votes 
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 1 Comment
Wednesday February 6th, 2008 @ 1:15 AM
I had my cheeks pierced for 16 months, but around month 14 or so, I developed a some discoloration around my right cheek piercing, and the tissue surrounding it became hard. Over the next month, the area continued to become red and hard, and it appeared that there was a lot of trapped fluid underneath the skin. I came to the conclusion that it must be an abscess or a cyst, so I went to the doctor and she put me on antibiotics. The hard “lump” never went away, so I went to my body modification artist and he took a scalpel and cut the lump, which drained green & clear infectious fluid [yummy!] I also took both piercings out. Luckily, this seems to have done the trick.. the area has drained over the course of 3 days and is back down to its normal size. I am trying to heal the cut with neosporin, so the scarring will be minimal.
My question is, is it possible for me to get my cheeks re-pierced through the scar tissue? Will this pose an even greater risk/ complications? If I can get them re-pierced, how soon?
What steps can I take to ensure that I don’t develop another abscess/ cyst? Is his a rather common problem for cheek piercings?
Thank you for your time!
While there are many people out there with well-healed cheek piercings, they are somewhat notorious for being problematic and/or delicate. While more “extreme” issues like yours aren’t the norm, many people find their cheek piercings are prone to become irritated and swollen very easily, for a very long period of time.
Given the various anatomical structures in that part of your face, and the considerable movement cheek piercings are subjected to, abcesses, cysts and fluid build-up are a risk.
In my opinion, if you had this sort of problem once, and you have the piercings re-done in the same location…I think you will have an increased chance of the problem happening again. If you were my client, I would suggest waiting at least 6 months, and then would evaluate the scar tissue at that point.
+3 / 3 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 2 Comments
Tuesday February 5th, 2008 @ 10:24 PM
How are Surface Bars inserted in the skin…and what are the usual risks and how big of a chance are they to occur with, Lower back, Nape, Hip Bones, and Under the belly button piercings.
Surface bars can be inserted by using various methods (ie. punch & taper, scalpelling, freehand piercing w/ needle, clamped piercing w/ needle, etc.). Different piercers will have different preferences in regards to which procedure they deem the best, but some of these methods are much more practical than others. If you would like a thorough explanation as to how one of these individual methods are done, please write back to inquire.
Municipal/provincial/state laws and/or insurance companies’ guidelines may be a factor which determines whether a piercing studio will use the punch & taper method or a needle method for surface piercings. It is arguable as to which procedure is the best and most practical, so educate yourself and exercise caution when choosing your piercer for this kind of work. Some piercing artists will stand behind angled (not rounded) internally-threaded barbells where some others will stand behind PTFE jewelry. It’s up to you to draw your own conclusions.
As for risks involved, your main concerns should be the same as with any other external piercings. Follow a proper piercing aftercare regime to minimize risks and shorten healing times. It is advisable to be weary of clothing contact and/or high-action areas of the body. If your hands are used all the time, a piercing there is not likely going to have a very good chance of healing in the long run. If your piercing is placed directly under where you wear your belt, this would also not be the most practical place to attempt to heal a surface piercing.
Another crucial factor in the healing of surface piercings is your piercing placement. If you are to place a surface piercing vertically on your lower back or under your navel, there will likely be issues with tension on your jewelry when your body bends and moves. This often increases scarring and lowers your possible success rate with that jewelry placement. If your jewelry is placed horizontally in those areas or on your nape you will find that there is much less tension on your jewelry when your body moves. This should increase the chances of healing that piercing drastically.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Russ Foxx | Permalink | 2 Comments
Tuesday February 5th, 2008 @ 10:15 PM
Filed under: Navel
Hi!
I’d like to ask a quick question: generally which piercing is easier to heal: a standard or an inverse navel?
My standard one is 3 months old and its still healing but I guess its normal.
Asking about what piercing has a better healing time, is like asking how long is a piece of string?
Its all subjective to each persons individual body type,etc. Some people are suitable only for the standard navel piercing, while others can be only suitable for an inverse and some people just aren’t suitable for either.
Now if we’re going to just throw it out there and hypothetically view a navel as being suitable for both a standard and inverse navel, again its really just up to the persons body on how it wants to heal. So long as the proper jewelry quality/type is used and the client follows proper aftercare protocols, its all left up for the body to determine how long its going to take to heal.
A still healing 3 month old standard navel is pretty common as sometimes it can even take upwards to 6 months or longer for some people. I normally suggest clients to not change their jewelry for at least around the 4-6 month period and even then when changing it, to make sure they change it to a autoclaveable/sterilized piece of jewelry.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments
Tuesday February 5th, 2008 @ 10:03 PM
It’s hard to find any accounts from people who’ve had PA’s longer than a few months…
I’ve had mine for over a year and it still hasn’t fully healed. I have daily lymph/crusties, occasionally tinted with blood if I’ve been overly aggressive with it, and the area remains somewhat tender, making any type of sexual activity uncomfortable.
I suspect that there’s too much irritation from the ring moving around preventing it from healing. Due to the position of the opening of my urethra, a majority of any type of ring hangs outside of me and is left to twist about alot. It doesn’t help that daily motion tends to force the ring through the piercing, dragging dried lymph with it… ouch!
I was initially 10ga, stretched to 6ga (perhaps I should backtrack a size?). I’ve tried various ring diameters. Smaller ones are more comfortable while soft, but too tight when erect. Bigger ones move around too much, causing the problems above.
The most comfortable jewelry I’ve worn is a curved barbell. There’s practically no twisting motion, and if I keep it short, hardly any length to pull crusties through. But since my urethral opening is about 1/2″, the one end will slip into me throughout the day and during sex, which isn’t all that nice. I suppose I could get a much larger bead on one end.
Any advice? I’m starting to think I should stick with a curved barbell to keep motion to a minimum, but do other people have this problem? It seems like most get by with a CBR and heal up within a few months.
Depending on the jewelry quality its not uncommon for the lymph/crusties to occur, especially with low quality metals (ie: 316L “Surgical” Stainless Steel,etc).
Honestly I have found that 12ga and 10ga PA sizes are often just too small for the average guy. Sure it would be the bare minimum a PA could be done at, but a much larger gauge size would definitely help. Personally I did mine at 6ga and tapered it immediately to a 4ga. I find the 4ga piece of jewelry fits comfortably and doesn’t look like a thin piece of metal going going into and out of my urethra,etc. I find the average sizes will vary from 6ga and even go up towards the 0ga sizes.
If a circular barbell is easier/comfortable for you to wear, then that should be worn. Have you tried using a Curved Barbell at all? As that might also be an option.
Ultimately its very hard to troubleshoot the problem via the internet, and by a simple quick message back an forth. I’d suggest going to a reputable studio with a reputable/experienced piercer who can sit you down and analyze the problems and discuss potential jewelry options best suited for you.
Also yes indeed a larger bead size to prevent it from being sucked into the urethra would be ideal.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments
Tuesday February 5th, 2008 @ 9:24 PM
Just a question out of curiosity. I’ve noticed that when I drink heavily, or get wasted, when I wake up the next day, my piercings are MUCH crustier than usual and sometimes they’re pretty sore. I know its because of the drinking, but do you know exactly how alcohol affects piercings? I just imagined it was my body trying to flush out the alcohol and since there are open holes on my body, it’s a natural place for it to go?
Essentially Alcohol dehydrates and irritates the body. Remember what you’re drinking is technically considered a toxic liquid to our body, hence the term inTOXICation. Because of heavily drinking aka getting wasted, you’re putting your body through A LOT of stress and are even damaging it. Because of this stress and damage your body is working to correct the issues you plagued it with that night before when you drank yourself blind. So it wants to just heal everything, that includes the holes that are foreign to your body ie: piercings. So skin cells are being generated to close the foreign hole (the piercing) as well as the natural body oils that are created as well,etc.
Hence why drinking in moderation is always the key…Not just for keeping your body from getting too damaged, but also to reduce the amount of nasty crusty discharges that occur around your piercings.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments
Tuesday February 5th, 2008 @ 9:05 PM
I really want the center of my bottom lip pierced. I have done LOTS of reasearch. & I have talked to lots of people about their lip piercings. Well, I asked my mom if I could get it pierced and she said “Abosolutely no. You’re too young.” I dont see how I’m too young when I’ll be 17 this year…
So, my question is, about how old are people when they get their lip pierced?
Thanks,
Sidra
Hi Sidra,
The age old question of: “How old do you have to be?”
This question is highly subjective and open to a lot of controversy. Certain States in the US prohibit any piercings done on anyone under the age of 18, yet others say its ok so long as they have parents permission. Meanwhile there ARE States where the age limits are a bit more lenient and your technically allowed to sign for yourself at 16 years of age. These rules are put in place for shops via either city/state laws or they are put in place because that’s the age the insurance companies advised the shop to work on,etc.
When I was working in Canada, and even still here in Australia (Here in the Northern Territory), there is no labeled age of consent laws for body piercing. Some people will establish their shops age laws based on the “Age Of Consent Laws” while some shops will make their own laws ie: don’t care about age, or they care a lot about age,etc. The fact is in these countries it is commonly viewed that at 16 you are legally of sound mind and body to say what you want and what you don’t want. Therefore you should be legally able to obtain a piercing so long as you can prove you’re 16 years of age or older.
However with that being said at the end of the day, you still have to go home to your parents. Personally not being a person who at the age of 16-17, wanted to incur the wraith of my parents, I simply waited until I was older to get my mods done. But I will say this dealing with parents on a constant basis, whom aren’t keen on their kids getting pierced. I can definitely say there is ALWAYS a way to get them to come around to allow you to be pierced.
1st: Documentation - Contact shops and find their age policies, as well as city/state laws involving age for body piercings. If it states people under the age of 18 can be pierced, that’s a fact you can point out to your parents.
2nd: School Work - Are you a straight A student or are there any subjects you’re slacking off in? If you aren’t doing well in certain classes why not work on bumping your grades up in those classes while maintaining the other classes. Most kids only have their school grades to fall back on, so that’s what the parents point out. If you have increased the grades in your classes, what can they possibly hold over your head?
3rd: House Work - Do you sit around all day everyday at the house and don’t contribute? A good way to get into their good graces is to start. Vacuum, Dust, Clean, Mop, Re-arrange furniture with them as it will get you into their good books that way.
4th: Maturity - When they shoot you down are you always causing a fuss and crying and screaming like an irrational person? Or do you come at them calmly and rationally and produce solid sound logical facts and questions? Often I find when parents act this way, they are the ones who are being the immature ones…I know I used to LOVE catching my parents acting less mature than I and I reveled in that fact by pointing out questions that make me look like the one acting more mature then my parents.
Also with these things will often come a verbal agreement between parent and child that if they work on all these things, that they can get pierced. “Mom I promise that I will do 1-2-3-4 if you allow me to get pierced.”
And also finally there is the 5th option, getting your own part-time job. That is usually the BIGGEST resolution to the matter because the fact is usually its the parents money going towards kids piercing funds. So if they aren’t pleased with you getting pierced, why should they be spending their hard earned dollar on you getting piercings? Whereas if you get a part-time job and earn your own money, who are they to tell you how to spend your own money?
That was my personal experience with the situation, my parents were really unhappy about me getting pierced at first. But as soon as I obtained a full time job and saved my money, rented my own apartment, paid for my own vacations,etc. My father simply said one day: “He is a man and he earns his own money, what he does with that money is his own business. I may not like it but its his choice on how he spends his money.”
So definitely look into these things I suggested and perhaps sit down and rationally talk to your mother about the situation. Make sure you think about everything she might say and make sure you have a rational and logical retort to her statements of: “You’re too young!” And hopefully that way you might manage to work together with your parent to obtain the piercing you desire.
+3 / 3 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 2 Comments
Tuesday February 5th, 2008 @ 7:13 PM
i’m extremely liking the idea of getting a couple of beads along the top of my shaft running down but im curious how girls would think of it, i mean if its somethign that is disgusting to most women ill probably hold it off til later
Some girls may mistake them for genital warts and that’s no good. Most girls will enjoy them physically if they are open minded enough to try but some girls that are into them conceptually may find that they are incompatible with there anatomy. My advice, go for it, they are easy enough to remove if you decide they aren’t working for you. Plus you get to play my favorite game from my single days the “guess what was just inside of you” game.
+4 / 4 votes
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Posted by Sean Philips | Permalink | Comments
Tuesday February 5th, 2008 @ 5:15 PM
Hi. I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo around my wrist but I’ve got one concern. My pets, dogs, a cat, rats, it’s a fact of life that I get scratched and clawed sometimes. Those scratches are sometimes deep enough to scar or atleast take up to a year to fully go away. I could keep my tattoo protected through healing but are these scratches going to effect it in the long term? Could a cut/scratch mess up my tattoo someday?
Scratches from pets or anything else for that matter can cause scarring. The amount of scarring and length of time it will be visible will depend on a few factors (your ethnicity, how prone to scarring you are individually, whether or not infections and complications arise from the wounds, etc.).
This being the case, the effects of these scratches on your tattoo may or may not leave permanent visible damage. It would be a good proactive measure to keep your arms protected whenever you are going to be in direct contact with your sharp-nailed pets. This will minimize the likelihood of your tattoo sustaining damage.
0 / 0 votes
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Posted by Russ Foxx | Permalink | Comments
