Thursday September 11th, 2008 @ 10:09 AM
Hello BME !
I was wondering if you knew more about this new kind of piercing/implant called the “skin diver”. It’s like a dermal anchor or microdermal, except that the skin diver it’s smaller and thiner, so it’s really on the surface of the skin. My piercer artist and a few more in France do this new kind of procedure.
I’ve had a look on the ‘net at these things and I have to say that so far I am not overly sold on the idea. I worry about the conical bit that sits below the skin. My concern is what would happen if you got a whack on it especially if it was placed over a bony area like the sternum?
That being said, I am curious as to have one in my hand (and I don’t mean implanted!!) so’s I could get a proper look and equally as curious as to popping one in myself to see exactly how they sit/feel/heal and how easily they are removed. As with everything, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
+23 / 31 votes 
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 31 Comments
Wednesday September 10th, 2008 @ 5:09 PM
Hi
I’ve been quite interested in becoming a body piercer for a while
I’m still at school (I leave at easter) and i wanted to know what i should do when i leave to become a licensed body piercer
I live in North-East England and i don’t know about any of the laws regarding body piercing
So i wanted to know what training i need and where i can go for this training
Thanks soo much
http://ask.bmezine.com/2008/04/30/a-career-in-the-body-mod-industry/
+7 / 19 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | Comments
Wednesday September 10th, 2008 @ 7:59 AM
Hey.
Today I got my hips pierced, at a local, reputable piercing studio. I have previously had surface piercings under the colar bones, which stayed in from late january to early july, when I decided to remove them, as they had become red and inflamed, and I felt that at least one of the piercings was likely to reject completely. I felt the piercings had never healed completely and so continued to clean them daily all the time I had them in.
I spoke to the piercer and the shop attendant about this and explained I had been cleaning my piercings 2/3 (after they became red) times a day using salt water and tea tree oil as the shop directed me to. They suggested that possibly cleaning the piercing too much could cause unnesseccary movement and suggested soaking it twice a day in salt water and otherwise leaving it alone. I haven’t heard advice similar to this before and it is a bit different to the advice given in the aftercare booklet they give out with all piercing.
Also, when I got both my colar bone and hip piercings getting the right side one hurt considerably more than the left. Both times this was done second. I was wondering if this is common, mostly out of curiosity.
I would appriciate any help about the piercing aftercare as I hear conflicting advice, both on the internet and from real life friends with piercings. Thanks =]
Twice-daily seasalt soaks and leaving well alone is the standard aftercare advice I offer as do many of my colleagues.
It is perfectly normal for one side to hurt more than the other and more times than not it is second of the two. I have my own theory on this but as I can’t scientifically back it up I’m keeping well schtum!
+9 / 9 votes 
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 9 Comments
Wednesday September 10th, 2008 @ 7:54 AM
Filed under: Ear
I have read a couple of conflicting estimates of the largest gauge that one can stretch their earlobes to while keeping the option open of returning to the gauge originally pierced at; 2 gauge and 6 gauge (both on the BME wiki), which seems to be quite a difference. Before I start on my stretching voyage, I’d like to nail down the outer limits for the sake of being able to change my mind later.
Although I know the answer to this question is likely to vary from person to person, what is the largest gauge that the average person with healthily and safely stretched earlobes can go to and still be able to downsize all the way?
Thanks!
I’m afraid that is one of those ‘how long is a piece of string’ questions and the answer is ‘equal lengths from the centre’!
Seriously, it’s impossible to say. It varies greatly from person to person. Some people can stretch up to and beyond 10mm and have them shrink back down in no time. Others can go as far as 4mm and still have a noticeable hole there. My advice with regards to stretching? View it as a permanent modification. Earlobe reconstruction is painful and expensive.
+12 / 12 votes
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 3 Comments
Wednesday September 10th, 2008 @ 7:48 AM
A few weeks ago, I had my lip pierced. I was very excited, as I had wanted this pierced for roughly three years now. Short and to the point, my mouth is small, and the piercer decided to be ‘creative’ and give me a sort of center lowbret without my knowing. And, yes, I can testify that those piercings are extremely uncomfortable. My piercing would bleed every time I would eat because the downward slant caused the disk to scrape my gums and apply extra pressure when I opened my mouth. After less than two full days, we worked on getting it out (which was in itself a struggle) because my mouth had swollen horrendously and my gums were being cut into already in such a short amount of time.
I allowed the piercer to re-pierce me this time, making it absolutely clear that I wanted to sacrifice aesthetic (the ball is somewhat obscured by my larger bottom lip) for safety. It is rather straight now and has not been giving my gums much fuss. However, today I noticed a pain in my front bottom teeth whenever I suck in air, liquid, or really anything else. Is this a problem related to my lip piercing, and is it temporary?
Also.. my mouth is small. I don’t think the piercer could have forseen this, but my top teeth slightly cover or push down on the disk when my mouth is closed normally. Is this typical?
Thanks.
It sounds to me that you just aren’t anatomically suited to a standard labret piercing. I would retire it and if you still want a lip piercing of sorts then maybe consider a vertical labret. The jewellery will sit on the outer portion of the lip so it won’t interfere with your gums and teeth. You don’t want to be messing with your gums and teeth. Gum erosion tends to be irreversible and can lead to tooth loss.
+11 / 11 votes
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | Comments
Wednesday September 10th, 2008 @ 7:23 AM
Filed under: Tongue
My friend got his tongue pierced. Everything was completely sterile and the ring is through the middle of his tongue. The piercer didn’t hit the veins on either side of his tongue and it looks great. The top hole is about an inch from the tip of his tongue, further back in his mouth then the bottom. I know this is further back then normal, could it have caused the bleeding. But two days after he got it pierced he woke up in the morning and there was alot of blood in his mouth. It was thickening up around the ring where I guess the body tried to slow the bleeding. At first he was freaking out. Now the bleeding eased a little about an hour to hour and a half after he woke up but were wondering what it could be from. It was only bleeding from the top and there was a little bit of dried blood on the bottom. I have been piercing for 6 years and I can’t say I have seen this happen. It did not bleed the first day and he only bled a few drops during or more so right after the piercing. He took Aspirin the first night after he got it done because it was all he had and he has been using a mixture of generic Listerine and water. Then once or twice a day he rinses with salt water. The night before he woke up with all the blood he was eating Chinese food. I only mention this because I know some meat tenderizers can irritate oral piercings. He came to me for advice but I’m not sure what to tell him aside from take it out. But I don’t want to say that if this is something that happens sometimes. Could it be because of how far back the top hole is even though the bottom hole did not hit his veins or webbing? Or could it be from him taking Aspirin? Please try to answer soon. Thank you.
I’m assuming you mean bar rather than ring, right?
If it hasn’t bled excessively until then, then I wouldn’t worry too much. It could very well be that he had an ‘orally active’ dream (I don’t want to know the details!) and coupled with taking aspirin - which is an anticoagulant and a pretty dumb thing to take after having a piercing - that could be behind the nocturnal bleed. Also, did he have an alcoholic drink (or three) with his chinese meal?
The thing with bleeding is that a little blood always looks like alot. Try telling a woman that the average amount of blood loss during a menstrual cycle equates to approximately six teaspoons and she’ll shoot you a look that will cut you in half faster than a guillotine! With bleeding, if it doesn’t appear to be slowing down after 20-30 mins, that’s when you potentially have a problem and should seek medical advice. If the piercing is well-placed and the bleeding has stopped then advise him to heal as normal (and ditch the listerine - this won’t be helping as it contains alcohol which also thins the blood, not to mention the fact that it really is far too harsh for an oral piercing). If he continues to get frequent bleeds then ask questions. Ask questions about his lifestyle and habits etc and don’t rule out the possibility that a vessel may have been nicked during the procedure. Use his answers to make a judgement call as to whether you think it best to remove the jewellery, let it heal and pierce at a later date, differently placed.
+17 / 17 votes
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 3 Comments
Tuesday September 9th, 2008 @ 6:30 PM
Since my first question got such a helpful response, I thought I’d use Ask BME one last time for help with something I’ve been struggling with.
I am a first year Bachelor of Arts (social sciences) student. I’ve done more essays than I care to count and gotten good marks. But this semester I have to do a research paper, which will be the first time I’ve attempted anything like it. Obviously it’s not going to require the depth that you’d expect in a final year research paper, but never the less, the standards are high.
I was thinking about doing my paper on body mods. (Well, I’ve already submitted that working thesis, so one way or the other my paper will have to be on body modification. It has to have a social scientific angle on it, which means I need to come up with a thesis statement and try to pair any claim I make up with an exsisting theory, or combination of theories.
Much of what was covered in the first paper I did was about social movements - large and small - and how people mobilised and organised themselves to take collective action. I think it would be great to look at the culture of body modification as a social movement. Perhaps on a smaller scale than say, civil rights, but a movement nonetheless.
If anyone knows of any theories already out there that I could potentially pair up with that idea, or any credible material available on it, then that would be a really helpful start. I mean it when I say *any* ideas too. Although plenty of opinion peices have been written on the subject, not much in the way of say, peer reviewed material is available and I was thinking maybe I just didn’t know where to look?
Thanks 
Michelle (again heh)
I’m always glad to help out the students…
+5 / 5 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 8 Comments
Saturday September 6th, 2008 @ 10:05 AM
Filed under: Nose
ive had my septum pierced fro almost
3 weeks, i need to go to the dentist
and that means someone can seee up my nose
im hiding my septum have been doing itquite well
but im afraid im going to need to take it off for
about 30 minutes at the most, will this be ok??
realistically….survery says…..nope.
3 weeks old is far too soon to take your piercing out for any duration of time, as soon as you start taking it out…it’s going to start tightening up. Now you could technically take it out but immediately afterwards you’ll need to visit a studio an have them taper it open, which won’t be too pleasant an experience for you.
ultimately though its your nose, so your call…Personally, I wouldn’t advise taking it out though.
+25 / 27 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 11 Comments
Saturday September 6th, 2008 @ 9:59 AM
Hi,
I’ve been planning to get a fairly large tattoo on my side with a poem. What is the recommended font size I should consider that would be small enough to fit a lot of text without blurring over time? Is it also possible to get a customized text in my own handwriting? Thanks!
Alicia
Here are the following steps you should take:
1) write the poem in your own handwriting. Make sure its easy to read.
2) Find a reputable studio with highly skilled/experienced tattoo artists.
3) Bring said poem to highly skilled/experienced tattoo artist and let them know where you want it and what other design work you want with it.
4) The highly skilled/experienced tattoo artist will be able to tell you what needs to be done in order to make it work. ie: how big the font has to be, if it will even fit, the potential of it working with the other design work you want,etc.
It really is as simple as it sounds. And without knowing the poem, seeing your body, figuring out what design work,etc you want. Nobody can really give you any solid statement of how big the font would need to be,etc…Especially if you’re doing it in your own handwriting.
+11 / 13 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments
Saturday September 6th, 2008 @ 9:55 AM
I had my tragus pierced a year ago, but at the end of school a few months ago I had excruciating pain in it and discovered a HUGE bump growing behind the piercing inside of my ear. I personally think that the ring in it was aggravating it. I took the piercing out and the bump went away. However, I’d like to put a new piece of jewelry in it, but I can not find the hole. Has the skin just covered it and a simple needle will be able to find it? Or is the hole in the cartilage gone as well? Will I need to get it professionally re-pierced or can myself or the piercer reopen the old piercing?
*insert suspenseful pause*
visit your piercer and they will most likely be able to re-insert a piece of jewelry either with their own hands, or by using a taper. It’s as simple as that.
+3 / 17 votes 
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments
