Saline solution

Sunday August 17th, 2008 @ 6:41 AM

Filed under: Uncategorized

To heal my piercings, have have bought a bottle (1000 ml) of saline solution. I pour it into a small bottle, and when I run out, I will re-fill the small bottle. I have strict “contamination controls” over the 1000 ml bottle (I don’t allow myself to even dip new q-tips in.)

However, the saline solution’s label says to “discard within 24 hours of opening.” Although 24 hours seems quite unreasonable, should I be worried about how long the bottle’s been opened for? Perhaps it’s best to buy a new bottle of saline solution after a month? What do you think?

You can often prolong bacteria contamination of the bottle by placing it in refridgeration, as that slows bacteria growth.

However know that as soon as you open up a sterile bottle of saline, you only have a certain amount of time before the contents become contaminated. If the company declares that the sterile solution needs to be discarded after 24 hours of opening, that is not an “unreasonable” situation. Because the fact is that bottles contents won’t be sterile after 24 hours.

Now provided that you keep it under strict lock and key and let nobody else touch it and you yourself handle it properly. Then realistically you can continue using the saline, but you need to realize that after 24 hours the solution will not be sterile.. However I would say having/using it for an entire month is not really an ideal thing to do.

Personally I’d suggest buying in smaller quantities and using only what you need. You can also purchase items like Sterile Saline Wound Wash that comes in containers that remain sterile and last longer then 24 hours.

Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 12 Comments

Getting my septum pierced

Sunday August 17th, 2008 @ 6:22 AM

Filed under: Nose

Hello,

I’ve made up my mind that I want a septum piercing, one because I really adore how it looks like and two, because absolutely no one had a piercing like this at my place. So anyway, I’m 16 but my mom still doesn’t wanna having anything to do with my piercings so she declined on giving me her consent, so like all of my other piercings (snakebites, monroe, cartilage), I’m going have to go DIY.

I’ve been researching about the pros and cons of DIY septum piercing and I’m pretty well informed than people think I am, being one of those “safety first” freak. My questions are:

1. Is it okay to use a 14g piercing needle if I’m just going to use a 16g circular barbell? And what’s the difference between a regular piercing needle and an autoclaved one?

2. If I’m just aiming for a mild look on my septum, what size of the ball should I pick? (1/2, 3/8, or 7/16)

Thank you so much.

I won’t touch on my take on the mom thing.

I won’t even touch on my take on the DIY thing.

I have covered both of those in previous entries and as always they have been positively and negatively commented/voted on. So lets just bypass all of that.

The main concern I have is when you asked “whats the difference between a regular piercing needle and an autoclaved one.” It scares me because it puts yourself, and others like you(ie: uninformed DIYers) at serious risk. If one is doing a DIY piercing they should comprehend the difference between something that is sterile and something that is not sterile.

ALL needles have to be sterilized in some fashion. Either through steam sterilization, EGO sterilization,etc. If a needle comes into your possession that has no confirmation on if it is sterile or not, it must be considered non-sterile and in fact very contaminated. As you simply do not know exactly what is on that needle. That needle could have come in contact with Hepatitis, or that needle might even have MRSA on it, or who knows what else that is potentially very harmful to you.

This is why when ever a piercer does a piercing, the needles are confirmed sterilized (ie: they either buy them pre-sterilized or they sterilize them) and are single use only. If pre-bought they will have a code number and date on the package that can be traced back to what batch,etc. If its sterilized on site at the shop, it should have the same information on the package so it can be traced in the autoclave logs,etc.

As for your question about using a 14ga needle and a 16ga piece of jewelry and if its a “bad” thing. Realistically its not “bad”, it just means you might bleed more. Another thing to consider is a potential distortion that can visually appear because of the larger hole then jewelry, along with the initial swelling that can occur,etc.

As for jewelry options I’d suggest using a Septum Retainer initially over a Circular Barbell, for healing purposes,etc. However if you’re mind is set on a Circular Barbell its hard to say what diameter you will need and in the same respect it will be hard to say what bead sizes you’ll need, without seeing you’re face in person and taking measurements,etc.

Also note if you’re looking for a CBR, its the same statement that I said for the Circular Barbell.

Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 20 Comments

My eyebrow piercing

Sunday August 17th, 2008 @ 6:09 AM

Filed under: Eyebrow/Bridge

my piercing is healing beautifully, it’s 7.5 weeks old, but when i move it or touch it it seems like theres a bruise in it, but the bruising when away at 4 weeks. i think i hurt it but i’m not sure.

do you think this will be ok? or is this normal?

p.s i’m suppose to stop cleaning it this friday because it’ll have been 8weeks/2 months

Know that if you continue to poke and prod at your piercing, it will not heal beautifully. As the more you poke and prod at it, the more you are introducing potentially harmful bacteria into and around your piercing. I’m inclined to say that if you would stop touching your piercing, the discomfort you’re feeling, will go away.

Also know that the 8 week/2 month aftercare process is a generalized minimum time frame. Some people will be able to stop the aftercare protocol at 8 weeks time, however sometimes people will need longer. If you have been and continue to keep touching your healing piercing, I’d suggest to continue the aftercare protocols for more then the 8 week period. Even if you make sure you no longer touch your piercing, I’d suggest you continue the aftercare protocol for a few more weeks.

As in this stage of the healing its still not fully healed, its simply at a point where you no longer have to actively follow an aftercare protocol. As your body will, at this point, have healed enough in order to continue the healing process on its own. However like I said the more you do not follow the aftercare protocols, the more complications you introduce to your body and your piercing, the longer its going to be sore/take to heal,etc.

Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 2 Comments

Leaving plugs out overnight

Friday August 15th, 2008 @ 7:30 AM

Filed under: Ear

I currently have my ears stretched to 7/8″. I have had them stretched to this size since about March 08. Previous to that I was stretched to 1″ but decided to downsize. I want to leave my plugs out at night but I was wondering if its going to cause me a lot of problems with getting them back in in the morning. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.

It shouldn’t cause you any problems at all. In fact, it’s a good thing as it will allow your ears to ‘rest’ a little and help with circulation. It’s also alot more comfortable sleeping sans plugs! You can always use something like Holey Butt’r or vitamin E oil to ease them back in if they feel a little tight and dry, or pop them in after a hot shower or bath.

Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | 1 Comment

septum piercing

Thursday August 14th, 2008 @ 7:18 PM

Filed under: Nose

im getting mine done on saturday

and need to hide it from parents.

what should i get it done with a horseshoe one

or the retainer? and whats the difference?

and what colour? silver or black?

what hides the best in other words!

and will it hurt?

Yes it will hurt. Probably not as much as you think. Pain is strictly personal. Some people say that they didn’t even feel their septum piercing, some people say it hurt so badly they’d never do it again. *shrug* No way to know how yours will go until you have it done!

Circular barbells (or “horseshoes”) can be flipped up into the nostrils to hide the piercing. Depending on the anatomy of your nose, that might be suffice.
Some retainers are staple shaped or crescent shaped.

Some people’s jewelry can’t be seen with implant grade steel or high polish titanium, but as an extra precaution against visibility, you could also have a black annodized niobium retainer put in initially.

Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | 6 Comments

there is nothing interesting in kansas, but…

Thursday August 14th, 2008 @ 1:46 AM

Filed under: Suspension

I currently live in lawrence, Kansas, which is about fourty five minutes to an hour out of kansas city. I would love to suspend for my first time, but I dont know how to go about contacting anyone to make this happen. I saw in the encyclopedia that there is a branch of rites of passage in missouri, would i contact them? Do they do private suspensions, or would i not want to talk to them? Is there another option nearby that I should take instead? Any help would be super apppreciated, thank you so much!!!

Rites Of Passage is one of the best options to contact. They are a great Suspension Crew/Group and very professional as well as very caring towards first-timers.

ROP have in the past done NUMEROUS Private Suspensions so they should be capable of offering you that type of service. However the best option is to contact them personally and ask about what services they can and cannot provide,etc.

If ROP is unable to offer you the services you require, for whatever reasons (prior obligations,etc), they can quite possibly refer you to another Suspension Crew that they have a solid relationship with as well. That way you can be able to go through with the private suspension that you are wanting.

Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 1 Comment

Eyebrow piercing needles

Thursday August 14th, 2008 @ 1:40 AM

Filed under: Eyebrow/Bridge

I am interested in piercing my own eyebrow, and I was just wondering if I should use any specific needle, or if any needle would do? (Like, would a sewing needle that was big enough be alright or suicidal?) Thanks.

Not “Suicidal” but “Stupid” quite possibly.

If you cannot comprehend the definitions of “Sterile” vs “Non-Sterile” and/or “Clean/De-Contaminated” vs “Dirty/Contaminated” then I most honestly would suggest you are not a potential candidate to try a DIY piercing alone.

You’re best choice is to visit a reputable piercing artist and bring up that you want to do the piercing yourself, but want to make sure you have the best possible chance. An easy-going/reputable artist should be willing to help/guide you through this by offering you their guidance/assistance and help you prep, mark,etc the eyebrow. But then when it came time to pierce the flesh with the needle, then that’s your queue to pick the needle up and do the piercing. The piercer would only be on standby in case you are unable to do it or lost the transfer and can’t get it in,etc.

Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments

bioplast vs. stainless steel

Thursday August 14th, 2008 @ 1:33 AM

Filed under: Navel

I will be going to get an industrial navel piercing and i am wondering weather i should get a bioplast or stainless steel barbell. I’ve done some research and have heard pros and cons of both types of jewlery. I have a somewhat active lifestyle and I would like to know which will be more comfortable.

thanks for your help:]

Realistically neither would be “more comfortable” with someone who has an active lifestyle.

Also have you visited a reputable piercer to inspect the navel area and make sure what you’re looking for, is even capable of being done? As more often then not, peoples navels are not suited for the type of piercing you’re referring to.

If you are suitable to get both your Standard Navel and Inverse Navel pierced. You could technically heal the each piercing with separate jewelry. Then once healed place a Tygon piece of jewelry through the pathways and leave it in until it becomes firmer/harder. From there remove it and the piercer can either order a custom bent Barbell or if they have proper non-damaging (ie: won’t gouge the hell out of the surface of the jewelry) bending pliers they can attempt to make the shape themselves.

If you want you can do a search on AskBME involving BioPlast and it will explain why BioPlast is not a suitable jewelry material to be used in fresh/initial piercings.

But realistically if a client came to me looking for this and mentioned they lead a very active lifestyle, I would have tried to really make them understand that a very active lifestyle is not conductive to the healing of this specific piercing. If they were still interested in going through with it, then I would stress to the client to consider it a “project” and encourage it be done the way I mentioned above. Where its pierced with two pieces and then later figure out the pathway shapes and create/order a custom barbell shaped specifically for what your navel requires.

Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments

Piercings in schools

Thursday August 14th, 2008 @ 1:19 AM

Filed under: Uncategorized

I work at a Hot Topic in the Midwest and lately (I think because of back to school) I’ve had a high number of parents asking me or my associates about piercing rights almost??

Basically I am hearing that some PUBLIC schools are banning piercings and for boys to have pierced ears.

For some reason this really doesn’t rub me the right way and it seems to be mainly located in smaller towns where piercings and gauges are seen as something that common criminal would have.

I mean I understand the reasoning and legality of a work dress code (you are being paid) but schools aren’t the same. It is required by law (in most states) that students go.

How can a public institution can both overrule parents decision making? Not to mention continue the stigma that anyone with a nose piercing must be a druggie or hoodlum?

So I guess my question is do the pierced have rights??

(By “gauges” do mean stretched piercings wearing larger gauge jewelry? )

I think it’s pretty unfair to ask guys not to wear jewelry in their lobes while girls can. AND I think that if someone had the time to kick up a fuss about it, a fair conclusion could come of it (ie: guys are allowed to wear earrings like girls - or no one’s allowed to wear earrings at ALL!)

I think since the beginning of schools, students have felt oppressed and hard done by by their teachers and that establishment. The best way to change the rules is approach with an educated, level-headed case for your cause.

Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | 3 Comments

Lip Ring

Thursday August 14th, 2008 @ 1:15 AM

Filed under: Lip/Cheek

I’ve had my lip pierced for about 6 months now; I had it pierced with a bigger ring for swelling purposes and I haven’t changed it since. It tore a bit so I went to the place that I got it done at and they said it could possibly heal although it had migrated as well as torn. I’m wondering if I should try to wait it and out and see how it feels, or if I the irritation could be from having such a large ring still?

I don’t pierce center placed lip piercings with CBRs for this reason.

Your irritation could definitely be from wearing a large ring in the piercing.
I would suggest you put in a longer flatback labret barbell and heal it with that. Once the piercing settles down you can begin to downsize the barbell until all the residual swelling subsides. From here you should be able to comfortably wear a CBR in it.

Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | 5 Comments