| Body piercing literally means making a hole in a | | | | needle there's a cannula (a hollow plastic tube) |
| part of the human body with the purpose of | | | | where the piercer puts in the jewelry. So at the |
| wearing jewelry in the opening created. After a | | | | piercing process, the cannula and the jewelry is |
| process of healing, a fistula will be created. This is | | | | entirely pulled through the opening. This method is |
| an abnormal 'passageway' in your body or skin so | | | | often used in Europe. |
| that there's a genuine 'hole'. | | | | * Scalpel method |
| Body piercing Methods | | | | When you want an opening for a large gauge |
| * Needle Method (Standard) | | | | body piercing, a medical scalpel can be used to |
| The most common method used in the United | | | | make a slit. This method is often used for large |
| States to make a piercing is with a medical hollow | | | | gauge ear piercings. It's also used to correct an |
| needle. The needle makes an opening in the skin | | | | asymmetry for example if the ear piercing on |
| you want to have pierced but doesn't go all the | | | | one side is larger than the other because of an |
| way through. The jewelry then is inserted and | | | | incorrect placement. |
| follows the needle back. It's necessary to insert | | | | When you don't want your piercing anymore and |
| the jewelry immediately to hold the slit the needle | | | | you remove the jewelry, the fistula will not shrink |
| made open. The needle method doesn't involve | | | | or close from itself. The only solution there is |
| removing any flesh (some methods do). The | | | | surgically. |
| opening is always made with a needle larger than | | | | * Pierce and Taper |
| the initial jewelry to be worn. This is done to | | | | This method is for larger gauge piercings and only |
| reduce the pressure on the healing piercing, giving | | | | works on body parts where the skin is very |
| it more room to heal and allow a fistula to form. | | | | elastic. It's similar to the standard method, but |
| * Piercing Guns | | | | after the hole is pierced with the needle, the |
| Piercing guns are gun-shaped devices that | | | | piercer inserts a tapered steel bar (one of larger |
| mechanically makes the piercing by forcing a stud | | | | gauge then the needle) in order to make the |
| through the body part. You can compare it with a | | | | opening bigger. The jewelry is directly inserted, |
| stapler. | | | | following the tapered bar. |
| This method is often used by non-professional | | | | * Dermal Punching |
| piercers and mostly to pierce holes in the | | | | Piercings in the upper ear require removal of skin |
| earlobes. You should avoid this method because | | | | and cartilage to lift the pressure of the piercing |
| the piercing gun is hard to sterilize. The risk is | | | | and guarantee a longer viability of the piercing. |
| infection and transmission of bulletproof | | | | Therefore, a dermal punch is used to remove a |
| pathogens. | | | | circular area of tissue, where the jewelry will be |
| * Cannula Method | | | | worn. Like scalpelled piercings, the healed fistulas |
| The cannula method is similar to the standard | | | | will not shrink or close on their own. |
| method. The difference is that at the end of the | | | | |