Getting a Piercing Without Getting Regrets

There is a lot more that goes into a piercing than just the way it looks on your body. If you don't fully consider all the ramifications of a new body piercing, you may be left with some regrets. A lot of people don't go into a piercing experience with both eyes open simply because they view piercings as "temporary" whereas a tattoo is "permanent." This way of thinking is flawed because a piercing should be treated as if it were a permanent modification to your body. Even if you take out the piercing, there will always be some trace of it, so you need to consider the potential for scarring or a small dimple left in the wake of a removed piercing. Generally speaking, the better you take care of a piercing the less of a trace there will be-but, of course, this also depends on the location of the piercing and how long you had the piercing prior to removing the jewelry. Scars and small marks aside, there are other more immediate concerns that can cause regret for somebody seeking a new piercing.

1. Cleanliness: This is the biggest and most important factor to consider during the piercing process. Make sure you get your piercing from a licensed professional in a clean piercing studio. Ensure that your piercer has background experience in the area and really knows what he or she is doing. Nothing can make you regret a piercing more than getting pierced in unsafe, unclean conditions and walking away with serious health issues or a botched piercing.

2. Placement: When choosing the right piercing placement, consider current and future vocational implications. Make sure your workplace and your future dream job both allow the type of piercing you'll be getting. Also, even if your boss allows piercings, consider the customer's reaction-the last thing you need is a customer complaint to change your employer's mind on the issue!

3. Healing: Make sure you fully understand the healing process and duration. For example, when I was a piercer I often had people getting navel piercings with the intent of showing them off at the beach or poolside. This becomes problematic when you consider that a navel takes quite a long time to heal, and during this lengthy healing period it is best to avoid swimming and certain tanning products-both of which are prevalent at the beach. If you are not aware of how to properly heal a piercing, you may make similar mistakes. During the healing time, certain lifestyle changes may be necessary to avoid irritating the piercing, so make sure you fully understand what you'll have to do in order to keep the piercing healthy and healing properly. Additionally, it should be noted that the more a piercing is rubbed against something or touched by its owner, the longer healing can take; you need to consider how well you'll be able to keep the piercing from being irritated if you want to avoid regretting the decision.

Keep these issues in mind and you'll be less likely to experience regret over your new piercing. Piercings can be a great way to express yourself if you consider all the ways the piercing may impact your life ahead of time.