Tips for Surviving Your First Body Piercing

I have always been someone who is more sensitive to pain than others. Thus it's fairly surprising that I have five tattoos and have gotten three piercings in the past few years (on top of the four earlobe piercings that I originally had). When it really comes down to it, most body piercings are not all that painful, and it is pretty easy to survive them.

Before you go to get a body piercing, be sure you have eaten. Having something in your stomach will make you much less likely to pass out or get dizzy from the pain and minimal blood loss associated with a piercing. And definitely don't go to get a body piercing after drinking--alcohol will thin your blood and make the entire experience much worse, in the long run.

When it comes time to get pierced, try to relax as best as you can. Many piercing artists will chat with you, joke around with you, or otherwise try to help soothe your nerves. You will encounter a few who will tell you horror stories about piercings, but I've found that most of them are joking, albeit in a different manner than that which would make you more relaxed! Take a few deep breaths while you're waiting for your piercer to get ready, or find a spot or object to focus on when it's time for the actual piercing.

All of the piercers I have dealt with have used a technique where they tell you to breathe while they count. They'll tell you to take a number of breaths as they count them, and that on the last exhale (or inhale), they will push the needle through. Knowing the timing of when to expect the pain can certainly help you mentally prepare for the sensation. Also, being pierced while you exhale seems to make it go a little easier--I definitely don't like being pierced while I'm inhaling!

All in all, keep in mind that the pain will be fairly temporary. You will have an initial jolt of pain, followed by a dull throb for a while afterwards (usually no more than a few hours). Your new piercing will be tender for days or weeks after the piercing, but this is relatively easy to deal with. Just be sure to follow your aftercare instructions carefully, and your first body piercing will likely be a breeze! In fact, it may be so much of a breeze that you keep going back, again and again, for more.