Before carrying out a body piercing, the piercer will explain to you any complications that may arise.
You'll usually need to sign a consent form to confirm that you wish to go ahead. Children under 16 may need to have a parent or guardian with them.
The skin is disinfected with a 70% alcohol solution and allowed to dry before it's pierced. The piercing equipment must be sterile.
Ear piercing
A hole is pierced through the fatty tissue of the earlobe, and an earring is inserted. Ear piercing is normally done with a piercing gun, either by a jeweller or a professional body piercer. Piercing with a gun should only be carried out on the ears, and not on any other part of the body.
Some piercing guns are disposable. Others have disposable cartridges to help ensure that the piercing is clean and sterile. If you don't want your ears to be pierced with a piercing gun, you can go to a professional piercer who can pierce ears using a sterilised hollow needle.
However you choose to have your ears pierced, make sure it happens in a clean, no-smoking zone. The person carrying out the piercing should wash their hands first, wear surgical gloves during the process and throw them away straight after use.
If you feel at all unsure about the person who's doing the piercing or where it's being done, go somewhere else.
Other types of piercing
All other types of piercing must be carried out using a hollow needle, which is pushed through the skin and tissue of the body part being pierced. This ensures that there are clear entrance and exit holes. A piece of jewellery, usually a decorative bar or ring, is then pushed through the hole.
Belly button
The piercing is usually made just above the navel. A curved bar with screw-on metal balls on either end is inserted through the hole. A small metal ring fastened with a clip-on ball may also be used.
Special care must be taken with a belly button piercing as this area is difficult to keep clean and dry. You'll need to wash the belly button with soap and water before the piercing. Make sure the piercer cleans the area properly with a 70% alcohol solution.
Afterwards, you should wear any belts well below the area until it's fully healed. Expose it to air as much as possible.
Nose
A hole is pierced through the skin and cartilage of the nostril. A nose stud (like an earring) is then inserted through the hole.
Tongue
The tongue is clamped to hold it in position while it's pierced. A bar with a screw-on metal ball at each end is inserted through the hole.
Nipple
The piercing is normally made through the end of the nipple. A thin metal ring or straight bar is then inserted.
