Sunday, January 25 2004 @ 11:05 AM CST
Does it hurt?
Perhaps the most common question for anybody new to piercing and one of the hardest to answer. Just about all piercings will be 'felt' but most are no more uncomfortable than having a small injection.
Professional piercings are performed using a very sharp hollow surgical needle (much the same as those used to insert drips or for giving blood). This means that for most piercings the needle is through in a split second and the discomfort will only last that long. Arguably the genital areas and nipples can be a little more uncomfortable for most people, but this can vary hugely from person to person. Some people have and will literally faint with certain piercings, others may vomit, others may hardly notice the needle going through. Whatever 'type' you are the procedure will be over in seconds and the pain is usually more than bearable once the part in question is actually pierced.
In the UK and most of Europe local anaesthetic injections and/or Emla cream can only be used by a trained and qualified professional which does not include most piercers. As a general rule the only anaesthetics that should be used in the UK are Xylocaine spray or similar and these should not be used for oral piercings. However, for most piercings local anaesthetic really isn't required and in many cases the administration of it could cause more pain than the actual piercing.
Most of all.... don't worry! You will survive it and it will be over very quickly!
A side note - drugs and alcohol. Drugs and alcohol are generally not a good idea prior to being pierced. Any reputable practitioner will refuse to pierce if he/she believes either have been taken. Alcohol will increase the chance of you vomiting during the procedure and many people will tell you that drugs can increase the pain involved - even weed. Bottom line is simply don't use them before hand.
Professional piercings are performed using a very sharp hollow surgical needle (much the same as those used to insert drips or for giving blood). This means that for most piercings the needle is through in a split second and the discomfort will only last that long. Arguably the genital areas and nipples can be a little more uncomfortable for most people, but this can vary hugely from person to person. Some people have and will literally faint with certain piercings, others may vomit, others may hardly notice the needle going through. Whatever 'type' you are the procedure will be over in seconds and the pain is usually more than bearable once the part in question is actually pierced.
In the UK and most of Europe local anaesthetic injections and/or Emla cream can only be used by a trained and qualified professional which does not include most piercers. As a general rule the only anaesthetics that should be used in the UK are Xylocaine spray or similar and these should not be used for oral piercings. However, for most piercings local anaesthetic really isn't required and in many cases the administration of it could cause more pain than the actual piercing.
Most of all.... don't worry! You will survive it and it will be over very quickly!
A side note - drugs and alcohol. Drugs and alcohol are generally not a good idea prior to being pierced. Any reputable practitioner will refuse to pierce if he/she believes either have been taken. Alcohol will increase the chance of you vomiting during the procedure and many people will tell you that drugs can increase the pain involved - even weed. Bottom line is simply don't use them before hand.