Piercings/Tattoos...

[joyslayer]

Heh, yeah, I see your point. Hehehe, paperclip.

[Needled]

Maybe I exaggerated a little bit... lol. More like a safety pin.

[Needled]

This is sort of random, but I was reading some old posts on this thread and found that a lot of people are interested in corset piercings.

It's not the greatest idea to get a corset piercing. In the words of Shannon Larratt. A corset piercing is a surface piercing, which are well known to be bitches to heal. Plus they leave nasty scars.

The BIGGEST problem with corset piercing is the fact that it is done using captive bead rings instead of surface piercing jewelry. CBR's aren't designed to minimize damage as surface piercing jewelry is. The CBR's really just make problems worse.

Go to this link to look at some beatiful, and not-so-beautiful corset piercings.
http://www.bmezine.com/news/pubring/20050417.html

I also would like to point out, for those of you who really love the way corset piercing looks, heres a safer alternative:

Tattooed Corset Piercing--

[Blushing Heliophobe]

I had a surface piercing around my belly button. It was a five point star formed by 5 13g bars. I tried to hold onto it for 3 months, alas, it never took. It is pretty rare for a surface to stay in permanently. You might be able to see the scars in my belly pic. You can even feel them; they're pretty deep. My advice is that if you are going to go subdermal, then just make sure you're willing to lose the money and the piercing because that may end up happening.

[IlGato_DiDiablo]

I got my nose re-peirced on Tuesday and I used a needle. The first time I got it done was by a needle as well. I would never use a peircing gun near my body ever! The only ones that I did have done by gun were the ones that got peirced when I was born!!! And like Needled said, guns can never get properly sterilized. They're fucking filthy and I've seen badly infected nose peircings that were done by a gun. YUK!

[Needled]

I had 8 ear piercings done with a gun. Stupid? Yes, but you must forgive me; for I was only a wee 12 year old who knew nothing of the evil gun And what really turned me away from guns, besides reading so much negative information, was the fact that all my piercings done by guns were continuously infected.. always hurt even after they had been in for 3,4 years. So I let all of them close up besides 2 in each ear. It's not so bad when you get your earlobes done with guns, but it's not a good idea for ear cartilage. Mine were fucked up, as well as EVERYONE I know who had theirs done with a gun. Seriously. I don't know anyone who hasn't have problems with a gunned cartilage. They pierce by blunt force, traumatize the area, and shatter the cartilage. Picture shattered plexi-glass. Plus the gun studs are WAY too short..

[Underwater Ophelia]

Aw, bif. I have an inverse navel which I'm pretty sure is a surface piercing. I hope to God it heals correctly because it's boss...
Anyone have this piercing and wanna tell me how it went?

[Blushing Heliophobe]

This may or may not be medically correct, but here is my understanding of traditional VS surface piercings.

Most body piercings are done through a 'flap' of skin. The needle and jewelry go through two layers of skin and flesh. Your eyebrow, the navel, your ear, even the skin in between your fingers...it's a natural flap and there's no resistance to the jewelry. The jewelry goes in and out.

A surface piercing is when you actually have to pinch skin up and you pierce through an area that naturally lies flat.

The problem is this : your body will either 'heal' something, or 'expel' something. Take a splinter. Sometimes your body will just accept it and build up a callous around it and it'll stay there. Sometimes though your body will try its best to expel it from your system. That's why it turns red and itches.

Most regular piercings are accepted. Most surface piercings are so aggravating to the body that it will try to 'expel' it, which is why it will 'migrate'...

Also, sometimes is has to do with the material. If the body thinks it can break it down, it will try. That's where irritation comes from. Say if you had a wood splinter. Your body can sense that it is a decomposable compound and may try to break it down. Hence red irritation and pus (white blood cells). Most problems in the US are caused by jewelry with nickel in it, as most people are allergic to it. Thankfully, in the UK nickel jewelry is not allowed.

Okay. Sorry if I bored anybody...but I was hoping it may help. A piercer friend that I trust relayed this to me. Don't trust me though - ask questions and research for yourself! I hope this sets you in the right direction though, esp. Ophelia having trouble with her piercing...

[talon]

If anyone can tell me how to post pictures correctly i will post one of a tattoo I want to get on my back. It's pretty big aswell, so how much would that cost?

[Blushing Heliophobe]

I don't think that anyone but your selected tattoo artist could tell you that; it varies artist to artist, shop to shop, and region.

Usually depends on size of the tattoo, detail of the tattoo, and skill level of the artist. Mostly an artist will gauge how long it will take and go off of that...

Plus in some tourist-y locations it can be quite expensive.

Find someone around town with really good artwork and ask them where they got it. That's the best way to get started, in my opinion.

[talon]

Thanks. By that, it will probably cost me alot. I still dont know how to post pics though so you won't be able to know the extent of it. There's quite a bit on it. I think i'll cut a few things out though.

[IlGato_DiDiablo]

Originally Posted by Underwater Ophelia

Aw, bif. I have an inverse navel which I'm pretty sure is a surface piercing. I hope to God it heals correctly because it's boss...
Anyone have this piercing and wanna tell me how it went?

I have it done, it's about a year or so old. All you really have to do is take really good care of it, I don't really know how to explain more but it's different than the normal navel peircings that you usually see. Just make sure you keep it sterile and listen to your peircers advice on what to do. I used to clean it with saline solution and I woud have to apply a dis-infecting cream up to 4 or 5 times a day for a month or so, and was told NOT to use alcohol on it (it dries it out or something)! Then it healed nicely and I've still got it! If you could, post some pics and give us a look!

[UltraNEO*]

Originally Posted by Needled

I had 8 ear piercings done with a gun. Stupid? Yes, but you must forgive me; for I was only a wee 12 year old who knew nothing of the evil gun And what really turned me away from guns, besides reading so much negative information, was the fact that all my piercings done by guns were continuously infected.. always hurt even after they had been in for 3,4 years. So I let all of them close up besides 2 in each ear. It's not so bad when you get your earlobes done with guns, but it's not a good idea for ear cartilage. Mine were fucked up, as well as EVERYONE I know who had theirs done with a gun. Seriously. I don't know anyone who hasn't have problems with a gunned cartilage. They pierce by blunt force, traumatize the area, and shatter the cartilage. Picture shattered plexi-glass. Plus the gun studs are WAY too short..

Ouch... What a terrifying tale, Needled. Feels sorry for you.

I've only ever had one piercing done with a gun (it might as well been a nail gun, folks!) I remember that I was dismayed with the placement. It poking in me, digging at my throat constantly before the week was out, I couldn't wait to remove it, probably just in time before any form of infection kicked in, though the area was itchy as fuck! Swollen and sore. After reading your story, I'm so glad I'd removed it.. Been tortured by someone is one thing, been irritated by some jewelry is something else.

Since then, I've learnt to self-pierced (do it if your up for it, but remember, you can't blame anyone if things go wrong - and things can and do go wrong! Such as damaged nerves etc... ) I us the sharpest and cleanest thing in my studio... A book-binder's needle. My own of course. sterilized with alcohol before each uses. So far, been every successful. Though I've given my labret a miss. Instead, I did my research and opted for a reliable professional piercer; one that recommended and trusted by more than a hand full of people.

Now I'm sore again. To be honest, I dunno was it so wise to have both left and right side done, in one sitting. Still.. what's done is done. So far, so good...

...Oh but don't you love the feeling of a needle going through?

[jokerman91]

actually i have no idea how much any of them cost because i know a tatoo artist and a peircing person so i get all mine for free becuase i used to sell them weed in return they give me free tattoos and peircings.

[wild spider]

got my nipple peicerd, my only one..
lol i passed out and pissed myself from adreniline overload
i has to sit on a bus for fourty five minuets to get home. my boyfriend went with me and still wanted to take me out for a celebratery meal after,even though i covered in piss!

its ace when you first get it done you wanna show everyone

[Lady Ravenna]

Goodness, that didn't sound that that was too much fun.

[IlGato_DiDiablo]

Hehe, I don't think so either...

[sheridan]

Originally Posted by UltraNEO*

I've only ever had one piercing done with a gun (it might as well been a nail gun, folks!)

Guns are bad, m'kay?

(this one goes out to everyone who's thinking of having anything pierced).
Piercing guns were designed to put tags onto cows ears. That should tell you something about how appropriate they are for human use. There are many problems with them, but among the foremost are sterility and accuracy.
When someone is pierced with a gun a fine cloud of micro-particles are sent out. If that person's blood is contaminated in any way (Hepititus A, B, etc, HIV, AIDS, you get the picture) then the piercer has effectively sprayed everything surrounding with that blood, including the gun, the subject, the stud, themselves...

As someone who had piercings done by a gun (in my foolish youth) and be a needle I can tell you that needles are cleaner, safer, more accurate and less painful than guns.

The following has a fairly concise list of why guns should be banned (near the bottom of the page, after the signatures), and why no real piercer would touch a gun with a bargepole:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takea...ltl=1139851999

More links:
http://www.namaii.com/suck/
http://tattoo.about.com/cs/psafety/a/piercing_guns.htm
http://www.pacificbodyjewellery.com/smkgun.htm
http://www.tbdhu.com/inspection/pers...iercingQ_A.htm
http://www.bmezine.com/news/pubring/20050131.html

[IlGato_DiDiablo]

Holy crap..

What the fuck???? Seriously, guns are a no no..

[Queenofdarkness57]

WOW! I adore piercings and tattoos! They're awesome. Im gonna have an eagle on my back or maybe angel wings! Umm don't know still confused. What do you think looks better? Oh btw, I want to pierce my belly button but my dad doesn't approve( you know I still live with them and we have 6 months of summer here, so...) Oh well....

[Wise Child]

Really? I have my bellybutton pierced. I've never heard of it having negative connotations. Well, unless it's on a flabby stomach that's shown off all the time. Euw.

[Queenofdarkness57]

Originally Posted by Xnguela

I'm not sure what connotations a bellybutton piercing has in Lebanon, but here they're mostly negative... Make sure you are POSITIVE what tattoo you want, because they're permanent. If you're the slightest bit unsure, wait.

Here, you can legally get tattoo'd or pierced without parental consent starting at age 18. How old do you have to be in Lebanon?

Oh it doesnt matter here. Kids can easily get piercings and tattoos here without parents. Ya, it's good! But I don't want my dad to cut my allowance or shit like that. That's why I haven't pierced it yet.

[succubus,queenofvampires]

I have my bellybutton pierced and don't find it skanky.But,you're right,Xnguela,it does look slutty on some girls, especially if they start wearing really short shirts just to show their piercings.
I liked Geishagirl's tattoos(there's a pic of them somewhere on the site).I really liked the skull and the bats on her arm.They're uber-hot!

[KeltikAon]

I used to have a lot of piercings, but the only ones I have left are the 5 in my ears and the one in my nipple. I had my belly button and eyebrow done years ago. The belly button never healed right, so I removed that one, and after the second time I brushed the eyebrow ring out of my face and sent it flying across the room, I took that one out as well.

Tattoos...that's another story. I am currently working on a full sleeve on my right arm. Aside from that I have four others (both calves, shoulder, and side) and am working on the designs for another stand alone tattoo. Only the one on my side is my original design, although my artist is a really creative guy and does a lot of customization for me. He has done a simply smashing job on my sleeve so far.

Two things I will stress highly to those of you who want tattoos, but don't have any yet. The first is safety. If you go into a shop it is in any way questionable in its health precautions - leave. My guy opens everything in front of me, does all the prep while I am sitting there. Any artist who cares about their customers should not have any objections to doing so. Secondly, this is something that will most likely be on your body for the rest of your life...don't be a cheap bastard. You will get what you pay for.

[Magpie_Tendencies]

Currently I only have my the lobes of my ears peirced but I would love to get a peircing up the top of my ear. I want my belly and my tongue peirced too. I've also wanted a tatoo of a cat on my back for about as long as I can remember.