What Does Body Piercing Procedure Involve?

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The art of body piercing has taken off in a big way in recent years, and the basic ear, nose and navel repertoire of most studios has needed to expand to cover more exotic piercings. Here's a short guide to what piercing different body parts entails.

Ear

• Lobe the ear lobe piercing is often carried out with a gun, and it's unlikely that there will be much bleeding.
• Multiple and cartilage piercings the ear is cleaned and the positions marked. Piercings in the cartilage area can bleed for a few minutes. These are usually carried out using the piercing gun.

Alternative ear piercings on inner parts of the ear are usually done with a needle as they can be harder to reach. They are not suitable for everybody, so you'll need to ask your piercer for advice about whether you have enough cartilage in your chosen area to have it pierced.

Nose

Noses can be pierced through the nostril or septum. Your nose will be cleaned on the outside and inside, he position will be marked, and then small specialist clamps will be applied and your nose pierced with a needle.

The septum piercing can be extremely painful, and is carried out in pretty much the same way as a nostril piercing.

Eyebrow

If you have an eyebrow pierced, after cleaning you'll agree a position with your piercer, and then you'll be pierced with a needle. There's likely to be some bleeding but this should only last a few minutes. You can end up with some swelling or bruising that looks a bit like a black eye.

Tongue

A tongue is usually pierced from top to bottom through the centre, although the tongue web can also be pierced in some people. The piercer will use a clamp to make sure that the needle doesn't make contact with your teeth or gums. You can expect a few days of swelling with a tongue piercing and it can be sore afterwards.

Lips

The 'Madonna' is a very popular piercing, and is named after the famous beauty mark. It will be pierced off centre to one side of your mouth, and it's worth pointing out that if you remove the jewellery, you'll be left with scarring on your face.

A standard lower lip piercing can be anywhere along the lip, but it is usually done below the lip line and vertically central to your face. With lip piercings, you will be clamped into place while the piercer uses a needle to pierce the marked area. You can expect some bleeding.

Nipples

In the UK, if you're female you have to be over 16 to have a nipple pierced. Males don't have an age limit. The nipple has to be erect when pierced in order to position the piercing correctly. The piercing point is marked at the base of the nipple, where the nipple joins the areola. You will probably get some swelling with a nipple piercing, although it's not usually too severe.

Navel

The navel can be pierced at the top, bottom or side and the procedure is broadly the same for all. You'll be lying flat on your back, and a clamp will be applied to a small fold of skin so that the piercing is accurate. You can bleed for a few minutes after a navel piercing - and you'll have to wear a dressing over the wound to start with.

Genital piercings

• Female - women can have their clitoris, some areas of the vulva and clitoral hood pierced, but as with nipples, there are laws forbidding this in anyone under sixteen. If you have an intimate piercing you will obviously have to undress below the waist. They can be very tricky to align and mark, and once pierced, you will probably bleed for a few minutes. Women shouldn't have a piercing during their period.
• Male - men can be intimately pierced in several places - the head of the penis, foreskin, scrotum, and pubic area. These piercings heal quickly although there is likely to be some bleeding, and swelling may last for a few days.

Depending on how brave and experimental you're feeling, you can choose to have a piercing in one or many places, and most studios are now quite comfortable carrying out the more unusual piercing requests! Always ask the piercer's advice if you're unsure, and think very carefully.

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Stop illegal tattooing....

HIV and hepatitis warning over illegal tattooists

 

 

Unlicensed tattooists face a prison sentence of up to two years

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Illegal unlicensed tattoo parlours are putting customers at risk from HIV and hepatitis, council bosses in England and Wales have warned.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said such operators were more likely to use substandard equipment and conduct inadequate sterilisation techniques.
They were also less likely to check the person's age or medical history.
The LGA said unregulated tattooists were working in homes, garden sheds or pubs and clubs.
'Unscrupulous bid' The organisation said people were being lured away from reputable establishments by cheap deals - but there was an increased danger of contracting serious skin disorders, hepatitis or HIV.
Mehboob Khan, chairman of the LGA's Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: "Unlicensed tattooists and parlours continue to operate across the country in an unscrupulous bid to cash in on the growing popularity of body art.
"People looking for a cheap tattoo by using them run the real danger of picking up a serious infection such as hepatitis or HIV or permanent scarring from botched procedures that are often delivered by these dangerous imposters."
Mr Khan said people who took the risk could end up with a "disfigurement or life-changing health condition".
He added: "Anyone who is thinking of having a tattoo should do their research and use a registered tattooist.
'Unrelenting crackdown' "We would also encourage anyone who has visited an unregistered tattooist to seek medical advice from their GP and report the parlour to their local authority.
"Councils and the police will continue their unrelenting crackdown on these illegal parlours to continue shutting them down and bringing the perpetrators to justice."
Tattoo artist Kevin Paul told the BBC that anyone with tattoo equipment should have register with their local council and follow health and safety guidelines.
He said: "Some of the stories we've had are really bad. Like this girl - she had something on her foot.
"She thought it was a professional person who'd done it. He went far too deep. It swelled up and went really sore.
"She went back to get their advice after a week. They told her that that was normal. That's not normal. Two weeks down the line, it got that bad she could hardly walk on it. She went to hospital. They told her that if she'd have left it any longer she'd have lost her foot."
The LGA said there were more than 1,500 licensed tattoo parlours in the UK, with almost three in 10 people aged between 25 and 34 having at least one piece of the body art.
Unlicensed tattooists face a prison sentence of up to two years and unlimited fines, and local authorities can seize their equipment under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Getting a Tattoo Removed

You wouldn't be the first and you certainly won't be the last person to decide that perhaps a tattoo which was hastily done in your youth is now surplus to requirements.

It's possible to remove an unwanted tattoo, although some methods are more successful than others. A lot will depend on how big your tattoo is and where it is situated, as well as how it was done and the type of pigment that was used.

Who Can Remove a Tattoo?

The first thing to try is a visit to your GP to find out if you are eligible to have your tattoo removed on the NHS. It's unlikely that they will fund you, but some Health Authorities will make an exception in some cases. At the very least your doctor can give you some advice about what method is best for you, and you can ask him for a referral to a reputable cosmetic surgeon who could do the work.

You might see cheap tattoo removal advertised in the newspapers - it's never a good idea to go for the budget option for any cosmetic procedure. Find someone who is registered with the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) or the British Association of Cosmetic Surgeons (BACS) and at least you'll know that you are in good hands. Ask questions - ask what options are available, find out the success rates for the different options, and find out how long the surgeon has been carrying out the procedure.The methods used to remove tattoos vary, some are favoured by different experts and some depend on the type of tattoo you want to get rid of.

https://www.facebook.com/mrwolfpiercing for 10+ years experience in tattoo removal

What Are The Main Methods?

Tattoos are usually removed in one of the following ways:

• Laser treatment Pulses of laser light are sent into the tattoos, using different intensities for different coloured pigments. The light passes through the top layer of the skin, and is then absorbed by pigment particles in the tattoo.
  The particles heat up and break into smaller pieces which are eliminated through the immune system. Laser treatment is easy and effective, and there is very little risk involved. It's possible that there could be some scarring or pigmentation afterwards, or occasionally the pigment can react with the laser, which results in a darker colour in the skin.
  
  Laser treatment only takes a few minutes but it can take a few treatments to complete, and it can cause some discomfort. Complete removal is unlikely, and the treatments can cost you hundreds of pounds.
• Dermabrasion This is where the skin is chemically treated to break up tissue and then the top layers of the skin, which contain the tattoo pigment, are rubbed away mechanically. This can sometimes lead to scarring, though.
• Vaporisation A carbon dioxide laser is used to remove the tattoo - and this can also lead to some scarring.

How Long Will it Take?

Removing tattoos usually takes place under local anaesthetic and with some sedation. It can often take several treatments to get the tattoo as light as you want it to be, and unless it's physically cut out, you can often see a faint residual image.

Tattoo Removal Creams

Don't waste your money on a cream that claims to remove your tattoos. Medical experts have dismissed the claims that an expensive cream can dissolve away a tattoo, and the Tattoo Club of Great Britain agrees.

Unfortunately, it's sad fact of life that a tattoo of your lover's name can last longer than the love itself, so you need to consider your options carefully before you set foot in a tattoo parlour!

Choosing a Reputable Tattoo Parlour or Shop

Seventy-five percent of the UK people who have tattoos end up wishing that they hadn't according to a study by the British Journal of Dermatology in 2003. Of course, many of these people might just have changed their mind afterwards, and there isn't much that anyone can do about indecisiveness.

If you are absolutely sure you want to have a tattoo, you're over 18, and you are looking for the place to do it for you, just keep the following guidelines in mind and you'll hopefully end up with a tat you can be proud of for years to come...

https://www.facebook.com/kinkyink.inkorporated 93 Battersea Rise, Clapham Junction, London, SW11 1HW.

Make Sure They are Registered!

Check that the person you want to tattoo you is registered and has an up to date health and safety certificate. This should give you some peace of mind. By law (the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, to be precise) anyone who carries out tattooing, must be registered with their local authority, who should visit their premises on a regular basis to make sure they are complying with the law. Never go to an unlicensed tattooist, that's just asking for trouble. Also look at the work they have already done and does this appeal to your requirements? Just because a studio is registered has no bearing on the quality of work they produce.

Health Concerns

To put your mind at rest, and to avoid any problems with the tattoo, the tattooist should ask whether you if you have had any of the following:

• any allergic reactions to latex, anaesthetics or sticking plasters
• any condition that might compromise your immune system (such as MS)
• heart disease or a pacemaker
• impetigo
• seizures, epileptic or otherwise
• high blood pressure
• haemophilia.

If you have any of those conditions, or have had them in the past, you'll be asked to get written authorisation from your GP before you're tattooed. All this information also has to be recorded.

Check The Hygiene

Are they displaying a health and safety certificate? They should be, so ask to see one if it's not immediately obvious. Look around and see if the place is clean and tidy...it should be spotlessly clean. Look out for:

• Are they wearing gloves? Visit the parlour before you have your tattoo and see if the artist(s) are wearing gloves to tattoo other clients - this is basic health and safety practice so if there are no gloves, give them a miss. Tattooing punctures your skin and leaves you prone to infection even if it's done with spotless hands and instruments - don't risk compromising your health.
• Needle safety every single needle must be brand-new, not cleaned or disinfected. Watch the artist throw old needles away and take new ones out to use on you. Dirty needles are a serious health risk, and could leave you with a chance of contracting HIV, hepatitis or tetanus.

Get Recommended

Get a recommendation. If you have friends with tattoos, it makes sense to ask them where they were done, and if they were happy. Check the Internet to see if there are any testimonials online. Visit the parlour and ask to see examples of previous work.

Reputable by Association

Are they a member of the Association of Professional Tattoo Artists, or the Tattoo Club of Great Britain? The Tattoo Club has a list of registered tattoo artists which they are happy to divulge.

A tattoo is a lifelong investment - costly to put right if you're not happy with the results. A little time researching the best place for you will pay dividends in the long term.

https://www.facebook.com/kinkyink.inkorporated 93 Battersea Rise, Clapham Junction, London, SW11 1HW.

The Law Relating to Body Piercing and Tattoos

Having a tattoo or a body piercing is a big decision, and in a lot of cases, a permanent one. Until recently, the laws applying to tattoos and body piercing were sketchy to say the least, and it could be hard to tell who was reputable and who to avoid.

What Laws Apply to Body Art?

The main areas of law that relate to body piercing and tattoos cover the health, safety and licensing of any premises that carries out 'cosmetic' skin piercing and permanent tattooing. These laws are:

• The Health and Safety at Work etc Act (HSWA,1974)
• The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 ( recently amended by the Local Government Act 2003)
• Laws relating to Age and consent
• The Tattooing of Minors Act 1969
• Assault implications
• The Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act (1985)
• Anaesthetics - The Medicines Act (1968
• Legal exemptions affecting some special treatments.

Who has to be Registered?

All businesses that carry out ear piercing and permanent tattooing must be registered under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, and since 2004, local authorities also regulate salons and other businesses that carry out body piercing, and semi-permanent skin-colouring techniques such as micropigmentation, semi-permanent make-up or temporary tattoo services.Local authorities have the powers to inspect any premises that carry out piercing or tattooing, and make sure that they are observing local byelaws that relate to the hygiene of their premises, staff and equipment. 

All the gear but no idea...

The problem with this is that the local authority has to obligatorily grant a license and does not take into account the quality of the actual tattoo. This means that the studio can be very clean and obey all the necessary heath, safety and hygiene but the "artist" does not really need to have the required skills to tattoo correctly and safely. e.g. running the needle at the right depth, tuning the machine correctly, overworking the skin, not even begin able to draw! All of which ending up in the result being a badly executed tattoo and the customer walking away with an awful piece of art.

How Old Do I Have to Be?

There is no legal age of consent for body piercing, and so it's legal for someone under the age of 18 to have a piercing as long as they have consented to it. Children under the age of 16 can't legally consent to a genital (or in the case of girls, nipple) piercing, as it's considered to be indecent assault. There are no plans to introduce an age of consent for body piercing in any areas other than the genitals, although some local authorities have introduced recommendations about the ages at which a person can have specific body piercing's.

The Tattooing of Minors Act 1969 makes it illegal for anyone to tattoo you if you are under the age of 18 - although the offence is with the person who carries out the procedure, rather than the person who asks for the tattoo. New guidelines suggest that a tattoo artist should ask to see proof of age and record this before agreeing to tattoo you.

What Must I be Asked?

Before a piercing or tattoo is carried out, the studio should, by law, ask some important health questions, as well as making sure you have all the appropriate aftercare advice.

They should ask you about any allergies or health problems that may affect your tattoo or piercing, and they are also obliged to keep detailed records of this consultation for up to two years. This protects you as a client, as it makes sure that the piercer or tattoo artist knows in advance whether there are any issues that could lead to complications - or even be dangerous for you.

Aftercare Advice?

After you've been pierced, or your tattoo is complete, you should be given specific advice about what to expect, and how to look after your new artwork.

Local authorities will expect businesses to give out basic advice, mostly relating to hygiene, for example the time you can expect to wait before the wound is fully healed, how to keep the piercing or tattoo clean and dry and avoiding infection.

The laws have been tightened up considerably in recent years, following horror stories about underage tattoos and body piercing that has led to septicaemia. At least with the stricter regulations, you should be assured that anywhere you visit has been registered with and inspected by health and safety officers. If they aren't registered - leave well alone.

Tattoo studios, the law and the truth....

 I have had meetings with environmental health and other council members in Wandsworth and due to legislation they cannot refuse anyone being granted a license and it seems that now councils around the UK are actually considering handing out mobile licenses.

Also, studio's who obtain a license on the grounds that they meet good hygiene standards along with health and safety, but these are not enough as the studio may be clean but it can still be operated by "artists" that have no education into tattooing, even without the ability to draw in some cases.

We run a very clean and professional environment and we chose artists based on artistic and technical ability so our customers are provided with the best possible tattoo and we feel that this should be standard practice. If you think of it in this way, you wouldn't go to a restaurant that has an amazingly clean kitchen but the chef is the worst chef in the world and he uses reduced produce from the bottom shelf at the supermarket.

The other sad point is that planning in London needs proprietors to apply for Sui generic planning applications. This means we fall under the same category as sex shops, massage parlour’s, tanning shops, laundrettes, etc.... But we should fall under a more professional category as we perform a very technical and demanding practice. 

The problem we are facing now because of the huge demand and popularity of tattoos and the spotlight the media has placed on them we get business owners who fall under the Sui generic category are adding tattooing to their existing business and hiring very inexperienced artists, often whom have left their apprenticeship early and are trying to accelerate their earning ability or artists who are just not good at all and producing the "illegal home tattooist" quality, but in a business environment. Also, they are buying poor quality equipment shipped in from China and there are several cases in the media where counterfeit inks have been contaminated and needles that are not sterile.

Due to shows on TV people see that tattooing is very popular, profitable and think that it is something you can just pick up and do, but in actual fact even if you can put pencil to paper and create the most breathtaking art then its a whole other skill to be able to use a needle and ink to transfer that skill into beautiful tattoos on skin.

Everybody, please help the nation become informed on proper practice and guide them in the right direction to get good quality work with no risks attached. 

Choosing a professional body piercer....

Body Piercing - Choosing a Body Piercing Professional

Choose https://www.facebook.com/mrwolfpiercing for over 10 years experience

Body piercing is fashionable at the moment, and piercing is available in specialist studios as well as some hairdressing salons and tattoo parlours. If you've decided to take the leap and have a piercing, there are things you should look out for to make your experience one that you won't remember for all the wrong reasons.

Ask Around

Ask friends and family with piercings who they would recommend. Find out if they used a reputable piercer - and ask them whether they were told how to look after their piercing properly, or how to remove the jewellery. Research online; ask for testimonials and pictures of happy clients. Any decent studio will be more than happy to show these off!

Some local councils keep a register of their approved piercers, premises which have passed strict hygiene and safety standards, and are regularly inspected by health and safety officers. It's a good idea to contact your local council to find out if they have any approved piercer lists or schemes.

There are also professional piercing associations such as the Association of Modern Professional Piercers.

http://www.synapsebodypiercing.co.uk/stand/ampp/

If a studio belongs to the association, they must display the AMPP Clients Charter in their salon...and follow it.

Check The Place Out

A few days before having you have the piercing, drop in to the shop and have a good look around.

• Do the premises look clean, and have wipe-clean surfaces (including the floor?) Ask to see results of spore tests - tests run to make sure that the sterilising equipment is working properly.
• Are they wearing surgical gloves, and can you see that they are changing them between customers?
• Do piercers look clean and tidy? Do they wash their hands regularly, and are any cuts on their hands covered?
• Are they using single-use needles and throwing them away after each client? Are they using a gun? Avoid anywhere using a piercing gun, as they can't be sterilised properly, and they use so much force to drive the stud through skin, they can cause tissue damage.
• Are other instruments left in the autoclave (steriliser) while not in use?
• Ask lots of questions. Find out about their experience, how long they've been piercing and where they learned. Do they have any specialist qualifications? Ask advice about the most appropriate jewellery for your piercing - any experienced piercer will be able to recommend what's best, advise you about aftercare and explain the risks without any hesitation
• Ask for their aftercare sheet, and read it before you even have the piercing done! A good piercing studio should have a standard aftercare sheet. If it tells you to use hydrogen peroxide, for example, it could indicate that they are not keeping up with industry standards.

Why Hygiene is So Important

If you don't pay proper attention to hygiene, you could end up with hepatitis or even HIV, Some strains of hepatitis can live for up to eight hours on dirty instruments if left at normal room temperatures. You could also end up with a nasty bacterial infection if the studio isn't following proper hygiene rules, which can develop into septicaemia or toxic shock. Both can be fatal.

What You Can and Can't Do

There is no statutory age limit for ear or cosmetic piercing in England or Wales, but some London Boroughs do impose license conditions which relate to the age of the client.

Under English law, anyone under the age of 16 can't have a genital piercing, as genital piercing under 16 is actually classed as an indecent assault. The same applies to female breast piercings, although boys under 16 may have their nipples pierced.

Body piercing needn't be painful in the long term. With some careful research and common sense, you can have a piercing to be proud of with no problems.

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