Most piercing problems are jewellery problems
When a piercing refuses to settle, the cause is usually not the piercing itself.
Length
A fresh piercing swells. Initial jewellery has to be long enough to accommodate that swelling without pressing into the tissue on either side. Jewellery fitted too snug at the start is a leading cause of irritation, migration and the raised bump people assume is an infection.
Material
What sits against healing tissue for months matters. Ask what your jewellery is made of and why that material was chosen for your placement. Fashion jewellery bought from a mall kiosk is frequently the wrong alloy and the wrong gauge for a healing piercing.
Downsizing
Once initial swelling subsides, the longer starter jewellery should usually be swapped for a correctly fitted piece. Skipping this step leaves excess bar to catch on clothing and hair, which keeps irritating the channel long after it should have settled. Ask at the time of your piercing when to come back for this.
Healing takes longer than you have been told
The outside closes first. The inside of the channel takes considerably longer, and that gap between looking healed and being healed is where most problems start.
Earlobes are among the fastest. Cartilage piercings, including helix, conch, industrial and nostril, are among the slowest and are frequently still consolidating many months in. Navel and nipple piercings are also long healers.
Two practical consequences: do not change jewellery early because it looks fine, and do not judge a piercing failed because it is still tender at eight weeks. Ask Paul for the realistic timeline for your specific placement before you leave, and follow it rather than the internet.
What to expect at the shop
Bring photo ID. You must be 18 or older to be pierced here.
Eat something beforehand. A meal an hour or two before your appointment substantially reduces the light headedness some people experience, and it makes the whole thing easier.
Expect to be asked about placement in detail, and expect an honest answer if your anatomy is not suited to a particular piercing. Some placements simply do not work on some bodies, and being told so is better service than being sold a piercing that will reject.
Call (262) 255-4884 to check availability before coming in.
The myth: a piercing gun is the same thing as a needle
They work in opposite ways. A hollow needle removes a small channel of tissue, which leaves a clean opening for jewellery to sit in. A gun forces a blunt stud through by pressure, tearing the tissue apart rather than removing any of it. That crush damage takes longer to heal and is associated with more scarring, and gun mechanisms cannot be sterilised in an autoclave the way needles and tools can. This is why professional piercers use needles, including on earlobes.
Book body piercing at Absolute
Come into the shop at N89 W16687 Church St., Menomonee Falls, or call (262) 255-4884 to talk to an artist. Bring your reference images and an idea of size and placement, and you will get a straight answer about what is possible.
Questions people ask about body piercing
How old do I have to be to get pierced?
You must be 18 or older, and you will need photo identification. Bring it with you even if you are well past the age, since the shop checks as a matter of routine rather than judgement. Call (262) 255-4884 if you have questions before coming in.
How long does a piercing take to heal?
It varies enormously by placement. Earlobes are among the quickest. Cartilage, navel and nipple piercings frequently take many months and are often still settling long after they look healed on the surface. Ask for the specific timeline for your placement and follow it rather than online estimates.
Should I use alcohol or peroxide on a new piercing?
No. Both are harsh on the fragile tissue trying to form the channel and they slow healing rather than helping it. Ask Paul what to clean with and how often when you are pierced, then stick to that routine and resist the urge to do more than instructed.
Can I bring my own jewellery?
Ask before you buy anything. Fashion jewellery is often the wrong material or gauge for a healing piercing, and unsuitable jewellery is the most common cause of a piercing that never fully settles. Paul will tell you honestly whether what you have is appropriate for your placement.