Getting a Piercing: What to Ask, What to Know, and What to Leave With

Getting a piercing is a bigger commitment than it might seem. You're healing an open wound for months, sometimes over a year, and the decisions made in the first five minutes have a direct impact on how that goes. Here's how to set yourself up well from the start.

Before you book

Do a bit of research on the studio before you go. Look for a piercer who uses single use sterile needles, implant grade jewellery, and an autoclave for equipment sterilisation. A reputable studio will be transparent about their process. If their website or social media doesn't mention any of this, it's worth calling ahead and asking.

If you have known metal sensitivities or a history of slow healing, mention this when you book. A good piercer will factor this into their jewellery recommendation.

Questions worth asking your piercer

Once you're there, don't be shy about asking questions. A good piercer expects them and welcomes them. Things worth asking:

Is this placement suitable for my anatomy? Not everyone's body suits every piercing. An experienced piercer will assess your anatomy before committing to a placement and will tell you honestly if something isn't going to work well for you.

What jewellery are you using? The answer should include the material and ideally the grade. Implant grade titanium or implant grade steel with a specific grade number is what you're looking for. If they can't tell you what grade it is, that's worth noting.

What size is the initial jewellery? Ask for both the gauge and the length or diameter. Write it down or take a photo of what they tell you. You'll need this information when you come to replace or downsize your jewellery later.

What will I need to downsize to? Initial jewellery is longer than your long term wear piece to allow for swelling. Ask your piercer what gauge and length they'd expect to downsize you to once healing has settled, and roughly when that might be. This gives you a baseline for shopping for replacement jewellery later without guessing.

How will I know if something is wrong? Ask what signs of infection or rejection look like, and how to tell them apart from normal healing. A good piercer will give you clear guidance on when to come back versus when to see a doctor.

What to leave with

Before you walk out the door, make sure you have or know the following:

The gauge of your new piercing. Written down, not just in your head.

The length or diameter of your initial jewellery. Again, written down.

The material. Ideally ask for the product name or SKU so you can reference it later.

Aftercare instructions. Most reputable studios provide a printed aftercare card. If yours doesn't, ask them to write it down or at minimum confirm they recommend sterile saline solution and leaving the piercing alone.

A follow up plan. When should you come back? Most piercers recommend a check-in at around 4 to 6 weeks and again when you're ready to downsize.

A note on aftercare

The current standard recommended by professional piercing associations is sterile saline wound wash, sprayed directly onto the piercing once or twice a day. That's it. You don't need to rotate the jewellery, apply antiseptic, or do anything else. Keeping it clean and leaving it alone is genuinely the best approach.

When to go back

Go back to your piercer if you notice the jewellery migrating, the skin over the piercing getting thinner, any spreading redness or warmth, or discharge that's thick, coloured, or accompanied by significant pain. Most of what people worry about is irritation rather than infection, but your piercer can tell you which one you're dealing with in about thirty seconds.