Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you pierce with a ‘gun’, or needle?
As a licensed professional, ‘piercing gun’ methods are NEVER used in this studio! This is of course in our clients best interest; using a bladed hollow needle ensures minimal tissue disruption, quicker more comfortable healing, and that ALL instruments (tools, needle, jewelry etc) can be thoroughly sterilized prior to use.
If you’d like more info on needle vs gun methods, here’s what the APP has to say about that!
What’s the “APP?”
The “Association of Professional Piercers.” Their mission is Health, Safety and Eucation. Read more about the APP here: https://safepiercing.org/about/
What if someone I know, or I myself, am under the age of 18 and want a piercing?
MINORS are welcome in the studio, but there are some requirements!
Must be accompanied by a biological parent (as listed on the PROVIDED BIRTH CERTIFICATE) or legal guardian (providing COURT APPROVED DOCUMENTATION) with ID and documents for review. Parent/Guardian must be present, *in person*, for the full duration of the appointment, sign necessary waivers, and while receiving aftercare instructions.
EVEN BETTER! You will be asked to provide a physical (not photo or copied) valid (not expired!) government issue ID, *every time* a piercing takes place, even if you have been pierced at this studio before or recently. Acceptable ID: driver’s license (out of state is fine), non-driver ID card (even temp versions are ok), military ID, or Passport.
What if I am over 18?
I have gotten dizzy or light-headed before, during a piercing / tattoo / or from A needle stick at the doctors…
This is an occasional, yet sometimes unavoidable automatic body response brought on by stress, adrenaline spiking, dehydration, or underlying causes (vasovagel syncope, low-blood pressure etc) but does NOT necessarily mean it WILL happen.
It is recommended to; make sure you are well rested and well hydrated, eat a good meal 1-3 hours prior to your appointment, and possibly have a friend/family member with you for support to ease your nerves or drive you home if you’re not feeling up to it.
*If you think it would be helpful to have a little extra time to recover, you can reserve or add additional “consultation” time when setting up your appointment!
Communication is key! …And don’t feel embarrassed, your piercer is there to help! :)
Do you have jewelry / what if my ears are sensitive / can I bring my own?
Pinnacle Body Piercing has a wide array of jewelry on site! We aim to suit a variety of different piercing styles/locations, options for well healed piercings or those looking for an upgrade or something fun, as well as high-quality medical grade initial jewelry for your fresh piercing. No, we do not allow clients to be pierced with their own ‘outside’ jewelry… Jewelry from unknown sources may not hold up to steam/pressure sterilization and could be damaged, it is also important to start with styles appropriate for your healing and maintenance, and sized appropriate to your anatomy. The healing process is delicate and extremely important, and it’s a liability for our studio to do something unsafe or against recommendation. Your piercer will discuss these details and review options during the start of your appointment.
You can feel safer knowing that all our vendors are APP approved and verified for their quality of product and manufacturing standards. All gold pieces are true 14k or 18k never plated or coated with low quality ‘mystery metals’ underneath. Any niobium or titanium pieces can be anodized in studio to create your own unique twist… With a variety of styles, colors, sizes, and materials to choose from there’s something for everyone!
What are possible risks associated with my piercing?
Any piercing has the potential for risk, long-term change to the body, or undesirable outcome… sometimes this can be hard to predict, as each persons anatomy, habits, and healing journey are different and unique. Depending on the location of your piercing, some could result in damage to tooth enamel/gum erosion, rejection or eventual loss of the piercing, migration resulting in a change of position or angle the jewelry sits at, discoloration or visible scarring at the site (in rare cases keloid scarring). Some piercings may have swelling or tenderness in the early stages, which will hopefully be minor and dissipate quickly… but if you think what you’re experiencing is worse than anticipated, or needs attention, please contact your piercer! *protip ~ there is a service selection for ‘consultation’ to book studio time and be seen in person. If you fear the next opening is too long to wait, drop an email/message about the issue, if I can squeeze you in somewhere *emergency status* I will! Remember.. piercers can help some, can swap or remove your jewelry etc.. but, we are not doctors, can not give antibiotics or other medical advice/intervention.
DO NOT HESITATE TO SEE A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL IF YOU NEED IT
It is recommended to avoid: ~Submerging in swim waters (that’s pools, hot tubs, AND ocean water, lakes, river.. all sources!) for the first 6-8 weeks. *timelines may vary with slower healing piercings. ~Chemicals or products on the site (makeups, hair product, lotion, sunscreen, bug spray, etc). ~Be mindful of locations that can easily be irritated by certain clothing, sports gear, headphones, sleep habits and more.. think, is this *functional* to maintain for my lifestyle? ~Don’t REMOVE jewelry during it’s sensitive healing stages. This may mean planning around certain medical procedures, work or family events, sports seasons etc… it is recommended that potential downsizing or initial jewelry swap by handled by your provider. We have an appointment service you can book for that! ~DON’T TOUCH your piercing, or let others touch it! (Partners, kids, pets, etc) The recommendation to ‘rotate or spin’ your jewelry is a thing of the past!! It can bring new germs to the site, and damage healing progress… possibly leading to infection or healing complications.
What do I need to AVOID with a fresh new piercing?
What are possible risks associated with my piercing?
Any piercing has the potential for risk, long-term change to the body, or undesirable outcome… sometimes this can be hard to predict, as each persons anatomy, habits, and healing journey are different and unique. Depending on the location of your piercing, some could result in damage to tooth enamel/gum erosion, rejection or eventual loss of the piercing, migration resulting in a change of position or angle the jewelry sits at, discoloration or visible scarring at the site (in rare cases keloid scarring). Some piercings may have swelling or tenderness in the early stages, which will hopefully be minor and dissipate quickly… but if you think what you’re experiencing is worse than anticipated, or needs attention, please contact your piercer! *protip ~ there is a service selection for ‘consultation’ to book studio time and be seen in person. If you fear the next opening is too long to wait, drop an email/message about the issue, if I can squeeze you in somewhere *emergency status* I will! Remember.. piercers can help some, can swap or remove your jewelry etc.. but, we are not doctors, can not give antibiotics or other medical advice/intervention.
DO NOT HESITATE TO SEE A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL IF YOU NEED IT
This is a cool process we can do in house during your visit. Anodization is a risk free process to change the metal color of jewelry made of Titanium or Niobium. It’s not a coating, and will not chip or flake. There are numerous options to choose from but we cannot change the color to black or red.