Most common Tattoo FAQ's		Most common Piercing FAQ's		Most common Laser Removal FAQ's

Q: When can I change my jewellery?
A: You should only remove the initial piercing jewellery after the piercing has healed. This is normally at least four months after the initial piercing, although this does vary.

Q: How soon after piercing can I go swimming?
A: A piercing is an open wound and you should treat it as such. Going into a body of water with an open wound always carries a risk of infection. While your piercing is unhealed, this risk applies. Therefore it is best to cover your piercing with a secure waterproof dressing before going swimming.

Q: How long will it take for my piercing to heal?
A: Most piercings take at least four months to heal, although some oral piercings may heal sooner and if a piercing suffers complication it a can take even longer.

Q: If I leave my jewellery out for a few days, will it close up?
A: The simple answer is yes. How long this takes depends upon where on the body it is located and the length of time the piercing has been in place. Oral piercings tend to close more quickly and fresh piercings more quickly than older ones.

Q: The bar on my navel jewellery keeps sticking out at the top and catching on my clothes. Why is this?
A: The jewellery is too long. When swelling goes down some people need to have a smaller length piece of jewellery fitted.

Q: I keep biting my tongue bar when I eat. What should I do?
A: Because the swelling in the tongue piercing is unpredictable and can be severe, a much longer barbell is fitted in a new piercing. After 7-14 days this needs to be replaced with a shorter one. Barbells may need to be gradually shortened over a few months. Leaving too long a barbell in a piercing can lead to complications, such as chipped teeth or sore gums.

Q: When can I fit non-sterile jewellery?
A: It is never safe to fit non-sterile jewellery in an unhealed piercing.

Q: When is it safe to use steel jewellery?
A: Steel jewellery with greater than 0.05 per cent nickel content should be worn after a piercing has healed and not before and should never be worn in new piercing.

Q: Does it matter what size of jewellery I wear in my piercings?
A: The size of your jewellery is very important to the health of your piercing. Only correctly sized and fitted jewellery should be worn.

Q: Is it safe to share jewellery with my friends?
A: It is definitely not safe unless the jewellery has been thoroughly cleaned and sterilised in an autoclave. If the piercing is not healed, blood borne infections, such as hepatitis can be transmitted from one person to another.

Q: I have been told that boys should have their right eyebrow pierced and girls the left, is this correct?
A: Both males and females commonly have either or both eyebrows pierced.

Q: Do only gay men have their navels pierced?
A: No. Both gay and straight men have their navel pierced. This is becoming a very popular heterosexual male piercing.

Q: Is it ok to French kiss with a tongue piercing or other oral piercing?
A: If the piercings are unhealed, then the risk of transmitting infectious blood borne disease is increased.