Archive for the ‘Body Piercing’ Category

It’s Jamie again and today I will be discussing the single point piercing (surface anchor, dermal anchor, microdermal). Single point piercing is a technique that is essentially a single-point pocketing. It gives the appearance of a small single bead on the skin, similar to a transdermal implant, but with an easier procedure. Single point piercing also has an easier removal than an implant removal. Because of the small size of the jewelry can be placed almost anywhere on the body, although healing can be difficult on areas of high movement or places that get knocked. You can even do multiples to create really unique patterns.

Body jewelry is worn inside a wound and is in contact with your internal tissues, only certain products are suitable. The look of the jewelry that is placed in your fresh piercing must be secondary to aspects that affect safety and compatibility with your body. The size, style, material, and quality of the initial piece of jewelry all affect your ability to heal. The jewelry can be changed after you have successfully healed. Because the body jewelry industry is saturated with substandard products, piercers and clients alike may forget that cost alone should never be the key factor in your purchase.
The simplest way to describe the jewelry is it looks like a flat plate which sits beneath the skin with a single exit for a barbell post giving the visual effect of jewelry (a bead, spike, etc.) that appears to be screwed right into the body.

Jewelry for this piercing should be made of titanium. Titanium is a lightweight metal that is ideal for people with concerns about nickel sensitivity. This material can be anodized to create jewelry of different colors without affecting the safety. Look for implant certified titanium (Ti6Al4V ELI) that is ASTM F-136 compliant or ISO 5832-3 compliant, or commercially pure titanium that is ASTM F-67 compliant.
This piercing can either be done with a needle or a dermal punch. Either way is fine depending on the piercers preference. The jewelry is placed into a pocket beneath the skin. The jewelry typically has a hole or multiple holes on the flat plate that is placed under the surface. Your skin with heal and grow through these holes to help firmly hold your jewelry in place. An internally threaded post will protrude to the surface making it easy to change your jewelry tops for your desired look.

The healing time on this piercing can be one to three months depending on placement, after care, and your body. There is no need to twist or touch your jewelry, as this will only irritate your new piercing. It is very important to avoid snagging this piercing. You need to be aware at all times of things that could catch it such as; clothing, loofahs, wash rags, and towels. To clean your piercing you can either use H2Ocean or a saline soak. With the H2ocean spray both sides two to three times a day. You can make the saline soak at home by using a non-iodized sea salt mixture: Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized (iodine-free) sea salt into one cup (8 oz.) of warm distilled or bottled water, soak for five to ten minutes two to three times per day. Dry by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury. Some risks can be migration, rejection, scarring, and snagging accidents.

To remove the jewelry, the area around it is massaged, and the piece manipulated gently out. A small cut may need to be made to remove this jewelry if the tissue has grown to the plate. Having this jewelry surgically removed by a doctor is a common misconception, any piercer that is able to insert the jewelry for you should also be able to remove it.

Dermal anchors are great for a unique look since they can be put in a variety of places on the body and in a variety of different patterns. Since they are a more advance piercing to heal most piercers prefer to do these on adults (18 years or older). For any further questions feel free to contact any of our piercers at Blue Boutique.

Hello there..today I would like to take some time and talk about the Ampallang piercing. The Ampallang is a male genital Piercing passing horizontally through the body of the glands of the Penis. It can be placed either through the urethra or above it. The ampallang piercing has quit a unique history behind it. Although there is no evidence supporting the origin of the piercing Being started in India it has been mentioned in the kama sutra ..The earliest mention is said to come from the Philippines in the 4th century but the most mentions and practice of the ampallang come from borneo .It is said to be mimicked from the rhinoceros penis shape that the piercing came to be. The word “palang” is translated meaning “Cross or Cross bar” It is also said that a dyak women will not marry a man without him having the ampallang piercing. The kayan say a women complained of a man’s penis size,Saying it was no better than a rolled leaf used to give herself satisfaction. The insulted man then ran off and pierced it himself.. Different accounts of the origin and the methods used vary from tribe to tribe.In borneo the piercing is performed using two splints With a hole on both sides is placed on the penis. Using cold water and the lack of circulation from the splint to desensitise the piercing is then performed. They sometimes use a feather quill dipped in oil changed daily until healed. In a professional stetting in the 1970′s the term ampallang,and apadravya. Was adopted by a man named Doug Maloy Who then passed it onto Jim Ward “the founder of gauntlet” America’s First Body Piercing Studio.

The Ampallang is not as common of a piercing as say a “Prince Albert” For males seeking to have their penis pierced. This piercing, once healed, is often pleasurable to the bearer because it stimulates the internal penis tissues. It can be sexually stimulating to the receiving partner during sexual intercourse usually due to stimulation of the G spot. But It has also been said to be painful for the partner due to the sensitivity of the soft tissue inside the vagina. It is recommended you Talk with your partner and piercer to decide if this the correct piercing for you.
There are a few different techniques used and vary from piercer to piercer. The most common two are the clamp and free hand method..although some piercer’s prefer the dermal punch and taper method. It is placed either above or passing through the urethra on both sides. A 12g or 10g barbell is the jewelry suggested for this piercing. It is important that the piercer uses the correct length of jewelry as to allow swelling and room for a erection. It is also suggested the customer take a measurement of his erection as to give the piercer a idea of the jewelry required. As with any piercing passing into the urethra or through the glands of the head of the penis you can expect bleeding lasting 3-5 days. The amount of blood differs from person to person and is completely normal.To protect clothing and the piercing it is suggested the wearer use either a nonstick bandage and a barrier such as a spermicidal and lubricant free condom or a rubber glove fastened with a rubber band. In some cases the piercer can puncture a large vessel located in the head of the penis called the “corpus cavernosum” It was a old urban legend that said piercing this vessel one could bleed to death. This Is completely untrue. If it is in fact punctured one can expect heaver bleeding initially and for the first few days. The technique of piercing and the stretching to a larger size can stop the initial bleeding but can also cause alot of trauma to the piercing and is not recommended.Keep in mind this is a very advanced piercing and only should be performed by a skilled professional.Never let a novice piercer perform this piercing on you!

The Healing process can take anywhere from 3 months to 1 year or longer to fully heal. Sex should be avoided for the first several weeks or longer listen to your body if something hurts stop! Is a good rule of thumb. Never have unprotected sex with a healing piercing It does not matter if you are in a monogamous relationship!. Urine is sterile to one’s own body and also will help flush out any blood that might gather into the urethra. Cleaning the piercing Warm saline soaks are recommended 3-5 times a day.If the piercing does in fact pass through the urethra it can interrupt the urine flow and might cause the wearer to sit or alter how they urinate.For full aftercare instructions visit any blue boutique or follow the link on our website!

The piercers at the blue boutique are happy to assist you with any questions or concerns you may have about the ampallang and any other piercing. I hope this blog gives you a better understanding of the history behind this very primitive and modern primitive piercing.We are committed to performing safe,effective,professional piercing! We only use the finest jewelry available! Feel free to email any one of us with any questions you may have or just stop by the sugarhouse and west valley locations we are here 7 days a week!

Today’s blog is going to be about the Prince Albert piercing also know as P.A. The PA is one of the most common male genital piercings. The PA piercing is extended along the underside of the glans from the urethral opening to where the glans meets the shaft of the penis. The related “reverse PA piercing” enters through the urethra and exits through a hole pierced in the top of the glans.

While some piercers may choose to avoid the nerve bundle that runs along the center of the frenulum altogether, others do not. The piercing may be centered if the person is circumcised. Otherwise, the piercing may be done off center because the surrounding skin needs to be able to reposition itself dynamically.

The most common jewelry use for a PA piercing is a captive bead ring however you can also use a circular barbell as well as a larger curved barbell. All jewelry inserted in a healing piercing should be made out of either 316-LVM ASTM f-138 implant grade Surgical Stainless Steel or ASTM F-136 6AI-4V ELI Titanium.

Jewelry should be “internally threaded”. This means the end ball threads into the post. Never be pierced with “externally threaded” jewelry. This type of jewelry is cheap. Jewelry not made of surgical stainless steel and can cause micro tears in the tissue that can harbor bacteria that may lead to a infection.

Rumor has it the Prince Albert piercing is named after Prince Albert who was the husband of Queen Victoria of England. He was reputeded to have had this piercing done prior to his marriage to the queen around 1825, at that time Beau Brummel started the craze for ultra tight mens trousers. Because the pants were so tight, the penis needed to be held to one side or the other so as not to create an unsightly bulge. To accomplish this some men had their penis pierced to allow it to be held by a hook on the inside of the trousers, this piercing was called a “Dressing Ring” at the time because tailors would ask if a gentleman dressed to the left or the right and tailor the trousers accordingly, tailors to this day will ask if you dress to the left or right.

The Prince Albert piercing may have been practiced in European culture for some time, and while there are many tentative theories as to its origin, the true origin of this piercing is unknown. Many of the theories regarding this piercing’s history suggest that the piercing was used to secure the penis in some manner, rather than having a sexual or cultural purpose. In modern times the Prince Albert piercing was developed by Jim Ward in the early 1970s. In West Hollywood (a gay village of Los Angeles), Ward met Doug Malloy and Fakir Musafar. Together these men further developed the Prince Albert piercing. Perhaps more fatefully, Malloy published a pamphlet, Body & Genital Piercing in Brief, in which he concocted fanciful histories of genital piercings in particular. These ersatz tales which included the notion that Prince Albert invented the piercing that shares his name in order to tame the appearance of his large penis in tight trousers are widely circulated as urban legend. No historical proof of their veracity has been located independent of Malloy’s assertions.

Like many other male genital piercings, it has a history of practice in gay culture in the twentieth century and became known outside that culture at the same time that body piercing began to emerge in popular culture in the late 1970s. The relatively easy procedure, rapid healing and claims of additional sexual stimulation (both to the wearer and his partner in sexual intercourse) attributed to this piercing have come to make the Prince Albert the most common male genital piercing.

Many men considering getting this piercing are put off by the idea that it must be painful, however the pain is minimal. The piece of skin where the piercing is done is very thin, less than 1mm thick. The pain is just a very short sharp pain which lasts usually a second or two.

The Prince Albert piercing is a very easy piercing to heal, because every time you urinate you clean and disinfect the wound, I have never heard of a single person having a problem with this piercing. Urine is sterile when it leaves the body because it has been purified by the kidneys, and it contains a large amount of ammonia which is a strong antiseptic. The more water you drink the quicker the piercing will heal, try to drink at least 8 glasses a day . You may experience some bleeding in the first 36-48 hours, don’t be afraid this is normal and will stop eventually. The PA can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to be fully healed “every buddy’s body is different”. Personal hygiene must be kept to a very high standard. Avoid touching or rotating your jewelry. Also avoid oral sex, or sex for these could cause some problems during the healing process. If you find it necessary to touch your piercing, make sure your hands are washed, cleaned and dried.

A piercing heals in stages so diligence is required to during the first few stages.

To take care of your piercing you can do saline soaks or even a saline spray a couple times a day
There is one drawback to having a Prince Albert piercing, because the ring goes through the urethra you will dribble when you urinate. This problem is worse for some people more than others. When urinating into a toilet bowl you have to stand with your legs on either side of the bowl, and make sure not to shake when you finish, just relax for a few moments before putting your penis away. When you are standing at a urinal stand with you legs well spread close to the urinal and lean forward with your back arched. The problem improves with time, and the insertion of the thicker ring, but it never goes completely away.

For a complete aftercare instructions feel free to stop by one of the Blue Boutiques and ask one of our highly trained, knowledgeable piercers.

The PA is very easy and beautiful piercing that has transcended the entire body piercing world. Whether it is your first piercing or 50th the Blue Boutique has the largest selection of high quality body jewelry and highly skilled and experienced body piercers always on staff! Let us help you in making the right decision for your new piercing.

Today I will be discussing the tragus piercing. The tragus is the little nub in front of the ear canal.

Most tragus piercings are performed while you’re lying down because the thick cartilage requires a bit more pressure to puncture, and it’s easier to keep your head still in this position. The piercing itself is usually made with a 18-16 gauge hollow piercing needle. The needle may either be straight or curved depending on the piercers preference. Once the hole is made, the jewelry is then threaded through. The tragus piercing can be done with a captive bead ring, barbells or even a labret stud. I prefer to use titanium posts because they have less chance of snagging during the healing period. Tragus piercings don’t tend hurt as much as you might expect because there are very few nerve endings in this location. It is normal to feel the pressure from the needle because of the exceptionally thick cartilage. It is also common to get some “sound effects” due to the location. You can expect to hear a popping sound although not everyone does.

Not everyone has the correct anatomy for this piercing. Your piercer can look at it and let you know if you are a prime candidate for this piercing. Depending on the angle of your tragus it is usually placed perpendicular to the tissue. It should set well in from the edge.

The tragus lacks vascularity (blood supply) so it can be tricky to heal. There is a tendency for cartilage piercings to develop small bumps during healing. They can be formed by the surface tissue being pushed away from the cartilage by the needle. Some piercers will compress the tissue after the piercing which can help reduce the risk of any bumps forming. If your tragus is to small, not properly pierced, or has had significant trauma you may face a risk of migration or rejection. Migration is when your jewelry moves closer to the surface tissue. It is possible for a piercing to migrate, settle, and heal. Your piercing should have 5/16 inch of tissue between the entrance and exit holes or you may have a strong possibility of losing it. Never let your jewelry come all the way through to the surface or you will often be left with a split scar.

It is important to minimize trauma and pressure to successfully heal any cartilage piercing. Try sleeping on the opposite side while healing. Avoid snagging on hair or brushes. Avoid ear buds and phones. Try to use the phone on the side opposite of your piercing to not only avoid bumping but to avoid getting bacteria in your new piercing (phones are dirty). There is no need to twist or touch your jewelry as this will only irritate your new piercing. To clean your piercing you can either use H2Ocean or a saline soak. With the H2ocean spray both sides two to three times a day. You can make the saline soak at home by using a non-iodized sea salt mixture: Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized (iodine-free) sea salt into one cup (8 oz.) of warm distilled or bottled water soak for five to ten minutes two to three times per day. Dry by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.

Piercing a tragus is a bit more difficult than other portions of the ear, but it really looks unique. If you’re searching for something out of the ordinary, perhaps you’d like to give it a try? If you have any questions or would like to see if you are a good candidate for this piercing feel free to come in and speak with any of our experienced piercers.

Today’s blog is about the MEDUSA piercing. This piercing is also known as the PHILTRUM piercing. The piercing of the medusa is getting to be just as popular as the labret-lip piercings. The jewelry most common for a medusa piercing is called a “labret stud” however just like people stretched out their lower labret people are now stretching out their medusa and putting a small plug in them. Usually for young females that choose to get their medusa pierced they would go with a small gem on the end of the stud and a smaller size to look cute on their face as for guys would usually go for a ball but doesn’t mean a guy can’t get a gem as well and support it just as good as a female. a medusa piercing is placed right over the center of the upper lip where it dips in right under the septum part of your nose. All jewelry inserted in a healing piercing should be made out of either 316-LVM ASTM f-138 implant grade Surgical Stainless Steel or ASTM F-136 6AI-4V ELI Titanium.

Jewelry should be “internally threaded”. This means the end ball threads into the post. Never be pierced with “externally threaded” jewelry. This type of jewelry is cheap. Jewelry not made of surgical stainless steel and can cause micro tears in the tissue that can harbor bacteria that may lead to a infection.

In Africa, a lower lip plate is usually combined with the excision of the two lower front teeth, sometimes all four. Among the Sara people and Lobi a plate is also inserted into the upper lip. Other tribes, such as the Makonde, used to wear a plate in the upper lip only. In many older sources it is reported that the plate’s size is a sign of social or economical importance in some tribes. However, because of natural mechanical attributes of human skin, it seems that the plate’s size often just depends on the stage of stretching of the lip and the wishes of the wearer.

The medusa-philtrum piercing was named in the mid 1990s by Kerrick, a hairdresser and model from Toronto, Canada. The piercing was performed by Tom Brazda of Stainless Studios, although it was certainly not unheard of at that point. It just didn’t have a name that had stuck.

What’s interesting about the medusa-philtrum piercing is that this is one of the few cases — others include the daith and rook — where a decorative name has trumped a proper anatomical name. The philtrum is the anatomically correct term for the midline groove of the upper lip which is located between the nose and the top of the lip.

Caring for your medusa piercing is very easy but does take a degree of patience. The lip can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to be fully healed “every buddy’s body is different”. Personal hygiene must be kept to a very high standard. Avoid touching or rotating your jewelry. Also avoid heavy kissing, oral sex, biting on the jewelry, for these could cause some problems during the healing process. If you find it necessary to touch your piercing, make sure your hands are washed, cleaned and dried.

A piercing heals in stages so diligence is required to during the first few stages

For the inside of your mouth a cold bottled or distilled water should be used to rinse your mouth after you eat or drink anything and can also be used to help to reduce swelling. As for the outside of your lip piercing a simple warm saline soak 2 times a day or even a saline spray such as H2Ocean or Wound Wash Saline spray a couple times a day is recommended. Let your piercing relax and try not to move it. Elevating your head while you sleep for the first few nights will also help to keep the swelling down.

Things to avoid during the healing process include: alcohol, smoking, chewing tobacco, scented soaps and body washes, rubbing alcohol, ointments, peroxide, spicy/hot temperature food, wet kissing and oral sex.

For a complete aftercare instructions feel free to stop by one of the Blue Boutiques and ask one of our highly trained, knowledgeable piercers.

The medusa is very easy and beautiful piercing that has transcended the entire body piercing world. Whether it is your first piercing or 50th the Blue Boutique has the largest selection of high quality body jewelry and highly skilled and experienced body piercers always on staff! Let us help you in making the right decision for your new piercing.

The lip piercing is a widely popular piercing mostly located along the bottom lip but sometimes found along the top as well. The piercing is virtually painless, simple procedure lasting a few seconds when preformed by a skilled professional.

The jewelry worn in the lip is called a “labret stud” but you can also use a ring and the ring usually worn in a lip is called a “captive bead ring.” the end of the labret studs can come in tons for different styles and colors. Usually for young females that choose to get their lip pierced they would go with a gem as for guys would usually go for a ball or a spike. All jewelry inserted in a healing piercing should be made out of either 316-LVM ASTM f-138 implant grade Surgical Stainless Steel or ASTM F-136 6AI-4V ELI Titanium.

Jewelry should be “internally threaded”.  This means the end ball threads into the post. Never be pierced with “externally threaded” jewelry. This type of jewelry is cheap. Jewelry not made of surgical stainless steel and can cause micro tears in the tissue that can harbor bacteria that may lead to a infection.

According to some sources, the labret-lip piercing has been practiced throughout the world for 8,000 to 10,000 years. Piercing of the lips for the insertion of objects into them is very widely practiced throught the world, however only two tribes pierced the lips with a ring, the Dogon tribe of Mali, and the Nuba of Ethiopia. Among the Dogon the piercing of the lip has religious significance, they believed that the world was created by their ancestor spirit “Noomi”. All the other lip piercing that is practiced in the world is done with labrets, which can either be a pin of wood, ivory, metal or even in one case quartz crystals, Among the tribes of Central Africa, and South Africa the labret piercing is stretched to extremely large proportions, and large wooden or clay plates are inserted. The Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest and the Inuit peoples of Northern Canada and Alaska wore labrets fashioned from walrus ivory, abalone shell, bone, obsidian, and wood. In the same way, labret and lip jewelry is found among various tribes.

In the last couple of decades, body piercing of all types has become extremely popular all over the world and mainly in the west but none has been more popularized than lip piercing. Depending on the individual, these piercing can be located in various areas of the lower lip. However, labrets are normally below the center of the lower lip and above the chin, where as a basic lip ring can be located to the left or right of the mouth.

Caring for your lip piercing is very easy but does take a degree of patience. The lip can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to be fully healed “every buddy’s body is different”.  Personal hygiene must be kept to a very high standard. Avoid touching or rotating your jewelry. Also avoid heavy kissing, oral sex, biting on the jewelry, for these could cause some problems during the healing process. If you find it necessary to touch your piercing, make sure your hands are washed, cleaned and dried.

A piercing heals in stages so diligence is required to during the first few stages

For the inside of your mouth a cold bottled or distilled water should be used to rinse your mouth after you eat or drink anything and can also be used to help to reduce swelling. As for the outside of your lip piercing a simple warm saline soak 2 times a day or even a saline spray such as H2Ocean or Wound Wash Saline spray a couple times a day is recommended. Let your piercing relax and try not to move it. Elevating your head while you sleep for the first few nights will also help to keep the swelling down.

Things to avoid during the healing process include: alcohol, smoking, chewing tobacco, scented soaps and body washes, rubbing alcohol, ointments, peroxide, spicy/hot temperature food, wet kissing and oral sex.

For a complete aftercare instructions feel free to stop by one of the Blue Boutiques and ask one of our highly trained, knowledgeable piercers.

The lip is very easy and beautiful piercing that has transcended the entire body piercing world. Whether it is your first piercing or 50th the Blue Boutique has the largest selection of high quality body jewelry and highly skilled and experienced body piercers always on staff! Let us help you in making the right decision for your new piercing.

Derek Leavell

 The nostril piercing is, on a global and historical level, the most common piercing next to the earlobe piercing. The placement of the nostril piercing can vary with your and the piercers preference, but the piercing tends to heal most quickly and look most natural in the horizontal crease.

The jewelry for your piercing should be selected by you and your piercer. They may need to measure your nostril because there is no standard length that fits everyone.

I prefer to use titanium posts because titanium is a high grade metal with a very low allergy rate. With the post you can change the jewel sooner because it’s not necessary to remove the whole piece. You can also use a nostril screw, which is a long straight piece that is bent in an “L” shape to fit your anatomy.

It is usually performed with a needle in 18 gauge to 16 gauge. These piercings can be pierced larger, dermal punched or stretched to larger gauges. Large-gauge nostril piercings are becoming more common.

Professional piercer Paul King stated “We know that nostril piercing has been practiced by traditional people in both North and South America. Our earliest recordings are from the Christian Bible and the holy texts of the Vedas, brought to India with the invasion of the Nordic Aryan Tribes around 1500 BCE. India is, of course, most famous for nostril piercings. Through the centuries in India this piercing has gone in and out of fashion — in more recent times, on a Hindu girl’s eve of marriage she’d often have her left nostril pierced.” If they become widowed they have been known to remove the piercing as a sign of respect.

In western culture the nostril piercings became popular amongst punk rockers in the 1980’s. Since that time, this piercing has become more socially acceptable. However, many employers and schools still bar people from having them. Some people choose to wear clear retainers in their nose piercing during work or education, rendering the nostril piercing far less noticeable.

The large-guage nostril piercings have been suspected of making a person more vulnerable to colds and allergic symptoms.

The nostril can take a bit longer to heal due to the area and lack of blood flow. There is no need to twist or touch your jewelry, as this will only irritate your new piercing. It is very important to avoid snagging this piercing. You need to be aware at all times of things that could catch it such as; shirts, pillows, loofahs, wash rags, and towels. To clean your piercing you can either use H2Ocean or a saline soak. With the H2ocean spray both sides two to three times a day. You can make the saline soak at home by using a non-iodized sea salt mixture: Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized (iodine-free) sea salt into one cup (8 oz.) of warm distilled or bottled water, soak for five to ten minutes two to three times per day. Dry by gently patting with clean, disposable paper products. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag on jewelry, causing injury.

For any further questions feel free to call or come in to talk to any of our piercers!

My name is Derek Leavell. I am one of Blue Boutique’s professional body piercers in the West Valley Utah location. I have been piercing professionally sense 2007. I am committed to preforming fast, accurate, safe, professional piercing in a clean aseptic environment.

There is a history of ritual tongue piercing in both Aztec and Maya cultures, with illustrations of priests piercing their tongue and then either drawing blood from it or passing rough cords, designed to inflict pain, through the hole. There is no evidence of permanent or long term tongue piercing in Aztec culture, however, despite the practice of many other permanent body modifications, it was done to honor the gods. Piercing the tongue has a long history in religious and performance practices as well. The Aztecs practiced this as well as other perforations as a part of offerings to their deities. Islamic Fakirs and Sufis from the Middle East, and Asian Spirit Mediums of the Far East practiced tongue piercing as an offering and proof of trance state.

The modern origin of the professional tongue piercing and its popularity As well as the design of the barbell used is associated with Gauntlet – “Americas first professional piercing studio“.  Jim ward founder of Gauntlet and body piercing pioneer is responsible for the design of the internally threaded barbell.Which are used in all tongue piercings. Master piercer elaine angel is also associated with the promotion and popularity of this piercing In the 1990′s. It has grown to be one of the most common piercings today. Both men and women seek to have this piercing performed. It is said to be used to aid oral sex. Due to the nature of this piercing I will not perform this piercing on anyone under 18.

The tongue piercing is said to be one of the least initially painful piercings. When performed by a skilled professional the procedure will only last a few seconds. The techniques used vary from piercer to piercer. Either forceps or a freehand method are used.The jewelry used is either 14-12 gauge Internally threaded barbell. Never use externally threaded jewelry. Typically the length of the initial barbell inserted should be no less than 3/4 of a inch,But 7/8 of a inch may be required depending on the thickness of the tissue as the tongue can swell up to double is size.

Using jewelry to short can result in quite a few problems including the over swelling of the piercing causing the jewelry to become lodged under the skin.And usually results in the loss of the piercing. After the healing period has passed usually 4 to 6 weeks the jewelry should be downsized to rest snug against the tongue. the tops of the barbell can also be changed. Acrylic ends are recommended to avoid the chipping of teeth. The length of the tongue as well as the size of the frenulum. “The webbing under the tongue” Also play a role in deciding if you are a candidate. The tongue must pass at least 1/2 past the teeth in order to be a candidate in having your tongue pierced. If the frenulum restricts the tongue from passing out 1/2 you are not a candidate for a safe tongue piercing.You may have to seek out a procedure called a Tongue Frenectomy.”The removal of the frenulum” A Tongue Frenectomy is the freeing of the tongue by the cutting of the connective tissue underneath the tongue so that the tongue appears longer (and as far as anything outside of your mouth is concerned, it is longer!). It is also done to get the tongue web out of the way so that a tongue piercing may be done (this is only required for people with overly prominent tongue webs and is not normally required).The procedure itself can damage glands, blood vessels, and muscular tissue in the area. Short of superficial cuts this procedure really should be left to trained medical professionals.If you feel you may need this procedure consult your oral surgeon.

When Caring for a new tongue piercing you must have patience as it swells for the first 3 to 5 days or longer. A non alcohol based antimicrobial mouthwash diluted 50/50 with distilled water should be used after every meal. A sea salt rinse is also recommended for every other rinse. 1/4 teaspoon non iodized sea salt “never use table salt” per 8oz of distilled water. A fresh mix per day used is recommended.The use of ibuprofen “Advil” is recommended as with ice water to help reduce swelling. Follow the directions on the bottle. Playing with the piercing, Drinking alcohol,All oral contact, spicy foods,citrus juices,dairy products,sharing eating utensils,Should be avoided. Fruits with small seeds such as raspberry’s and sesame seeds or any small food that can become lodged into the piercing Should also be avoided. For complete aftercare instructions feel free to stop into any blue boutique!.

As with all piercings there is a risk of developing a secondary infection. Oral piercings are a higher risk due to the location inside the mouth. A person in good health who is pierced with aseptic technique by a skilled professional and who follows all directions those risks are very low. The tongue heals it’s self at a very high rate due to the blood supply in the mouth. A weekly checking of the tightness of the jewelry is recommended to ensure it stays in place. and to avoid swallowing the jewelry.

The Piercers at Blue Boutique hope this helps you have a better understanding of the history of the tongue piercing and it’s roots in modern body piercing.We only use the highest quality jewelry and all of our piercers are highly experienced and will ensure you a safe, clean, comfortable experience.

Meet West Valley’s Blue Boutique Jamie Dickerson. She’s been working at Blue Boutique for 6 years.