Body Piercing: Methods

Body piercing literally means making a hole in a part of the human body with the purpose of wearing jewelry in the opening created. After a process of healing, a fistula will be created. This is an abnormal 'passageway' in your body or skin so that there's a genuine 'hole'.

Body piercing Methods

* Needle Method (Standard)

The most common method used in the United States to make a piercing is with a medical hollow needle. The needle makes an opening in the skin you want to have pierced but doesn't go all the way through. The jewelry then is inserted and follows the needle back. It's necessary to insert the jewelry immediately to hold the slit the needle made open. The needle method doesn't involve removing any flesh (some methods do). The opening is always made with a needle larger than the initial jewelry to be worn. This is done to reduce the pressure on the healing piercing, giving it more room to heal and allow a fistula to form.

* Piercing Guns

Piercing guns are gun-shaped devices that mechanically makes the piercing by forcing a stud through the body part. You can compare it with a stapler.

This method is often used by non-professional piercers and mostly to pierce holes in the earlobes. You should avoid this method because the piercing gun is hard to sterilize. The risk is infection and transmission of bulletproof pathogens.

* Cannula Method

The cannula method is similar to the standard method. The difference is that at the end of the needle there's a cannula (a hollow plastic tube) where the piercer puts in the jewelry. So at the piercing process, the cannula and the jewelry is entirely pulled through the opening. This method is often used in Europe.

* Scalpel method

When you want an opening for a large gauge body piercing, a medical scalpel can be used to make a slit. This method is often used for large gauge ear piercings. It's also used to correct an asymmetry for example if the ear piercing on one side is larger than the other because of an incorrect placement.

When you don't want your piercing anymore and you remove the jewelry, the fistula will not shrink or close from itself. The only solution there is surgically.

* Pierce and Taper

This method is for larger gauge piercings and only works on body parts where the skin is very elastic. It's similar to the standard method, but after the hole is pierced with the needle, the piercer inserts a tapered steel bar (one of larger gauge then the needle) in order to make the opening bigger. The jewelry is directly inserted, following the tapered bar.

* Dermal Punching

Piercings in the upper ear require removal of skin and cartilage to lift the pressure of the piercing and guarantee a longer viability of the piercing. Therefore, a dermal punch is used to remove a circular area of tissue, where the jewelry will be worn. Like scalpelled piercings, the healed fistulas will not shrink or close on their own.

A Brief History Behind Every Body Piercing

Body piercing has been practiced way back since ancient times. And in every culture, every body piercing has its purposes and significant value in that society.

Ear Piercing

The most commonplace for piercing is the earlobe. Before, it once distinguished a wealthy person from the poor. But today, it is simply the most popular way to display a piercing jewelry.

Long ago, sailors believed that they could get better eyesight by piercing their ears. And also, the Romans associated it with a person's wealth. African and South American tribes pierce their ears and stretch the holes. In their culture, the bigger the hole signifies a higher social standing.

Nose Piercing

Nostril piercing is believed to have originated from the Middle-East about 4000 years ago. Then it slowly spread into India during the 16th century in which the practice was adopted into the noble castes. The type and quality of the worn jewelry could distinguish the bearer by caste and social status.

Tongue Piercing

The Shamans and High Priests of the ancient temples of the Aztecs and Mayans practiced tongue piercing as part of a ritual to speak to their gods. As of today, tongue piercing is still done but for different reasons. Some men and women find it sexually arousing and as well as empowering when they pierce there tongue.

Lip and Labret Piercing

The higher castes of Aztecs and Mayans adorn their lips with labrets of pure gold because they believe that the mouth and lips are a sensuous part of the body. Women of the Makololo tribe in Malawi, a densely populated country in southeastern Africa, wear "pelele" in their upper lip to stimulate the men in their tribes. Tribes in central and South America pierce their lower lips and stretch the hole to fit in wooden plates.

Nipples Piercing

The Roman centurions practiced nipple piercings as a sign of strength, virility, and endurance. Central American tradition dictates boys to pierce their nipples to symbolize their transition to manhood. The Praetorian Guard of the Roman Ceasars also pierced their nipples to prove their loyalty and duty to protect their emperor.

Navel Piercing

Back in ancient Egypt, it was only the Pharaohs and their royal families who were permitted to pierce their navels. Harshly, anyone who broke the rule was executed. But there was an exemption, if a peasant girl was born with the "perfect belly button" she can be permitted to have it pierced, resulting to her higher social standing.