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*yawns*

oops :-D ok my bad there, ill keep quiet...

i just got snakebytes & kindakinda was in Becca's case at first till' i changed the jewlery to a bigger size. it seemed to be doing fine but now i have that "lumpy" thing on my left piercing && it seems as if i'm getting it on the right too, i was wodering if maybe the "lump" will go away with time...??...damn i proly' should give up piercings lol...i always had bad luck with them, i've have this HUGE "lump" on my right ear since i was about 13 [i'm 18 now] anyways do u guys know if maybe i can get some kinda surgery done to stop being so damn self consious! lol [IHATEIT]

Thank you all for your points of view i really apreciate them. i have made a decision. i wont try learning anything without having at least one of them on me. So i guess i will stick with making a few piercings first and see what it leads to. thank you all Koro-

P.s. Would a picture help?

I had my nostril pierced for awhile, and I got the dreaded red bump. I took it out and there is no scar whatsoever. At first I could see a tiiiiiiny little dimple, but now there is nothing.

Pipa, half the piercers in this country claim to have been piercing since the dawn of man, my thinking on it is that it really doesn't matter how long you've been piercing, if you're just repeating that same first year of experience over and over for 20-or-however-long years. One must keep up with advances in the industry in ANY industry, as well as learning from that experience, otherwise experience doesn't count for much. The advantages of piercing at larger gauges are many and the risks are few - less risk of rejection, easier healing, less hypertrophic scarring and irritation, to name a few. For anything larger than 14ga, your options pretty much consist of proper piercing needles (aka "blade" needles, some piercers call them that here). Quite a few shops use piercing needles (over cannulas) for all piercings, regardless of gauge. Piercers may use a freehand technique, receiving tubes, forceps - your mileage may vary there. And yes, VCHs are often done at larger gauges, and tend to both look better and heal better, as well as be more effective stimulation-wise and are able to withstand a lot more abuse than done at a cheese-cutter 14ga size. It is VERY dependent on anatomy what size and shape of jewellery will work best for you! Please see my response to another comment you left re: resources in Australia. :)

i totally hear you. i have my tragus on one side, and double cartilidge on the other. and headphone just suck. the little buds dont fit in cause of the tragus, and the wrap arounds get stuck on my cartlidge, and i just cant convince myself to spend 40+ bucks on big retro ones.

I am the original poster of the question. My partner and I are located in Northwest Philly, near Germantown and Mt. Airy, so it wouldn't be in direct competition with the older establishments in Center City, like Infinite. I've heard great things about Infinite and don't want to take business from them, but there are many potential customers just in this neighborhood who don't always have the time to drive to South Street just for a stretching or jewelry change if that's what they want. That said, the fact that I am adjoined and partnered with a salon will bring in the kind of customers that wouldn't necessarily have gotten a lobe, helix, or nose piercing done in a reputable place. I'd like to point out to Sarah that the piercings would not be performed IN the salon, they would be a separate business in a separate room where no other salon services are performed. The two places are only sharing a waiting room, we even will have separate reception desks. Even the Association of Professional Piercers has no complaints with that kind of arrangement. I've done some research into the competition, but I haven't found any other reputable shops in the area that are charging $45 for almost all piercings, but using 316LVM surgical steel or titanium and not cutting corners with sterilization and cleanliness.

Sarah, the point is to clone one's OWN bone, not to have an especially lifelike dildo. I think it's meant to be like having your sweetie there when you're actually miles apart.

funny thing i was at a party with pieta from punktured over the australia day holiday and we had a good talk about microdermals and she also said that no one in adelaide is performing them at the moment except from abe who used to work in hairhouse but left due to a transfer or something i believe. he was only performing the procedure on friends and keeping it very tight-lipped due to legal litergations but recently started performing them on paying customers.

That made tons of sense. And I do think a shorter bar is in order. I won't have the cash for it for another little while but ill do that when I do.

Those places, personally, give me the willies. I've been on a job-hunt lately for places that wouldn't mind piercings, and, here's a shocker, apparently Claire's at the mall doesn't mind. I asked the woman working at the counter if you had to run the "piercing booth" to be an employee there. The told me yes, that everyone working there must learn how to use the piercing gun. I hightailed it out of that shithole like nobody's business!

Can anyone tell me what a good quality jewlery is made from.? I am wanting to purchase a gold colour labret, but pure gold is to expensive. Some say anodized titanium, others say zircon gold? I want smoething that wont tarnish, i require a labret and CBR for my nipples? Any advise would be appreciated! PIPA X

I see. I'll try my best to keep it but if I see any further sign of rejection, I'll take it out :,( It is a bit unfair that I know people who healed navel piercings ,self done with a safety pin and cheap jewelry, in a month and here I am, done by a piercer with supposedly good jewelry (turned out it really wasn't...) and after three months I might lose it. Anyway, what in life was ever fair? :)

after all these years, I totally agree lol

David I'd suggest re-submitting your question please. As if it is not there already, chances are it's not going to be there...For whatever reason, not sure why it didn't go through properly. But yeah go here: http://www.askbme.com/submit-your-question/ and re-submit your question so that we can address it properly.

Hi, I also have the same bruising as Dee it was fine when it went in no bleeding or pus afterwards i did move mine under instruction from the peircer but i have read on hear dont do it, It did look perfect for the first 3 days then the bruising started the skin around the peircing is yellow with a green tinge to it and the same bleeding in eyelid as dee.

Cool thanks Lori, i will check it out , and thanks for all your heplful information. PIPA X

coneja: sorry just had to sort that out because you'd be surprised some of the things we are asked to answer. If its something you really want, rock on! And I'm rather excited for you...Is this your first tattoo or have you had other ones already?

cfontucky: You'll note that you're writing this comment on AskBME, so there's nothing to bring back. ;) The staff of AskBME endeavour to update regularly, but sometimes real life does get in the way - I've been in Thailand for the past few weeks and pretty much missed the entire roll-out of the new system! As for the community, it's alive and well, and main site updates are in the works as I write this. :)

I prefer a&d for very chapped lips...

explained yourself A LOT better and cleared it up, thanks :D

Another note.. Ive stretched up to 6mm and ive found that every time ive gotten new jewellery its been so tight there hasnt been an issue. However PAs loosen up quite easily, so now, i could easily fit an 8mm, and i sit. :)

i got my nape piercing 2 days ago. the first thing that im going to say is that the act itself hurts only for a while. afterwards it is totally worth it, it looks so good. the aftercare is a bitch, but if you are responsible it cant go wrong. Advise get it from a professional, you could have a lower rejection rate. it was the best thing i ever did .... love it ...

If a piercer, regardless of gender, makes you feel uncomfortable because they are making inappropriate comments, or are touching you in an unprofessional manner, then I would seriously advise you to consider going to a different studio, not asking for a piercer of a different gender.

Most people's names are clickable links that take you to their site of choice, Warren's and mine will both take you to our staff pages on here. I see that you just joined the forum I recommended, so I'll contact you on there at some point, I'm sure!

Lucas: I can be a bit of a jerkface when I choose to, but more often then not I tend to bring the comical side in so we can all have a big laugh. To this day I only hope and dream that one day I can wake up and be 1/10th of Shawn Porter. ;) Clara: Why answer? Because just like how in "Hustle n Flow" EVERYONE has the RIGHT, THE GOD GIVEN RIGHT....To contribute a verse! Just like that saying...Everyone has a right, A GOD GIVEN RIGHT, to ask a question and it be heard/answered. These people ask questions and they DESERVE answers, however simplistic it may seem to many of us. However my only wish is individuals who go to ask questions, actually read/search AskBME.com before sending their questions in.

Bethany: You need to maintain a good body hygiene, that means shower. That means you need to use a soap as the soaps friction helps remove excess body oil, sweat, debris,etc. With the soap you shower your body, like you normally would, just with something VERY mild...You don't actively put it directly on the piercing and work it in or anything like that...You shower your body like you normally would, the vegetable based soap is as mild and gentle as you're going to get. Before exiting out of the shower you take a couple extra seconds to make sure the water fully rinses off the body and exit the shower, reaching for a FRESH/CLEAN towel. Again you use it in the shower to clean your body, not your piercing. If you shouldn't use soap, there'd be A LOT of funky smelling people in the world. The problem with sea salt & water solutions is that you are unable to measure by volume, so the measurements are NEVER precise. Basing on averages, it will be fine to use and can most definitely be use. However if you're capable of obtaining STERILE Saline Wound Wash such as Blairex Wound Wash, you can use that as well. Because with these types of products its pure sterile saline and its unable to be compromised and contaminated. Elaine: Piercings will gather crusties occasionally/daily. One option is making sure that the jewelry you're using is high quality internally threaded jewelry, with an immaculate mirrored polish, in your nipples. Sometimes this can reduce the amount of crusty matter that forms, but yes they often will occasionally be producing this matter due to dead skin cells, body oils sweat,etc.

YAY SNUGS! I did a snug the other day, definitely a great piercing! I can't wait for the client to come back so I can snap a picture of it :) Happy healing the snug! :D

Totally agree with Sean, you need to change your strategy. If you're planning to "educate" people, antagonizing them is kind of a stupid way to go. "Raise a little hell"? If you want to CONVINCE people to agree with something, why are you planning to present it in a negative light (from their point of view)? One good place to start might be the Religious Tattoos website. It's dedicated to Judeo-Christian tattoos and has the galleries grouped by subject with history and symbolism explained. They also have a "Bible Support" section. One reason Christians tend to be suspicious of body modification is because the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if you're trying to convince them that it's ok, you need to present it in the light of "beautifying" or "exploring" the temple, not "desecrating" it. More on Biblical references - Isaac's wife Rebecca/Rebekah definitely had her nose pierced. Since Abraham's servant had brought a nose ring as an engagement present, obviously nose piercings must have been very common for women in that culture. (Genesis 24) I realize your school assignment is probably over by the time I write this, but hopefully it'll be useful in the future and to other modified Christians reading this. =)

I have 2 microdermals and been through cat scans with them, as well as several piercings which have been through MRI's, dental X-rays, and several surgeries and I've had no problems other than ass hole doctors.

thanks a lot :D

"It’s also the sort of chemical that the more often you are exposed the more likely you are to have an allergic reaction" This is actually true of pretty much everything that is a potential allergen. The more exposure you get to the allergen, over time, the more likely you are to develop an allergy/sensitivity.

HappyRat also know that because of certain various reasons (potential failure to re-apply for a DIN number, not putting french language on the bottle,etc) no company in Canada is capable of distributing it.

Thank you. I feel better now knowing that nothing is wrong. I'm thinking about seeing if I can get my one repierced but who knows since there is a little line of scar tissue from where the one side of the bar migrated.

Awesome, Kate! I love how you had better with that tiny one than I did! I had complete mental blockage and could -not- figure out what to do!

Also, you can build up to an informal chat if you are that nervous. Stop in the shop and browse. Look at jewelry and keep an ear open to how the staff answer questions and handles things. Stop in once to twice to browse and you'll see how the whole thing works.

I had my ears at 00 for 3 years, until one winter they got chapped and I let them heal up. They healed completely to about 16ga and I started to stretch again. They're back at 00 and have been for a long time. Some people start stretching and never want to stop, it gets addicting to some. I've been at 00 for 5 years and happy with it. Some people cannot heal back to nothing from anything higher than 2ga. I did. I started at 13 years old because normal piercing posts kept causing infections. Some young people do not care enough for their bodies to look into good jewelry, or take a long time stretching, I did. Everything you do with your body is a choice. If your parents oppose it, then wait. Listen to them. Believe it or not, they are trying to do their best for you. My mother allowed me to get piercings when i asked for them, let me get pets and taught me responsibility. My fiance's mother let him get obese, he has been near morbidly obese since he was ten. Parents don't always make the right choices, but they try. Don't discount that. is it important enough that your ears be at 0ga to risk losing your parents at a time in your life when you need them? Do you know for sure what is best for your body? Can you afford the more expensive jewelry that is best? Can you keep from being affected by the peer pressure that may come your way to defy your parents, and stretch bigger and faster? I believe that if you have a discussion with your mother, show her every one of these replies, don't lie or hide any of the naysayers, and convince her that you have really done your research, you will have a much better chance of convincing her than if you just ask a short question on a QoD page. And if she says no, at least that way you will have a better understanding of exactly why that is.

Actually, that isn't quite true. Titanium can definitely be anodized, but the range of colors that it can be anodized to is limited. For example, there is no way to anodize titanium black. As I mentioned in my answer, niobium can be made black, but even that doesn't happen through anodizing. In addition, you can't anodize titanium (or niobium) to a deep/emerald green. You also can't anodize either of those materials into a true red.

http://www.bmeink.com/A70906/high/bmepb605827.jpg A picture of a tattoo on skin with this condition.

You can heat up however much you need in the microwave before soaking with it ;)

My dad just had open heart surgery, and from what I understand, is that any infection in the mouth can travel straight to the heart (which is quite susceptible following surgery) which is why they disinfect your mouth before surgery. But seeing how it only take 4 weeks or so to heal a tongue piercing and as along as you religiously keep op the after care you should be fine.

I was told that some peoples septums are deviated and coming out wonky can be inevitable. I had mine done 3 times to get it straight and on the third time they used a clamp an it came out perfect. Good luck.

or worse than above

ok thanks guys :)

Warren: Sorry, I didn't know anything about Canada's piercing protocols and how they are followed. Thank you for explaining. I wasn't meaning to contradict, and am sorry if I came off that way. I know piercing guns are a big problem, period. The original question said "Arizona," and talked about banning guns in the US. I should have clarified better. I was responding this statement: "Some places have managed to pass regulations that limit their use, but even those still typically allow the use of the gun anywhere on the ear. If you stop to consider that there are probably 1 to 4 places that do ear piercings with ear piercing guns in every mall in America (and that’s just one country)" Each state has different laws here. I meant for the US, Oregon has strict laws about gun use, and has had them for years. The laws are enforced, as well. The mall shops in Oregon are positively paranoid about not getting anywhere near cartilege. I think that is a step in the right direction, generally speaking.

I work at a tattoo shop and people always ask me how much they should tip when they pay. Seems the average amout is $20. We have had people tip $20 for $40 dollar tattoos and people tip $20 for $300 tattoos. I know the other artists at the shop like getting tips that arent money as well. I have a clothing company and I have tipped artists what do my tattoos with a shirt or hoodie and i've seen them wear it all the time. What I say about tipping is to tip based on how happy you are with the actual tattoo, with how much you love it. So if you are thrilled with the tattoo leave a bigger tip and if you are just happy or content with it that leave something smaller.

Ugh Essential Beatuy. No wonder it was such a fuckup.

LOL Cookies to lori!!!