Piercing risks, aftercare & healing

Before the appointment

A new piercing requires time to heal properly. For this reason, we do not recommend getting pierced if you are planning to travel or go swimming in the near future.

During the initial healing phase (a minimum of 8 weeks), swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, lakes, and the ocean should be avoided. Changes in climate, increased sun exposure, and intensive physical activities may also negatively affect the healing process.

For ear piercings, it is advisable to consider any activities that require wearing a helmet, such as winter sports. Prolonged pressure on a fresh piercing can lead to irritation and may interfere with the healing process.

We also advise against getting a piercing while pregnant or if you are planning to become pregnant in the near future. Hormonal changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period can affect the body’s healing response and may impact the healing process.

Piercing needle or gun?

All piercings are performed exclusively using sterile single-use needles.

We do not use piercing guns or hand pressure devices.

Piercing guns and hand-pressure systems force a blunt piece of jewelry through the tissue, causing significantly more tissue trauma than a professionally performed piercing using a sterile needle.

In addition, piercing guns are not suitable for many anatomical locations, and their components cannot be fully sterilized between uses.

For this reason professional piercings are done with one time use piercing needles.

Numbing cremes

We advise against the use of topical numbing creams before a piercing procedure.

Active ingredients such as lidocaine and prilocaine can cause temporary vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels). This may alter skin structures and placement markings during the piercing procedure, potentially affecting the final positioning of the piercing.

If numbing cream has been applied prior to the appointment, we reserve the right to refuse the procedure.

During the healing

Leave the piercing alone

Only touch your piercing when necessary for cleaning or aftercare. Do not twist, rotate, move, or play with the jewelry.

The jewelry cannot become attached to or grow into the skin, and unnecessary movement will only cause additional irritation and trauma to the healing piercing channel.

Prevent pressure and friction

Pressure is one of the most common causes of healing complications.

For this reason, avoid sleeping on a healing piercing. For ear piercings, a travel pillow or donut pillow can help prevent pressure on the piercing while sleeping.

Also be aware of:

• Phones against an ear piercing
• Wearing headphones or earbuds
• Tight clothing over the piercing
• Helmets, caps or other pressure points

Prolonged pressure or friction can lead to irritation bumps, delayed healing, or migration of the piercing.

Don't remove crusties

During the healing process, the piercing may produce wound fluid. As it dries, it can form small crusts around the jewelry.

Leave these crusts alone as much as possible. Only crusts that come away naturally may be gently removed using a clean piece of paper towel.

Only use appropriate aftercare

For healing piercings we advise sterile isotonic saline solution

We recommend NeilMed Fine Mist Piercing Aftercare for this purpose. This sterile saline spray remains sterile throughout use and allows the piercing to be cleaned without unnecessary contact with the surrounding skin.

With oral piercings we recommend alcohol free mouth wash and a good oral hygiene

Swelling

Some piercings may swell during the first few days or weeks after the procedure. For this reason, slightly longer initial jewelry is often used to safely accommodate this swelling.

For oral piercings, cooling the area with ice may help reduce swelling. Allow the ice to melt slowly in your mouth and avoid sucking on it or placing excessive pressure on the jewelry.

After the initial healing phase, the jewelry should be downsized to a shorter barbell. For most piercings, this is recommended after approximately 4–8 weeks. You will also receive guidance on the appropriate timing during your appointment.

Possible risks and complications

No piercing comes without risks.

Despite proper placement, high-quality materials, and appropriate aftercare, complications may still occur, including:

• Swelling
• Irritation
• Irritation bumps
• Slow healing
• Infections
• Migration (moving of the piercing itself)
• Rejection
• Scar tissue

If you have any concerns about the healing process or notice any changes that seem unusual, please contact us.

A quick overview of our aftercare advice: Click here

A quick overview of the risks of piercings: Click here.

Healing times

The healing times listed below are averages and should be used as a guideline only.

Every individual heals differently. Factors such as anatomy, overall health, lifestyle, pressure on the piercing, jewelry quality, and aftercare can all have a positive or negative impact on the healing process.

Furthermore, a piercing that is no longer sore or sensitive is not necessarily fully healed.

* The initial barbell used for a tongue piercing can typically be replaced with a shorter one after a minimum of 10 days.

** Healing times for genital piercings vary considerably depending on the specific piercing and the individual’s anatomy.

A quick overview of our aftercare advice: Click here

A quick overview of the risks of piercings: Click here.