Piercing FAQ

  • Generally, less is more when it comes to piercing aftercare. Saline solution to rinse off any buildup and leaving it alone is the general rule of thumb. More detailed, piercing-specific aftercare can be found here:
    https://www.philvanroy.com/piercing-aftercare

  • There are many factors that can affect healing times for various piercings, but here are some general guidelines for healing times:
    -Earlobes: 6-8 weeks
    -Outer ear cartilage (helix, forward helix, conch, flat, tragus, industrial): 6-12 months
    -Inner ear cartilage (daith, rook) : 9-12 months
    -Nostril: 3-4 months (6+ months for rings)
    -Septum: 6-8 weeks
    -Navel: 6-12 months
    -Nipples: 9-12 months
    -Lip (labret, Monroe, Medusa, Vertical Labret, etc.): 8-12 weeks +
    -Brow: 6-8 weeks
    -Tongue: 4-8 weeks

    Factors that can affect healing times include aftercare routine, injuries to the piercing, location of the piercing, medical conditions (immune disorders, diabetes, MS, Lupus, eczema, psoriasis, etc), age, and overall health.

  • Yes! I typically start little ones at age 5.
    My priority is for your child to have a good experience, understand what's going on, communicate with me, and above all, consent! I encourage questions throughout the process to ensure your kiddo feels safe and informed.
    I do not use a "piercing gun," only single-use sterile needles.

  • A legal photo ID is required for anyone receiving piercing services, but other things that can come in handy are a bottle of water, a sugary drink (to help regulate blood sugar, if needed), hair ties/clips, and little ones can bring along a stuffed friend for comfort.
    Wearing comfortable clothing and a bra/other supportive top for nipple piercings is encouraged.

    Any minor receiving a piercing will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and have the following:
    -Photo ID for the parent/legal guardian
    -Photo ID for the minor (birth certificate is perfect if a photo ID is unavailable)
    -Legal guardianship papers (when applicable)

  • Downsizing is the act of changing your jewelry to a piece of shorter length after the initial swelling subsides. Downsizing is required for many piercings to ensure they heal properly.
    Excess length can cause issues such as piercing bumps (hypertrophic scarring), crooked piercings, and tooth damage in oral piercings, as well as getting easily snagged by hair and clothing.
    Details for if and when you should downsize your jewelry will be discussed, as well as provided on your aftercare sheet.

  • Taking all factors into consideration, these are the ages we start offering each piercing:
    - Earlobes (first pair): Ages 5+
    - Multiple earlobes (second pair): Ages 9+
    - Helix (outer ear cartilage): Ages 12+
    - Multiple helix, 3rd+ earlobes, navel, nostril, septum: Ages 15+
    - Lip, eyebrow, inner ear cartilage, industrial: Ages 16+

    Tongue and nipples are age 18+, no exceptions.

  • Absolutely! I can assess the piercing and see if we're able to reinsert jewelry without re-piercing. If unsuccessful, we can discuss whether or not you want to re-pierce.
    If you choose not to, I only ask for a small fee to cover any supplies used.

  • While numbing cream may work well for tattoos, the same can't be said for piercings. Not only will the numbing cream not penetrate deeply enough to truly numb the area for piercing, but it can also cause the tissue to behave in ways that can affect the outcome of your piercing. It may be crooked, have abnormal bleeding, or you could have other adverse reactions to the numbing cream.
    It's a quick poke, and I'll talk you through the whole process!

  • Don't panic. Unless you have a personal or family history of keloid scarring, your bump is likely just a bit of hypertrophic scarring (also called "irritation bumps" or "piercing bumps").
    They're super treatable and just require a bit of patience.
    If you're unsure, I'd be happy to take a look and assess the potential cause of the bump.

  • Unfortunately, I cannot pierce with jewelry I haven't sourced and sterilized for safety reasons.
    I'd hate for you to discover a metal allergy in a new piercing or potentially ruin a valuable piece of jewelry in my sterilizer.
    Rest assured, we will find something you love from our growing stock of high-quality jewelry!

  • I use all implant grade titanium to ensure any allergies or sensitivities are accommodated.
    No nickel or mystery metal!

  • Of course! You can browse our stock or we can custom order something extra special, just for you!