The Body Piercing Procedure
Body Piercing
Pre-Procedure
Before the procedure, the client’s medical history should be reviewed to identify any necessary adjustments. For example, ensuring a latex-free environment if the client has a latex allergy, administering hepatitis B immunization, or providing antimicrobial prophylaxis.
- Informed Consent: Explain the procedure to the client and obtain written, informed consent.
- Preparation: Prepare the environment and necessary equipment, ensuring all supplies are sterile and disposed of properly after use. Quality disposable, single-use equipment is recommended.
- Avoiding Contamination: Special care should be taken with cleansing solutions and fluids to avoid contamination, as reused solutions may transmit infection.
Procedure
- Skin Preparation: The client’s skin should be clean and free of infection or inflammation. Shaving the skin to remove body hair may be necessary.
- Disinfection: Disinfect the skin using appropriate solutions. For example, the New Zealand Ministry of Health recommends using povidone-iodine around the eyes and alcohol-based solutions or aqueous detergent plus povidone-iodine elsewhere.
- Piercing Technique: Piercers may use a 12–16 gauge hollow-bore needle to pierce the skin and guide jewelry through the needle with string or wire. Spring-loaded guns, often used by non-specialized providers, are not recommended due to sterility concerns.
- Wound Dressing: Apply a clean, waterproof wound dressing over the piercing site.
