Body piercing

I am currently going through my piercing phase, yeah I’m about 3 years too late I know! I’m sure its a phase most people go through (well nowadays anyway) in their late teens.

I have always wanted to get them done but alas there are not many professionals in Botswana so if you want to get something outlandish done (body bar or nipple piercing) you have to make your way down to South Africa. However my Chilean friend (for those that don’t know him click here) is back in Botswana and he recently picked up the piercing skill in South Africa. So I decided to take my chances and pierce myself! 🙂

I got two body bars done which happen to be an addition to an ear bar I got done some months back. One bar on my hand (shown below) and the other on my lower back.

Body bar on wrist.

Body bar on lower back

All 3 piercings.

The one on my wrist is often mistaken for a bracelet when people glance at it, it’s only when they look closer that they realize I have a piece on metal in my skin,lol. The one on my lower back is like a metal tramp stamp to me,lol! Most people are just horrified when they see it.

Everyone asks me if they hurt. Yes. Of course. The wrist one was fine, the pain didn’t last too long but the lower back one was excruciating. I was supposed to get a double one but i chickened out after almost fainting,lol! But some time in the future I shall do it.

If you are mad like me it is essential to read up on it online first (fastest way to get info!). Make sure the rings being used are sterilized and the person doing it is wearing gloves. If needles are used they must be new ones and be thrown away after use. Take painkillers for at least a week afterwards to minimise swelling and clean the area with saline solution once a day. If an infection starts take appropriate medication and if it doesn’t let up just remove the piercing to reduce excessive scarring.

If you want to find a reputable piercer, check out this website: http://www.safepiercing.org/ You can locate certified piercing parlors near your area, however this is based in America. The site is also useful for looking up health and safety information on piercing.

What I personally love about piercings is that if you change your mind later on you can always take it out and the hole shall close. It will of course probably leave a small mark of some sort but it is for all intents and purposes reversible. 🙂