Introduction to Piercing

Piercing, a form of body art, is becoming increasingly popular. Body piercings can be as simple as a pierced ear to as elaborate as pierced genitals. There are several reasons why people undergo a piercing including:

• for aesthetics or for the look
• for sensual pleasure, sensual play or adding sensation
• as a symbol of commitment in a relationship
• as a symbol of possession or for chastity (for example, in an BDSM relationship)
• as something that signifies or has meaning (for example, as an abuse survivor)
• as a rite of passage

Some people endure the piercing process merely for the final result. Others enjoy the piercing process or, simply stated, they enjoy the pain. Whatever the reason, piercings in the lips, tongue, eyebrows, cheeks, navel, nipples, and genitalia are becoming commonplace. People who were pierced for the punk shock effect are surprised to find that the mainstream population is enjoying the trend. Unfortunately the complications of the process and the devices are also becoming commonplace. The emergency room and the doctors there are often the first medical facilities and providers that these much-decorated folks seek.

There is a wealth of information available to anyone interested in piercing with hundreds of illustrations and photographs of piercings ranging from the trivial to grotesque. Advertisements for studios, seminars, and jewelry can be easily found on the ‘net or on many street corners. All of these sources may provide information that can be biased, erroneous, or even downright misleading.

In the sections that follow, take a look some of the perils of piercing...