From: pdavies@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca (Paul Davies)
Subject: pierce faq 4/4
Organization: University of Toronto Chemistry Department
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 00:15:04 GMT

*** PIERCE FAQ PART 4 OF 4 ***

FORESKIN
Healing time 5-6 weeks.
Used in ancient Rome on male slaves to enforce chastity. The foreskin is
usually pierced on each side. While healing, one ring is worn in each
piercing. Once healed, a single ring or barbell can pass through both
piercings.  Depending on the preferences of the wearer, several piercings
can be made through the foreskin although, because swelling can result for
a few days after piercing, it is not really advisable to have more than
two done at a time.  A ring or a short barbell worn through each piercing
in no way hinders the retraction of the foreskin.  Foreskin piercings can
be enlarged fairly easily if done gradually and with patience.

HAFADA
Healing time 6-10 weeks.
This scrotal sac piercing is said to have originated in Arabia, where a
ring is inserted through the left side of the scrotum when a youth
achieves manhood.  A ring is more practical than a barbell during during
healing, but once healed either ring or barbell is equally effective.  The
piercing is most successful when done through a forward fold of skin as
there is less chance of it being rejected.  These days it is usual to have
a piercing on each side of the scrotum rather than just one. Several
hafadas can be worn, including piercings done through the central 'seam'
of the scrotum but it is not advisable to have too many of these piercings
done at the same time because this tends to delay healing.  Some piercers
prefer not to perform scrotal piercings on the grounds that puncturing the
scrotum can create a passage for air or water, which might carry bacteria,
to enter the abdominal cavity, although we have not heard of any case of a
person having problems of this nature. [SM It really is not a good idea to
pierce right through the sac; to be safe, Hafada piercings should only be
through the skin]

PUBIC
Healing time 6-8 weeks. 
Visually a pleasing piercing but can be slow to heal and can also be
rejected during healing, particularly if the pubic area tends to be a
little fatty.  A ring is best in this piercing but, once healed, a barbell
can be worn if preferred.  A pubic piercing stands more chance of success
if placed very slightly ahove the base of the penis where it joins the
body.

GUICHE
Healing time 6-8 weeks
Said to be a fairly common piercing for the male natives of the South
Pacific. The positioning of this piercing, through the ridge of skin bet-
ween the anus and the back of the scrotum, makes it inappropriate for men
with certain jobs or hobbies, such as cycling, horse riding, motor-
cycling, etc.  Usually a ring is worn through a guiche piercing which can
be very arousing if gently tugged or stroked.  A little 'nagging' may be
experienced during healing, but any discomfort can be minimized by
wearing a pad of tissue over it. Once healed, this piercing does not cause
any discomfort - quite the opposite in fact .

OTHER PIERCINGS

NAVEL
Healing time 8-10 weeks.  
Usually the ridge of skin directly above the navel is pierced, although
this depends upon the construction of the individual's navel.  A ring, or
even better a curved barbell, is preferable to a straight barbell,
especially during healing but many people have no problems wearing a
straight barbell once healing is completed.  This can be a particularly
difficult piercing to heal as it can easily get irritated by belts and
waist bands or even by sitting or bending. Anyone unwilling to stop
wearing tightly waisted clothing during the healing period should probably
not consider trying this piercing as pressure from clothing can cause it
to move, be rejected or migrate towards the surface of the skin.  Once
healed, it is no trouble and can be very decorative.

NIPPLES
Healing time rather variable, usually about 8 weeks but can be much
longer.  Nipples are usually pierced horizontally, but they can also be
pierced vertically or even diagonally. Vertical piercings sometimes tend
to 'walk' a little while healing and can end up being slightly diagonal.
Care in the placement of nipple piercings is very important, particularly
when both are being pierced. Some nipples have a tendency to twist as they
become erect, so before a piercing is made it is worth checking the
positioning both when the nipples are cold/erect and when they are
warm/relaxed.  It is important that the piercing is made through the
centre of the nipple. A horizontal piercing made above the centre of the
nipple will cause the nipple to droop under the weight of the jewellery,
while a piercing made below the centre of the nipple will cause the nipple
to point upwards.  Normally the piercing is made at the base of the nipple
where it joins the areola. Sometimes male nipples, if very small, are
pierced slightly below (behind) the actual nipple if it is felt that
otherwise the piercing may be too close to the surface of the skin and
could therefore reject, but this is mainly an aesthetic decision. The
build up of new tissue around the piercing usually causes the nipple to
increase in size and further piercings can then be made behind the
original one if desired.  Female nipples can (but do not always) take
longer to heal than male nipples, probably because of hormone induced
changes which are part of the menstrual cycle. There should be no problems
with breast feeding following nipple piercings: Some women keep
jewellery in their nipple piercings throughout breast feeding, others
remove their jewellery and, although some find that their well
established nipple piercings accept jewellery easily after a period of
breast feeding, others find that their piercings have healed up completely
after only a few weeks of breast feeding. It is not advisable to have
nipple piercings immediately before or during pregnancy, or while
lactating.  For both men and women, nipple piercings improve erotic
sensitivity and the newly pierced nipple should be no more than a little
tender for the first few days after piercing.  Nipples tend to behave
better and heal a little quicker if a straight sleeper bar is used while
healing takes place. Sometimes a ring can be painful and/or cause the
piercing to descend a little or become distorted because of the movement
and curve of the ring while healing takes place .  When selecting rings to
be worn in healed nipple piercings, choose those with an internal diameter
approximately equal to (or greater than) twice the length of the
piercings. Problems could be caused by wearing, for example, rings of less
than 19mm internal diameter in a piercing 12mm long.  There are some
people, both male and female, who have trouble with the healing of their
nipple piercings and find that the piercings continue weeping for a long
time: Very often a change of treatment to look after them will bring about
their healing. Those individuals who have particular problems with the
healing of their nipple piercings should probably avoid rings completely
and stick to straight barbells, with or without U-shaped stirrups.

NOSTRIL
Healing time 6-8 weeks.
A stud or short barbell is usually worn in this piercing, but a ring can
also be used. Healing is improved if the piercing is made slightly larger
than gauge of the jewellery to be fitted.  It is unwise to remove the
jewellery too soon as the piercing tends to 'shrink' very quickly, thus
making it difficult to re-insert jewellery without discomfort.  Special
Indian nostril studs (which have a spiral shaft instead of a back to hold
them in place) can be used but they can be difficult to put on and remove.
[SM Not after a bit of practice]

EAR
Healing time for the lobe, 4-6 weeks. Other parts of the ear usually take 
longer to heal.
The ear lobe, the most usual part of the ear to be pierced, generally
behaves well and heals quickly with either a ring or a barbell.  Other
parts of the ear which have cartilage between the two layers of skin,
including the ear rim and tragus (the lump in the middle of the front part
of the ear), behave much better during healing if the piercing is made of
a slightly larger gauge than the jewellery. The skin each side of the
cartilage shrinks to fit the jewellery while the piercing through the
cartilage remains as it was when first pierced. Some piercers prefer to
use a dermal punch which removes a small core of cartilage from the
piercing so that the skin can form a tube of scar and tissue around the
jewellery more easily.  Too many piercings done at the same time are not
advisable; this tends to be uncomfortable and the healing generally takes
considerably longer.

SEPTUM
Healing time 4-5 weeks.
This piercing in the central part of the nose is done through the thin web
of skin beneath the central nasal cartilage. Either a 'U' shaped sleeper
(worn with the 'U' shape upwards) or a very short plastic stud is worn
during the healing period. The new piercing in the septum is not visible .
Once the piercing is healed either a ring or a tusk shaped barbell, which
are in no way uncomfortable, can be worn.

LABRET
Healing time 5-6 weeks.
This piercing, through the middle of the lower lip (usually about 1 3mm/
1/" beneath the red part of the lip) occurs frequently among the people of
certain South American tribes, in Kenya, Zambesi and Northern Cameroon and
can have a symbolic meaning. The ornamentation of the mouth may stress the
importance of 'speaking' in one society rather than 'hearing'. Some tribes
enlarge the labret so that a huge plug or disk can be worn.  When first
pierced, a plastic stud with a disc on the inside and a very small plastic
bead on the outside is probably the most suitable sleeper to use.  The lip
may swell slightly for a day or two and the tiny bead can be moved outward
to accommodate any swelling. This is not an 'uncomfortable' piercing
while healing but it is difficult to get used to: There is a tendency to
fiddle with the inside back of the sleeper with the tongue.  Once healed,
a stud with a flat disk back and a screw-on front is worn.  It is
important that the stud is exactly the right length . Too short and the
back tends to sink into the soft flesh inside the lip; too long and it can
catch on the teeth.  This piercing, if no jewellery is worn, does leave a
visible mark just as an ear lobe piercing does: This should be considered,
particularly by women. In men with beards there is no problem: The
piercing is invisible if no jewellery is worn. For men who shave it is
advisable to shave as close to the stud as possible during healing. Once
healed, the stud can be removed for shaving.

OTHER PIERCINGS

People have at various times tried a number of other piercings - including
eyebrows, tongues, lips, ankles, between fingers, etc. - but these are
relatively untried and should be treated with great caution.  Many people
are happy to experiment with piercings which they do no intend or expect
to be permanent. Some people have experimented with surface skin
piercings, for example on the neck or upper arms: These piercings can be
moderately successful on the older person whose skin has become slack and
lost its elasticity, but they will migrate towards the surface and soon be
rejected by a younger body with more elastic skin.  Just because you have
read about a piercing does not mean that it is desirable: It may just be
someone's fantasy. Even if you have been able to discuss an unusual
piercing with someone who has it, and they have experienced no problems,
you cannot be sure that they are not either more willing to bear
discomfort than you might be or that they will not experience problems in
the future.  In general, common sense and the recommendations of your
piercer shouid be given greatest weight when you are considering any body
piercing.

We would like to thank Mr Sebastian for his help in the preparation of the
information above.  Every care has been taken to ensure that this
information is as comprehensive and accurate as possible. However, it
has been compiled from the experiences of individuals, and no two people
react in the same way. It is vital that anyone contemplating being pierced
should take the advice of their professional piercer and/or doctor.

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END OF PIERCE FAQ