Piercing has been practiced since ancient times. Women usually have their ears pierced as little girls in this society. It is an accepted form of beauty. One can argue that nose, tongue, navel, and even genital piercings are beautiful as well. I must be missing something.
Body jewelry has to be made out of stainless steel to avoid allergies and infections.
There are no precious metals used in piercings other than ears. Just cold metal. Cold metal stabbed in your face, hanging through perforated skin. And there are still all kinds of possible infections, depending on where the piercing site is. The American Dental Association cited oral piercing as a public health hazard last year at its annual session in San Francisco.