Before you get any piercing, you should spend some time with the body piercer to discuss the piercing you want and check out the piercers credentials. The following is a list of items you should cover.

Check to be sure they have a permit for body piercing from the Department of Health. Also, the studio should have posted information on how and where to file a report of injury resulting from a piercing. This will include the address and phone number of the health department having jurisdiction.

Ask the piercer to describe the complete body piercing process. The piercer should explain any risks and possible consequences of the body piercing, precautions to be taken before and after the piercing, and after care instructions. You should request this information in writing so you can refer to it after your piercing - piercers are required to provide this information to you if you request it.

The piercer is required to have you sign a statement that they have discussed all this information with you before they do the piercing. Unless you are obviously over 21 years of age, the piercer should ask you to produce proof that you are 18 years of age or older. If you are under 18 years of age, you will be required to provide a notarized permission from your parent or legal guardian for the specific piercing being done. If you are under 16 years of age, that parent or legal guardian will be required to be present during the piercing.

The piercer will need to get quite a bit of information from you before the piercing also. The following record is required for each customer:

• Name, address, phone
• Date of birth, race, sex
• Physicians name, address, phone
• Name, address, phone of an emergency contact for the customer
• List of allergies, including allergies to medicines or solutions used by the establishment
• History of bleeding disorders
• Date of initial visit and all subsequent visits
• Body part to be pierced
• Description of jewelry used
• Description of any complications that occur at the time of the piercing
• Signature and printed name of piercer you spoke with during each visit
• Notarized parental consent statement and documentation of receipt of educational material

The piercer should be happy to show you his cleaning and sterilizing procedures for his equipment and jewelry.
You might also want to ask the piercer how long they have been piercing or how many pierces they have done. Reputable piercers will be happy to show you their facility and their procedures and explain everything to you. If, during your initial visits, the piercer seems reluctant to answer all your questions or you see things that don't look right to you, you may want to check out another piercer.  Following your piercing, be sure to follow the after-care instructions of the piercer. Hopefully, you will have the written instructions to refer to. If, following the piercing, you have any concerns or problems with the piercing, go back to the piercer and discuss the situation with them. If they are not able to help you, then see a physician. Do this before the piercing gets badly infected. If you have any problems getting a proper response from the piercer, call the local health department.

If you have any questions about body piercing or how or where to file a complaint, give our office a call.
407.445-7453