Any piercing can be a very dangerous procedure if not done properly in a safe, clean environment by a trained professional. The responsibility lies upon you to research and ask questions about your body piercer and your specific body piercing. Some of the risks can include but are not limited to:

Bloodborne diseases. If the equipment used to do your piercing is contaminated with the blood of an infected person, you can contract a number of serious bloodborne diseases. These include hepatitis C, hepatitis B, tetanus and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Allergic reactions. Some piercing jewelry is made of nickel or brass, which can cause allergic reactions.
Oral complications. Jewelry worn in tongue piercings can chip and crack your teeth and damage your gums. Also, tongue swelling after a new piercing can block the throat and airway.
Skin infections. Piercings may cause redness, swelling, pain and pus-like discharge.
Scars and keloids. Body piercing may cause scars and keloids (ridged, raised areas caused by overgrowth of scar tissue).
Tearing or trauma. Jewelry can get caught and torn out accidentally. Trauma to a piercing may require surgery or stitches to repair. If not repaired, the damaged area may develop permanent scars or deformity.

Additional topics to discuss with your body art professional include their Bloodborne Pathogen Training, the establishment’s proficiency requirements, and the establishment’s autoclave monthly spore test results.

If abnormal itching, irritation, redness, swelling or fever should appear please, contact a physician/dentist (for oral piercings) immediately. These could be signs of a potentially serious medical condition that should be addressed.
To ensure that your body art procedure heals properly, we ask that you disclose if you have or have had any of the following conditions.
Disclosure does not legally prevent you from having a body art procedure.