Body Piercing - How Much Does It Hurt?

So you're thinking of getting your first body piercing and are worried about the pain? It can be difficult to get a realistic overview on exactly how much it can hurt. Some piercers tend to understate the pain, as they simply don't want to scare off potential customers so they are not always a reliable source of information, whereas those who have been pierced often like to look 'brave' and so understate too. So...does it hurt? The simple answer is yes. However, the amount of pain can vary hugely depending on the person, the body part pierced and even the mood/mental state of the person getting pierced. Certainly the pain felt is usually very quick and far from unbearable. Some people will feel little more than pain similar to the sharp prick you get from a gum injection at the dentist, whereas other may feel feint or even vomit (although thankfully rare). Professional piercings are performed using a very sharp hollow surgical needle (much the same as those used to insert drips or for giving blood). This means that for most body piercings the needle is through the skin in a split second and the discomfort will only last that long. Obviously the part of the body pierced is one of the biggest factors in determining the amount of pain felt. For many people nipples tend to be one of the more tender areas, whereas something like an earlobe is generally no more than a little uncomfortable. Oddly enough genital piercings aren't always the most painful even when piercing the glans on a man. Many genital piercings are through very soft tissue which despite the large increase in nerve endings, means that the speed the piercing occurs usually more than offsets any additional pain involved. The bottom line though is really don't get too anxious about it. It will be bearable, it will be over very quickly and if you really want a piercing it's worth the effort. Despite this many people will try various methods and substances to ease the pain prior to being pierced - most with little or no success. One of the most common but least effective methods people try is simply alcohol i.e. a few stiff drinks before going in. Although it can and does take the edge off of the pain it carries bigger problems. Firstly any reputable studio will not pierce you if they think that you have been drinking. Getting pierced is a big decision and you really need to be sober when making it. Secondly alcohol will often induce vomiting in those getting pierced when the needle goes through. Obviously this is less than desirable and no studio wants you to empty your stomach over their nice, clean floor. Cannabis is also a method many people try. The simple advice to this one is DON'T. Not just because it's illegal to use in most countries, but simply because for many people being high on cannabis will actually heighten the pain which is the last thing that you want. Also, as with alcohol, no reputable studio will pierce somebody where they suspect the person in question is high. There are a few options that can be used in the studio by the piercer although not all studios use them as to be honest they generally help very little. In the UK and most of Europe local anaesthetic injections and/or Emla cream can only be used by a trained and qualified professional which does not include most high street body piercers. As a general rule the only anaesthetics that should be used in the UK are Xylocaine spray or similar and these should not be used for oral piercings. However, in many cases the administration these anaesthetics could cause more pain than the actual piercing. So the best advice is to simply relax and remember it will be over quickly. Some people even enjoy the whole experience, considering it in some way spiritual.