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.