By choosing Tams you can be assured your piercing has been performed appropriately, and that the very highest standards of technique and sterilisation have been used. In order to ensure that your new peircing heals quickly and without complications the appropriate aftercare must be followed. All of our suggestions are made based on our experience and research. Since you have already trusted us to perform your peircing, please folow through and trust in our judgement regarding the aftercare. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any information regarding your new piercing.
For all piercing types.
- Your piercing may be slightly swollen, bruised, and tendor for a few weeks.
- May bleed slightly.
- Will typically show a small amount of redness while healing.
- Will typically have a slight discharge, whitish-yellow in colour, which can form into a crust on the jewellery.
An infection is caused by contact with bacteria, fungi or other similar living pathogens. The chances of your piercing becoming infected are very minimal if appropriate precautons are taken.
Most piercing infections are a direct result of touching the piercing or jewellery with unwashed hands, yours or someone else's.
Common signs of an infection are:
- Severe redness
- Swelling or hardness around the piercing
- Pain, particularly throbbing pain
- Warm to the touch
- Thick discharge, yellow or green in colour
If you experience ay problems with your piercing you should always come back in for advise as soon as possible.
What helps a piercing heal:
Leave dressing on for 1 hour.
Use sea salt crystals 3 times a day (external only).
Generally speaking, leave your piercing alone. The more friction, movement, or contact a piercing experiences, the more likely the chances are that a problem will occur.
Appropriate jewellery selection is extremely important. All jewellery should be custom sized for each individual.
Straight barbells generally heal better for nipple piercing.
Many places now sell body jewellery. Always take caution when buying body jewellery, as it may not be sized correctly or made of an appropriate material for your piercing.
Eating an healthy and nutricious diet is crucial. The general health of your body is an important factor in the length of time it will take your piercing to heal.
Avoid over cleansing, or the use of inappropriate substances or cleansers.
Changing the jewellery too soon or wearing inappropriate jewellery can lead to complications. Do not change in the first 2-3 weeks. Remember that every persons piercing is different.
Always keep lotions away from the piercing.
Be careful when putting on or taking off clothes, so as not to snag the jewellery or bump the piercing.
Change your bedsheets more frequently.
Do not play with your piercing while it is healing. Doing so cn make it swell more, bleed or even tear. This will lengthen your healing time.
Direct contact with the piercing should be gentle, with clean hands only.
Do not use pliers or any at home tools on your jewellery as you may scratch and damage the jewellery.
Extra advise for oral (tongue/lip) piercing
Use listerine mouthwash morning and night to keep clean.
Drink lots of cold drinks and use ice to reduce swelling.
Eat softer foods for the first few days. Avoid foods that are hard, crunchy, spicy or salty. Avoid carbonated beverages and highly acidic fruit juices.
Avoid or reduce the consumption of alcohol, caffeine and tobacco, for the first week in order to minimise irritation.
Chew food very slowly, taking time to realize what is your jewellery and what is food.
Use sea salt crystals on outside of the lip only.
Downsizing
The length of the jewellery installed in some piercings are initially longer to allow for swelling that typically occurs. Once the area has returned to its normal thickness, usually 2-4 weeks, we suggest that the shaft of the jewellery be downsized to a length suitably sized to the thickness of your need.