Tattoo Aftercare

•  We suggest that you do not drive for at least 15 to 20 minutes after being tattooed.
• In 2 hours wash your hands with soap and remove bandage.  Wash the tattoo with soap 3 times in a row to remove excess blood and dried matter from the area.  Pat dry (do not rub) with a paper towel.  Apply a small amount of Tattoo Goo or hand lotion (Lubridrem, Keri) and rub in thoroughly.
• Repeat 2 to 5 times a day when your tattoo is tight or itchy for the next two weeks or completely healed (it will no longer be shiny).
•  In 3 to 5 days you will get a light dead skin pealing, similar to a sunburn peal.  This may have some color in it and is normal.
• Your new tattoo may leave an imprint on your sheets or clothing for 2 to 3 days. We suggest wearing something dark or old and cotton to cover it.
• No pools, spas, ocean or soaking of any kind for 5 days. A normal shower is fine.
• If your tattoo is below the knee you may have swelling, especially on the foot.  This is NORMAL.  We suggest ice, ibuprofen and elevating the limb to help reduce any swelling.
• If you have animals at home please keep them (and their dander) away from the tattoo by wearing a piece of clothing over your tattoo.
• Tattoo pigments can be photo reactive.  When exposed to the sun or other uv rays the tattoo can react by swelling, sometimes permanently.
• If you have any questions concerning your tattoo please feel free to contact us.

HEALING TIME

4 to 6 weeks       Ear Lobe & Septum

6 to 8 weeks       Eyebrow & Nostril

9 to 12 months   Ear Cartilage, Navel & Tragus

•  We suggest that you do not drive for at least 15 to 20 minutes after being pierced.
• For Cleaning you will need soap and water ONLY!  Do not use any other product on your piercing unless we instruct you too.  This is EXTREMLY important for a properly healed piercing.
• Most piercings are easiest to clean in the shower but can be cleaned at a sink.  If you are going to use the sink get a clean Q-tip.
• First and foremost - WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP!
• If using a Q-tip get one end damp with soap and water, saturate the crusted matter on both sides of your piercing with the Q-tip.  Let soak for a few seconds.  If doing in shower clean your piercing last so all the soaps & shampoos will be washed from the piercing. Remove any crusted matter from piercing and jewelry.
• Soap up your hand and get as much soap as you can on the jewelry.  Rotate or slide jewelry back and forth several times so you get the soap into the piercing for approximately 30 seconds.  A slight stinging sensation is normal.
• Rotate or slide jewelry back and forth several times with water running through the piercing to make sure all the soap is out of the piercing.  DO NOT let your shower hit directly on your piercing as it may cause tearing and irritation.
• Gently pat dry with disposable paper towel.  Do not use towels unless fresh as they can harbor bacteria.
• Repeat this process twice a day.  Clean after swimming and exercise.  DO NOT OVERCLEAN. 

OTHER CARE INFORMATION

• Please clean as directed for the entire healing time given even if it seems healed sooner.
• If you have a barbell check your jewelry at least twice a day to make sure the balls have not loosened.  Make sure your hands are clean and turn the balls towards each other.  DO NOT over tighten or you can strip the threading.
• If you break or lose a ball, a clean pencil eraser can be screwed onto the post to keep jewelry from coming out until a replacement ball can be purchased.
• You may want to have an extra ball or piece of jewelry at home or in your wallet for just such an emergency.
• Jewelry should not be changed during the healing period with the exception of the navel which may be changed after 5 months if you are not having any problems with the healing.
• Be sure to ALWAYS wear appropriate jewelry in your piercing.  Earlobe and cheaper metal jewelry are never appropriate and can damage your body piercing.Leave jewelry in at all times (expecially during healing period).  Even a healed piercing can shrink or close in minutes after having been there for years!  This varies from person to person.  Even if your ear lobe piercings stay open without jewelry your body piercing may not.

WHAT'S NORMAL 

• Bleeding, swelling, bruising, discoloration, tenderness or discomfort in the area is normal during the first 3 to 7 days.
• A yellowish secretion is perfectly normal.  It will form a crust on the jewelry at the openings of the piercing.  This is not pus, but indicates a healing piercing.
• It is not uncommon to get a hard bump (sometimes it will have a white ridge on it) around the jewlry on either or both sides of your piercing.  This is just the body healing (not an infection) and can take up to 3 months to completely disappear.

HOW TO PERVENT GETTING A INFECTION

• Infections are caused by contact with bacteria, fingi, animal dander and other living pathogens.  Infections can usually be traced to one of these activities.
• (1)Touching the piercing or jewelry with dirty hands.  If you have not just washed your hands with soap and water then they ARE dirty.
• (2)    Body fluids including saliva on unhealed piercing.
• (3)Contact with hair or hair protects, cosmetics, infrequently washed bedding,
• (4)Contact with animals or animal dander.
• Avoid going into pools, hot tubs, ocean or other bodies of water for a minimum of 5 days.  Showers are ok.
• DO NOT use an antibiotic ointment on your piercing unless it is infected.  They DO NOT prevent infections, they do cut off the oxygen and form a sticky residue which can cause complications!

HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE AN INFECTION AND WHAT TO DO

• The signs of infection are:
• (1)Redness and swelling
• (2)Painful to the touch
• (3)White pus discharge similar to a pimple which smells bad
• If you have all the symptoms except the white pus discharge then your piercing is NOT infected.  Stress on the jewelry such as tight clothing or getting it caught on bedding can produce redness, swelling and pain to your piercing.
• Please DO NOT remove the jewelry!  This may aggravate the problem by closing off the drainage for the pus.  Infections are generally easy to take care of.
• After cleaning the piercing as described and patting it dry.
• (1)Get an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin.
• (2)Wash your hands with soap and dry with a paper towel.
• (3)Apply a VERY small amount of ointment on jewelry right next to piercing, roll into piercing and leave until next cleaning.
• (4)Do this for about 5 days.

WHAT IS REJECTION

• Rejection is the bodies natural defense against foreign objects and is most common in navel and eyebrow piercings.
• If your piercing is rejecting you will see the amount of skin on your jewelry getting smaller.  If it goes to less than half we suggest you take the jewelry out and let it heal up.  If you want to try piercing it again sometimes the scare tissue that is formed from the first piercing will hold it in.  If it rejects the second time we suggest you do not try it again.

These instructions are based on professional experience, common sense and research.  This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor.  Be aware, however, that many doctors have no specific training or experience regarding piercing.  Your piercing was performed professionally and appropriately.  Follow these simple suggestion, and your healing period should go smoothly.  Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have questions regarding your piercing

HEALING TIME

4 to 6 weeks      Tongue

6 to 8 weeks      Lip 

• We suggest that you do not drive for at least 15 to 20 minutes after being pierced.

ITEMS NEEDED FOR CARE

• New soft bristled toothbursh to reduce the bacteria that is introduced to piercing.
• For cleaning you will need soap, Gly-Oxide and mouthwash (any brand or flavor).  We also sugest Advil or a store brand ibuprofen for swelling as needed.

CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS 

• First and foremost - WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP! 
• Rinse your mouth out with an mouthwash (any brand or flavor) for about 30 seconds, and spit it out.
• Check to make sure the jewelry is tight.
• For Labret piercing you will want to clean the front of piercing with soap and water before going any further.
• Put 5 drops of Gly-Oxide on piercing and allow to fizz for about 30 seconds. During the fizzing use you fingers to move the jewelry back and forth through the piercing.  Spit.
• Rinse your mouth with clean water moving jewelry so water gets into piercing.  Spit.
• Repeat this process twice a day.  DO NOT OVER CLEAN.
• In addition to the above you also will want to clean your oral piercing during the day with mouthwash.  Anytime anything goes into your mouth (food, drinks, kissing or oral sex) you want to rinse with mouthwash for approximately 30 seconds when you are done.  If you smoke rinse every half hour or so. 

OTHER CARE INFORMATION

• Please clean as directed for the entire healing time given even if it seems healed sooner.
• Swelling is perfectly normal during the first 3 to 7 days of healing an oral piercing.  It can be greatly reduced by gently sucking on chipped, shaved or small cubes of ice.  Also we suggest using Ibuprofen for swelling as directed.
• If you sleep with your head propped up (above your heart) for the first few nights you will help avoid much of the initial overnight swelling.
• Check your jewelry at least twice a day (more often during the 1st week) to make sure the balls have not loosened.  Make sure your hands are clean and turn the balls towards each other.  DO NOT over tighten or you can strip the threading.
• When eating cut your food smaller than usual and place directly onto the molars so you don't have to move it with your tongue as much.
• Avoid salty, spicy and acidic foods for the first week.  Eat (and drink) your foods more towards room temperature the first week.  Your jewelry is metal and will conduct heat which can be uncomfortable during the healing process.
• Be careful when eating!  You can crack or chip your teeth if you bite down on the jewelry.  This is especially true during the 1st month when you have the initial jewelry in because it will be longer.
• If you break or lose a ball, a clean pencil eraser can be screwed onto the post to keep jewelry from coming out until a replacement ball can be purchased.  You may want to have an extra ball or piece of jewelry at home or in your wallet for just such an emergency.

WHAT'S NORMAL

• Bleeding, swelling, bruising, discoloration, tenderness or discomfort in the area is normal during the first 3 to 7 days.
• A yellowish secretion is perfectly normal.  This is blood plasma, lymph and dead cells which is perfectly normal during healing.
• Plaque (a white hard substance) may form on jewelry.  Brushing your barbell top and bottom when you brush your teeth will help keep your jewelry clean of plaque.
• It is not uncommon to get a hard bump (sometimes it will have a white ridge on it) around the jewlry on either or both sides of your piercing.  This is just the body healing (not an infection) and can take up to 3 months to completely disappear.

INFECTIONS

• Infections are extremely rare in oral piercings as long as they are taken care of properly.  If you have any questions or problems with your piercing please come by or call us so we can advise you on what to do. 

These instructions are based on professional experience, common sense and research.  This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor.  Be aware, however, that many doctors have no specific training or experience regarding piercing.  Your piercing was performed professionally and appropriately.  Follow these simple suggestion, and your healing period should go smoothly.  Please feel free to contact us at any time if you have questions regarding your piercing