SWELLING

It is normal for your piercing to swell immediately after being pierced.

• To help reduce swelling we recommend using ice on the piercing area for at least 10mins a day. 

• It is important that the ice/icepack is to be wrapped in a clean/fresh paper towel or cloth at each use to avoid freezer burn.

• Applying ice after knocking or bumping your piercing can help prevent your piercing flaring up and getting irritated. 

• Applying ice is also recommend if you sleep on your implant. 

• Using ice will reduce the swelling, which will in turn reduce the pressure and relieve the pain.   

• Re-freezable ice packs are available for purchase.

• Alternatively, wet cotton pads placed in the freezer can be a gentle option.

CLEANING

It is crucial that you keep your new implant clean during the initial healing period and beyond.

Apply your cleaning solution with a cotton bud to your piercing and around the piercing site. 

• Using a cotton bud will allow you to be more precise with cleaning and allow you to gently remove any build-up (try not to dig under the implant top as this can cause the piercing to lift out).

• Keep your cleaning regime simple. Do not use multiple cleaning products and try not to ‘over love’ your piercing. 

• We recommend cleaning your implant 2-3 times a day: once in the morning and before going to bed. 

• If you feel your implant needs more cleaning, an additional clean can be performed during the day. 

• Ensure you clean your implant AFTER the shower.

• If you like hot showers AVOID getting hot water directly on your new implant as it can be detrimental to the healing process.

• If you did not purchase a cleaning solution in store, you can make a saltwater solution outlined below

• We recommended that the solution is made in batches to allow greater accuracy to the ratio, ensuring it is not too strong which can be drying and irritating to skin.

• Ensure your solution has cooled completely before use.

MAKE A SALTWATER SOLUTION AT HOME BY DISSOLVING A ¼ TSP OF NON-IODISED SALT IN 100MLS OF WARM WATER. STORE IN A CLEAN, SEALED CONTAINER FOR FUTURE USE.

CHANGING JEWELLERY

DERMAL ONLY

Only dermals can have the jewellery changed, divers cannot.

• It will generally take 10-12 weeks before your implant has settled enough to change the head/top of your jewellery. It won’t be completely healed at this time so continue to exercise care.

• When changing jewellery yourself, ensure your hands are washed and clean BEFORE touching the piercing and new jewellery.

• We also recommended that you clean your new piece of jewellery (ideally with isopropyl alcohol) prior to use.

• If you don’t feel comfortable changing your jewellery, no problem, we can help! We offer a jewellery change service for a small fee.

HELPFUL HINTS

Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your new implant. It is an open wound and hands carry many gems and bacteria that can be transferred to your piercing and cause problems.

• Your dermal implant is threaded jewellery, regularly check to ensure the top/s are tight. Gently hold onto the base of the dermal (the part under the skin) and turn the top; right to tighten or left to loosen. Divers are not threaded and the head cannot be changed.

• Try not to introduce things like make-up, moisturiser, spray tan, glitter, fluff and sand etc. to the piercing site as this impede and slow the healing process and could potentially lead to infection.

• Wash your pillowcase, bed linen and bath towel regularly throughout the life of your piercing.

• Avoid sleeping or resting on your new implant for as long as possible and avoid tight restrictive clothing that might sit on or near your new piercing e.g. high waist clothing, stockings or jeans.

• Try to avoid sleeping with pets during the initial portion of healing as this can impact the successful healing of your piercing.

• Swimming in the ocean, your home or local swimming pool after a piercing is fine as long as you clean the piercing site afterwards. Avoid heated spas, dirty creek water etc. for as long as possible.

• It is recommended that once every couple of months you remove the top of your dermal to completely remove any build up from around your implant. If you don’t feel confident to do this yourself, we can help!