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Risks of Body piercing

Body piercing is an invasive procedure (like a surgical operation) and carries with it the same risks and healing periods.  Below is a guide to the healing times of the most common body piercings:

Ear - 3-4 months
Navel - 1-12 months
Tongue - 1-2 months
Nose - 2-3 months

Infection is the main risk associated with body piercing.  Infection can occur in two ways:

  • Transmittable diseases: if hygiene standards are not adequate, you are at risk of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis (B and C), and HIV, which can be transmitted from dirty needles.  Hepatitis is particularly known for it’s resilience and some strains can live for up to eight hours on dirty instruments in normal room temperatures.
  • Bacterial infection: this can result in cysts (pockets of tissue filled with fluid, air or pus), which can develop into septicaemia or toxic shock syndrome if left untreated. This can be very serious and even fatal.

Body piercing also presents a risk of scarring and keloid formation (a type of oversized scar).

Specific piercings each present their own risks.  For example oral (tongue) piercings can result in chipped teeth where the jewellery wears away tooth enamel, or speech impediments when the piercee may have trouble forming some sounds.  Areas of the body that have a lot of blood vessels, such as the tongue, can suffer from prolonged bleeding and serious blood loss when pierced.

Swelling is also common, and in rare cases can be enough to block the airway or cause permanent nerve damage.  Tongue piercings carry a higher than average risk of bacterial infection because of the high number of bacteria already present inside the mouth.  In the most serious instances this can result in inflammation of the heart valves or tissues (endocarditis).

Genital piercings can impede the functions of the genitals, making sexual intercourse and urination difficult and painful.  This risk is particularly associated to piercings on and around the penis.  Again, if the piercing is not looked after properly this may lead to infection and long-term complications.

Any piercing that interferes with normal function of the body is at higher risk of causing health problems.  Self-piercing is particularly dangerous as it is unlikely that you will have the correct equipment, training or hygiene procedures to minimise the risk of infection or scarring.