FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

At Lumina Piercing, we understand that getting a new piercing can be daunting. Therefore, you might have some questions before booking your appointment. On this page, you can find our most frequently asked questions and the answers to those questions. If you can’t find the question you are looking for, please email us at inquiries@luminapiercing.com.

Is there anything I need to do before my appointment?

If you have booked your appointment online, you will be sent a confirmation email asking you to complete an online consent form, we encourage you to fill this out before arriving at the appointment, as it saves time. If you aren’t able to do so, don’t panic. You can find a QR code on reception or we have paper consent forms at the studio.

We also ask that the client having the piercing have something to eat and drink before arriving for the appointment. Failure to do so may result in a cancellation of your appointment and withholding payment. This is because it is common for people to become dizzy or faint.

Is there any reason I can’t have a piercing?

As stated above, you must complete a consent form before the appointment. This is to check that you are suitable for piercing and for your own health and safety. Some medical conditions may result in you being unable to have a piercing. If you are unsure whether it is safe for you to get pierced, we recommend consulting your GP. Not all medical conditions stop you from being pierced but we may ask further questions to ensure it is safe to do so.

We cannot pierce anyone who is pregnant.

Another reason you might not receive your piercing is that your anatomy isn’t suitable for it. If this is the case, you will be offered another piercing, a credit note, or a refund.

Who can come to the appointment with me?

If you feel nervous about getting your piercing, we encourage you to bring someone with you for support. They can be present in the room while you are pierced. However, we ask that you bring no more than two people with you. We are only a small studio with room for three or four people in the reception which is shared with a busy tattoo studio.

For our younger clients, we ask that the only child at the appointment is the one getting pierced. Please note that we cannot pierce children without the consent of a legal parent or guardian and they must be present at the appointment. Children are welcome to bring their favourite cuddly friend with them for support.

If you are an adult getting a piercing, please understand we cannot pierce you if your children are with you at the appointment. This is for health and safety, if you faint or pass out, the piercer cannot be responsible for you and your children.

Age limits and restrictions

At Lumina Piercing, we are very strict regarding age limits. This is for the safety of our clients and to protect ourselves. All clients wishing to get pierced must bring a valid photo ID to the appointment. We accept passports, full and provisional driving licences, PASS cards and others. Whatever form of ID you use, must clearly show your date of birth and a photo.

We offer earlobe piercings for children over 8 years of age, children under 16 must have a parent or legal guardian present at the appointment.

We offer earlobe, cartilage, nostril and navel piercings to clients over 14 years old. Anyone between 14 and 16 must have a parent or legal guardian present at the appointment. Anyone over 16 must be able to provide a valid photo ID.

We offer eyebrow and septum piercing to those over the age of 16 but they must be able to provide a valid photo ID.

Nipple Piercing is strictly for over 18s only and the client must be able to provide a valid photo ID.

Downsizing

For some piercings, you may be advised to book a follow-up appointment to downsize your jewellery. This is because your initial piercing will use a longer bar to allow for swelling. Once swelling has reduced it is important to downsize the jewellery to a better fit for your anatomy.

We commonly see clients with problematic piercings due to not downsizing the jewellery. This is often because once the swelling has gone, the longer bar is able to move around too much in the piercing leading to piercing bumps. Another problem we see is people sleeping or resting on piercings with longer jewellery. This leads to the jewellery shifting and causes the piercing to heal at uncomfortable angles.

Professional body piercer Kenzie Carey from Grand Rapids, Michigan created a brilliant post they shared on their Instagram (@squishypiercer) which perfectly explains this. See post below.

Rejection and migration.

Piercings can grow out or be rejected for various reasons. some of these reasons include irritating metals, improper placement, and heavy or improperly sized jewellery. Another thing to consider is that for some people rejection is just the body’s natural healing response to a foreign object. The best way to limit the risk of rejection is to use hypoallergenic materials like titanium. Keep the piercing clean and avoid unnecessary touching. Allow appropriate healing time before switching jewellery. Ensure the piercing is in a low-movement area. Look out for irritation or concerning signs and consult your piercer if needed.

Risks

Body piercing can be a rewarding form of self-expression, but it does have associated risks. Here’s a brief overview of these risks and how to mitigate them:

Infection

As with any procedure that opens the skin, piercing comes with a risk of infection. Although rare, this is still a consideration one must make when deciding whether to get a piercing. Infection most commonly comes with unsterile equipment or work environment or inadequate aftercare. At Lumina Piercing, we are dedicated to ensuring a safe and hygienic piercing experience for every client. We also strongly believe in the importance of good detailed aftercare and guarantee you will leave your appointment with all the appropriate information to look after your new piercing. It is then up to you to follow the aftercare. If you suffer from any health condition and are concerned about the risk of infection, we encourage you to consult your GP before booking an appointment.

To see our recommended aftercare, go to the aftercare page.

Allergic Reactions

There is a risk of allergic reactions that come with body piercing. To help minimise this, we only pierce using titanium jewellery. The reason for this is titanium is one of the only metals that does not contain nickel. Nickel is most commonly associated with metal allergies. People can be allergic to titanium, however, this is rare with only 0.6% of the population of the US having the allergy. If you believe you might suffer from an allergy to titanium, you must inform the piercer.

Of course, other things in the body piercing procedure might induce an allergic reaction, such as alcohol wipes, adhesive tapes etc. Allergic responses are covered in the consent form and the piercer will check this before the appointment and go through any questions about allergies.

Scarring

Improper healing can lead to scarring. This again goes back to the downsizing section. Sufficient aftercare and downsizing of jewellery are vital to ensure the best outcome for your piercing and reduce the risk of scarring.

Some individuals may develop keloids around the piercing. If you have a history of keloids, discuss this with your piercer and seek treatment if necessary.