what to consider before taking the plunge…

Before getting anything done, consider these:

• Be as healthy as possible. If you're sick it will slow down the healing and you'll have more risk of getting a local infection.
• Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before a procedure; alcohol in your bloodstream tends to increase bleeding during a procedure.
• If you are considering multiple piercings or tattoos, start with a small one to see how you manage the procedure and its care.
• If you know you have multiple allergies and want a tattoo, see if the studio will do a patch test with the dyes, before you have the full procedure.
• If you are not sure where to place the tattoo or the style, ask the studio if they can apply a stencil of the design for you to 'wear' before you have the full procedure.
• If you want to use your own jewellery for piercing, take it to the studio the day before to be checked and sterilised. Remember, jewellery you buy from places other than body piercing studios will not be sterile and may not be of suitable quality or size. Discuss jewellery selection with your body artist.