Table of Contents
Acknowledgments viii
Preface ix
Introduction: Piercing 101 x
Part 1 The New Piercing
1 Motivations 2
2 Piercing Past to Present 8
Part 2 Groundwork and Preliminary Considerations
3 Risks, Myths, and Warnings 20
4 Is Piercing Right for You? 30
5 Is Piercing Right for Your Child? 36
6 You and Your Piercer 40
Part 3 Piercing Preparation
7 Picking and Preparing 54
8 At the Studio 59
9 Piercing Procedures 68
10 Jewelry 101: Sizes, Shapes, and Materials 78
Part 4 The Holes
11 Holes in Your Head: Ear, Nose, and Facial Piercings 102
12 Kiss of the Needle: Tongue and Oral Piercings 132
13 Torso Piercings: Nipple and Navel Piercings 151
14 Below the Belt: Genital Piercings 166
Part 5 Healing, Aftercare, and Troubleshooting
15 Essential Guide to Healing and Aftercare 222
16 Trouble and Troubleshooting 246
Part 6 Living with Your Piercings
17 Upkeep and Stretching 268
18 Advanced Jewelry and Practices 285
19 Special Situations 302
20 Sex! 311
Part 7 Piercing in Modern Culture
21 Piercees and the Establishment 320
22 A Career in Professional Piercing 324
23 The Future of Piercing 329
Appendix A Gauge Conversion Chart 332
Appendix B Minimum Healing Times Chart 333
Appendix C The Piercer Survey 334
Notes 338
Glossary 349
Select Bibliography 363
About the Author and Contributor 364
Index 365