Aftercare

  • Piercings must be kept clean

    Sterile saline is the only thing we suggest for cleaning. This is best done once or twice daily. Sterile saline can be bought through the webstore, from Union Tattoo, or from your local pharmacy.

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    With clean hands spray a small amount of saline directly onto the front and back of the piercing to soften debris the gently remove debris with a cotton swab. Alternatively, especially for awkward to access areas, spray saline onto a cotton swab to soften and remove debris.

  • Piercings must be kept dry

    Ensure after cleaning that the piercing is pat dry with a clean disposable such as a cotton pad or using a hairdryer.

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    After showering, or getting wet at any time, piercings should be dried.

  • Touching fresh piercings must be kept to a minimum

    Piercings don't need to be twisted, turned, or unnecessarily disturbed. Try and ensure you only touch it when practicing aftercare, once or twice daily. If you do have to touch it, do so with freshly washed, clean hands.

  • Maintenance & downsizing

    To ensure a happy, healthy healing process for your piercing, a follow-up appointment generally 4-12 weeks post-piercing is key.

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    Similarly, downsizing refers to the process of initially allowing excess length on the jewellery installed in a fresh piercing to accommodate for inflammation, however as the piercing settles this excess length can be prone to being caught, knocked, as well as creating movement which can delay (and sometimes even compromise) the healing process. Nearly all piercings can, and will, benefit from a downsize at some stage in their life.

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    Follow-ups are welcome at any stage regardless.
Book a Follow-up & Downsize

Throughout Healing

  • Your new piercing may feel sore, itchy, or swollen
  • You may have some clear or white discharge
  • There may be a tiny bit of spotting (bleeding) in the first few days
  • Localised redness around the piercing

Schedule a follow-up if you're concerned about anything, at any stage:

  • Extreme or unexpected pain
  • Significant swelling or heat
  • Redness extending well beyond the piercing site
  • Thick yellow/green discharge from the piercing

For the first few weeks swelling will start to occur around the immediate piercing site. This is normal and expected - it's exactly why we need to downsize!

Because we accomodate for swelling with the initial jewellery size, you don't have to ice the area. However if you feel the need to, the below options can help with comfort.

To icepack the area:

  • Put ice cubes in a ziplock bag
  • Wrap a clean disposable like a paper towel around the bag
  • Hold to the area; 2 minutes on, 2 off, repeat for 5-10 minutes. 2-3x daily

To cold compress:

  • Fridge saline bottle until cold
  • Spray saline onto cotton round or gauze (not a paper towel)
  • Wrap around the area; 2 minutes on, 2 off, repeat for 5-10 minutes. 2-3x daily

You can take ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory, this can be effective in combination with icing or cold compresses. However be careful to follow proper package, or doctor's, instructions with any and all medications

To help promote a smooth healing process, adopt the following:

  • Ensure you maintain proper aftercare throughout the healing period
  • Don't change jewellery too soon, ensure you wait until the piercing is fully healed before attempting this yourself
  • Do not use homemade salt mixes, creams, ointments, oils, alcohols, or antiseptics
  • Keep cleansers, scented soaps, shampoo away from the healing piercing where possible. Rinse well if anything gets into the area
  • Do not dry using a towel, use clean disposables only
  • Keep makeup and skincare products out of healing piercings
  • Avoid swimming or submerging the piercing in water for the first 4-6 weeks where possible. Submerging in spa pools and hot pools should be avoided for 4-6 months
  • Keep bedding clean. Do not sleep on your healing piercing as this can significantly impact healing. Similarly, don't sleep with wet hair on your piercing
  • Avoid friction or trauma to the site. Including friction from tight clothing, hats, face coverings and masks
  • Listen to your body, everyone heals differently!
  • Use a travel pillow to assist in comfortable sleeping with the fresh piercing: rest your ear in the crescent of the pillow to prevent pressure and irritation
  • Donut-hole pillows also work great for this! Even a shirt rolled-up circular can work
  • Exercise caution with hair spray, hair brushes, glasses, and face coverings.
  • Ensure that mask straps tie-up without pressure on the ears, behind-the-head loops work best. Opt for disposable masks for cleanliness
  • Waterproof dressings can be easiest utilised in these (flatter) placements if you're wanting to swim in the initial 2 months. Tegaderm patches are available from most pharmacies
  • Avoid friction from waistbands on the area during healing. Ideally opt for lower-waisted items of clothing
  • You can use a barrier such as a hard-vented eyepatch (from a pharmacy) to help prevent trauma from tight clothing or impact from physical activities
  • When engaging in exercise start slow and listen to your body
  • For nipple piercings a soft, supportive bra or undergarment can provide comfort for the first few weeks. Likewise wearing an undergarment to sleep to help prevent trauma

Oral piercings swell more significantly than most other piercings in the initial 3-10 days. Rest the area as much as possible during this inflammation. Drinking cold water as well as colder food and drinks will help with swelling. You can take anti-inflammatories as required but only as per package instructions.

  • Clean the outside as normal
  • Rinse mouth with either clean water (and spit) morning and night
  • Rinse mouth with clean water (and spit) after eating, smoking
  • Maintain good oral hygiene; brush teeth twice daily as normal
  • Use a new toothbrush
  • Avoid whitening products until the piercing is fully healed
  • Avoid kissing, sharing food, drinks, smoking products
  • Sleep with your head elevated for the first few nights

The healthier you are, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal. Try and practice a little extra self-care in the initial first month of the piercing's life. You deserve it.

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Please come back at any stage, we welcome check-ups and feedback. We love to see the results of the piercing journey and your hard work in healing!

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Healing is not always linear. we all have different lifestyle considerations, medical conditions, and journeys.

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The best healed piercing is a team-effort between piercer and piercee; the piercer performing a precision piercing with high-quality jewellery and practices, the piercee giving the piercing the best possible start to life with consideration and care.

Sterile, medical-grade saline is the only thing we suggest near fresh piercings. This helps gently remove debris and keeps the area clean to promote healing.

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One bottle of Tattoo Tonic Saline Spritz should easily last for a couple healing piercings. A tiny amount sprayed directly on, or with cotton swabs, is all you need.

Buy Saline

Healing piercings typically go through 3 key stages in the journey. A more detailed view of these stages can be read below.

Stage 1 is homeostasis and inflammation; swelling and redness. It’s unlikely for most piercings to bleed much following being pierced - although some spotting can occasionally happen.

In the initial 24 hours post-piercing the body firstly clots the wound. Once this clot is established, inflammation follows around 24-48 hours post-piercing.

This stage of healing allows the body to flush the area of debris and facilities the growth and proteins to attract immune cells and tissue repair.

Stage 2 is proliferation; dry skin and crusties. Epithelialization is the covering of the wound and the forming of granulation and connective tissue. New blood vessels form, the wound contracts as empty space is replaced with scar and healed tissue. This often lasts around 4-24 days.

As homeostasis and inflammation gives way to proliferation, this is where downsizing regularly occurs, anywhere 2-12 weeks post-piercing.

Stage 3 is maturation; tissue regains strength, flexibility, and resilience. Collagen fibers reorganize as tissue remodels. Once maturation is complete a piercing is healed. This can be anywhere from 21 days to 2 years. Once this is complete, your piercing is healed.

Congratulations!