Never use NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), like ibuprofen and aspirin, before getting a piercing. These medications can thin your blood and increase the risks of excess bleeding during or immediately after the procedure.
Take anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce pain and swelling. These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve).
Eat/Drink: Always eat a meal at least two hours before heading in to get pierced! Do not drink a bunch of caffeine or energy drinks before coming in! It will thin your blood and make it harder to sit still. Medication: Pain relievers/ swelling reducers are best saved for after the piercing.
Take Mild Painkillers in Advance
Some piercers also recommend that you take certain mild over-the-counter painkillers before getting your piercing done. These pain killers can help numb the pain during the procedure, and knowing that it isn't going to pain much, will keep your nerves calm.
Topical numbing is not safe and not a good idea for your body piercings.
Make sure that you are not allergic to chemicals or jewelry used in the piercing. Don't drink alcohol or use drugs before being pierced. Alcohol and drugs thin your blood, which could cause too much bleeding. Your judgement should be clear.
However, generally, piercings shouldn't be too painful. Cartilage is often more painful than a lobe piercing, but the pain doesn't last long – I would describe it as a hot sensation, your ears feel hot like they've been pinched! With proper aftercare, pain shouldn't be a problem.
Standard Lobe Piercing
Therefore, it should not be surprising that it ranks low on the pain scale – the general rating seems to be 3/10. A standard lobe piercing can hurt for a moment or just feel like a pinch when the needle goes through.
Pain Scale: 5 on a scale of 1-10. The pain scale is 100% subjective and based on clients' feedback. Nostril piercings are said to be a bit more painful than lip or ear lobe piercings, but not as painful as septum piercings. Aftercare: Keep the area clean to avoid infection.
Sterilize the Area to Be Pierced
You can use ice cube to numb the area, however, it can tighten the skin, which can make piercing difficult.
There is actually scientific reasoning behind this practice, because breathing more slowly and deeply from your stomach signals your nervous system to calm down.
Along with the nostrils and belly button, the earlobes are the safest and most common body part to be pierced. The flesh of the earlobe heals well when the area is cleaned regularly and the piercing is done at the proper angle.
Having a full meal before getting pierced is a good idea because it will help keep your blood sugar steady, according to Secret Ink. Low blood sugar could lead you to feel to feel dizzy or even faint during the piercing, which is not ideal.
The most attractive spot for a piercing is the belly button. The least attractive is a tie between the nose and the nether regions.
In general, tattoos tend to hurt more than piercings because the needles used for tattoos are larger and go deeper into the skin than the needles used for piercings. However, everyone experiences pain differently, so there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to how much pain you'll feel from a tattoo or piercing.
Of all the body sites commonly pierced, the navel is the most likely to become infected because of its shape. Infections can often be treated with good skin hygiene and antibiotic medications.
While you should never use them before a piercing, it is perfectly acceptable to use NSAIDs after the piercing is complete – especially if natural remedies are not doing enough to soothe the pain. Products like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) have anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce swelling and accompanying pain.
Surface piercings have the highest rejection rate. Surface piercings such as microdermals as well as eyebrow piercings and navel piercings reject the most because they are closest to the surface of the skin.
However, less blood flow also means less possibility of swelling, so you may want to schedule your piercing for winter. If you play summer sports, or hit the pool frequently during summer, it might be better for you to get your piercing in winter to give it enough time to heal and ready to show it off in summer!