first off, i feel that i should say that i am pretty into tattoos and piercings and have some myself. this isn't something that i think someone just trying to 'shock' their parents. having so many piercings done at once is pretty painful, and most teens will probly want to test the waters first with something more common such as an eyebrow or tounge. so to all the other mums out there who are already freaking out...i would relax. and anyways, i don't see as big of a deal with piercing as i do tattoos. if they change their mind about a piercing, they can always just take it out. a tattoo is permanant. so no tattoos for my kids until they are 18, and i would advise them to wait even a little longer. but if they asked to be pierced, 15 is the minimum age. just my opinion.

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I agree with Ashley. I'm pretty pierced and tattooed myself, and I can almost guarantee that no piercer is going to attempt this particular piece of work on a first-timer. I personally had a surface piercing in the front of my neck, between my collarbones (called a Madison), and the aftercare is no picnic.

"Because of the high incidence of rejection of surface piercings, corset piercings are generally only left in for a short time, as they can result in infection and permanent scarring."

Cases of infection are very, very rare for any piercing which is properly looked after. As for scarring, it depends on what sort of skin you have. I have scars all over from surgeries, injections, piercings, burns - and they're all bright red and very angry looking. A friend has had many, many similar experiences and her scars are barely noticeable, if not invisible.

I don't think you should be worrying about one particular type of body modification over another. Like I said, I'm a massive fan of all sorts of modifications, but I am also a huge advocate of those modifications only being performed on a person capable of giving informed consent. If someone is drunk, underage, whatever - they should not be having a piercing or tattoo. Parents have a responsibility to prevent their children from doing things that are potentially dangerous for them. And considering most kids aren't capable of cleaning their own rooms, I would be very sceptical of any child/teen who said they took proper care (pure sea salt soaks for 1+ months, daily cleaning for 4+ months) of their piercing.

For parents whose children are desperate for modifications - inform them that no reputable piercer or tattooist will touch a minor. If your child finds an 'artist' who is willing to perform mods on minors, chances are he or she is not very good at what they do. Much better to wait until adulthood so you can get one of the top-class piercers/tattooists to work on you - surely if you're going to do something like that, you want it done by the best?

As a side note, I think corset piercings are beautiful. The only reason I don't have one is because I sleep on my back. They've been around for decades - they're certainly not a 'new' thing!

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I can't name a single woman who has been rendered more attractive by having her body pierced or tattooed. I just don't get it.

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It should probably be noted more prominently in this post that the article linked is about improperly executed piercings, and many of the scars pictured are the result of improper jewelry/methods.

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This is cracking me up, but I love that look. Love the look, my stomach is turning at the idea that it's piercings holding it together. I feel very strange about this.

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in response to jack comment number 3-

first of that is your opinion-which you are most definitly entitled to. tattoos and piercings aren't for everyone.

but more importantly, at least for me ,i don't get tattoos or piercings because i think people will think i am more beautiful. i do it because i FEEL more beautiful. i feel that this is how i am supposed to look. i am more comfortable with myself now than ever before. i have always felt drawn to these things since i was a child. i was fasinated by it all. my family hates it. they give me alot of crap about it. they don't understand why i do it. thats ok. i feel more comfortable in myown skin now that it is starting to look the way i want it too. so other people's opinions don't sway me one way or the other. i like what i like. as do you.

so even though you may not think a tattoo or piercing may not make a woman more beautiful, it is still a part of who she is...or what she wants to be. so ask her why she did it. you may get an answer you didn't expect.

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Providing a younger point of view to parents...

I'm 19 years old and have 20 piercings and 7 tattoos. I started rather early (firts piercing at 14, first tattoo at 16).

My mother has been a charge nurse for almost 25 years and had seen alot of piercing and tattoo horrors. I literally had to beg her to let me get one. She finally caved. Maybe because she knew I would get one anyway.

She sat down with and we researched the piercing together (aftercare, potential risks, etc...) and discussed it. She found a professional and expierenced piercer in our area and drove me down to talk with him and get more information on the subject.

We eventually planned the date. The day of I got the piercing she came with me. Made sure everything was steril and gave me some comfort. Afterwards ahe made sure I took really good care of it.


If your son or daughter really wants a piercing, discuss it with them. No matter what your answer is, take into consideration wether or not your child would just run out and do it on their own. If they would, it is best to be involved to make sure they have researched, have information on the piercing or tattoo, and go to a professional. Many licsensed and expierenced piercers will pierce a minor (of certain age, usually 14+) accompanied by a parent.

If you kid is just going to do it anyways, it's best to be involved to make sure it's done right.

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I love how people always contribute the "I don't know how people with tattoos can think they're possibly attractive" motif to these discussions - as though they were the ultimate judges of someone's beauty!

Anyway, I agree with the other commenters - instead of flipping out at your kid and driving them to get it done in an unsafe way [DIY, sketchy artist, whatever] sit down and talk to them - drive down to the studio and talk to the piercer - they know their business and they should be HAPPY to explain to you how they do something, including their safety precautions and sterility measures.

Please don't drive your kids underground with disapproval - at least talk to them. I've known too many teenagers who ended up with septic piercings because they ended up at Joe Blow's house, getting a dirty needle through the ear on someone's kitchen table - thanks to Mom and Dad, who just said "no" instead of saying "let's talk".

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{ thanks to Mom and Dad, who just said "no" instead of saying "let's talk".}

No, it's thanks to the kid, who decided to do something stupid because s/he isn't mature enough nor well-disciplined enough to listen to his/her parents.

I'm all for communication, but I'm also for accepting/assigning responsibility.

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I am 18 years old. I have 5 tattoos, and 21 piercings. In my state, you are not allowed to get pierced without parents until 18, and aren't allowed to get tattooed at all (even with consent) until you're 18. I got my first piercing when I was 16...

I now have the corset piercing. It's beautiful. Of course, that's only my opinion.

My parents had no control over me after I was 18. They just learned to accept that this is something that I love.

As far as parents telling their kids that they are unable to get a piercing, I agree with a first couple posters, that they are much "safer" than tattoos. A teenager can take out a piercing. The excuse that "it will get infected" or "they won't take care of it", is invalid. It would be just like saying, "They can't drive ever again because they'll get into an accident". Not all piercings get infected. Not all fall out and leave you with an ugly scar.

As far as the corset piercing...this article fails to point out that they are usually done as play piercings. In other words, they are done either 1) for the pain or 2) for special occassions. If a teen were to get this done, it is most commonly for a wedding, prom, or other special event, and then it is removed before further damages occur (if any at all).

I, however, have chosen to keep mine. While a majority of surface piercings are likely to reject, mine are doing great. and I love the look. It makes me feel beautiful. Gorgeous, actually.

Body piercing is an art. And it's time that people start viewing it that way.

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I hope kids get piercings and i hope any pain they feel goes away, i hope that they feel more beautiful after having a piercing or a tattoo and i hope they love themselves

and i hope every parent that is scared of them
learns more about them, i hope parents meet someone they respect that is into piercing, and i hope they learn to accept someone that they wouldn't normally talk to that is into body mods.

xox

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