How to Get a Medusa Piercing

Find a clean space.^[5] Visit a studio before making an appointment to make sure the space is clean. You do not want to risk infection by getting a piercing done in an untidy studio. When visiting a piercing studio, look things over closely to make sure the atmosphere is hygienic.

• Make sure the studio smells clean and that you do not notice dust, dirt, or grime anywhere, including the bathroom.
• You should also ask about how often the space is cleaned and sanitized. Good studios will be professionally cleaned at least once a day.

Ask if the shop uses sterile needles. A quality studio uses a new, sterile needle for every customer. Needles are then disposed after a piercing is done. If the shop uses anything other than single-use sterile piercing needles, take your business elsewhere.

• Piercing guns should not be used at all because they cannot be properly sterilized.
• The piercer should also wash their hands before putting on fresh gloves for each client. Make sure they change their gloves if they touch anything other than the sterile equipment, like a phone or pen.

Make sure the shop operates legally. Any studio you work with should have a license to operate and a health certificate hung in plain sight. They should also require age verification before administering piercings. You should not trust a piercing studio that operates illegally.

Look for highly trained piercers. Ask what kind of training the piercer has and where it was done. You want a piercer that is highly educated and trained, no one that is self-taught. If the piercer is licensed, it means they’ve been specially trained and are the best choice for your piercing.^[6]

Check out their autoclave. Ask to see the autoclave before booking your appointment. An autoclave is a device used to sterilize jewelry and tools with high heat before a piercing. A reputable studio will have a clean, working autoclave that they use for every piercing. Also ask how equipment that can’t be put in the autoclave is sterilized—they should be disinfected after every use with a commercial bleach or disinfectant.

• Do not book a piercing at a studio without an autoclave. Some studios use dry heating or boiling to sterilize jewelry, but this is not a sufficient means to kill bacteria that could cause infections.

Choose a studio that provides aftercare guidelines. A good piercer wants you to have as smooth an experience as possible in their studio. Ask if you'll be provided information and supplies for aftercare. The ideal studio will give you detailed instructions for aftercare and also provide you with some of the supplies you'll need.^[7]

Prepare for your piercing. Make sure you are up to date on your Hepatitis B and Tetanus vaccinations before getting a piercing. Other than that, practice good oral hygiene leading up the piercing. You should also find someone to use as an emergency contact in case something goes wrong.^[8]

• It's a good idea to find someone to bring with you. This can help in case you get nervous as you'll have a friend or family member to lean on.

Get your piercing done. At the studio, the piercing artist will make a mark above your lip where the piercing will go. They will then pierce your skin with a sterilized needle. While there will be some pain, it is momentary. Many people are surprised that the piercing was not as painful as expected.

• A piercer should never use a piercing gun to give you a piercing, regardless of the location.

Follow the advice of your piercer carefully. It’s important to follow their advice to reduce the risk of infection or rejection and promote healing.^[9] Every piercing is different, but your piercer can give you specific recovery advice based on how your piercing went. Before leaving the studio, talk over aftercare with your piercer carefully and make sure you leave without any questions unanswered.^[10]

• Ask important questions to know, such as, "How often should I clean my piercing?" and "What can I do to prevent an infection?"

Clean your piercing after every meal or snack and before bed. You’ll need to clean the area and the surrounding jewelry several times a day. Wash your hands and then use warm salt water or an antibacterial, alcohol-free mouthwash to clean the piercing.^[11]

Do regular sea salt soaks. Sea salt soaks help soothe pain and irritation and promote healing. Dissolve about an eighth a teaspoon of sea salt in warm water. Then, soak your piercing in the solution for five minutes.

• If it's uncomfortable to submerge your piercing in water for five minutes, soak a cotton ball in the solution and press that to your piercing for five minutes.

Take action to reduce the risk of infection. Rinse your mouth after eating, drinking, or smoking to avoid infection. When brushing your teeth, be very gentle when you brush around the piercing. Avoid touching your piercing unless it's absolutely necessary.^[12] Avoid kissing anyone while you heal (to avoid their saliva) and do not share cups, plates, forks, knives, or spoons. Avoid spicy, salty, or acidic foods and drinks in addition to hot drinks, like coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.^[13]