After Care

PIERCING AFTER CARE

Rings are better for ears and for most body piercings.
Different body types require different types of body jewelry, with different sizes and thickness.
Jewelry should be made of 316L or LVM surgical stainless steel, 14-karat or 18-karat solid gold, titanium or niobium.
Gold-filled, gold-plated or sterling silver are not suitable. They can chip, tarnish or degrade in a piercing.
If your skin is extra sensitive, use PTFE, Tygon, or Titanium.
Longer barbells are used for tongue piercings to allow for swelling. They can be replaced after healded.
Don't use jewelry with nicks, scratches, or irregular surfaces

LABARET

Internal Cleaning:

Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of sea-salt (noniodized) into 1 cup (8 oz) warm water in a clean cup. Rinse mouth briefly (10-20 seconds) make sure solution gets to piercing and expel. Repeat until all the solution is gone. Do this three times daily.
Rinse mouth for 30-60 seconds with 1/2 teaspoon of mouthwash (alcohol free) after anything goes into your mouth (except water and clean ice.)

External Cleansing:

Wash your hands with antibacterial soap.
Mix salt solution as described above and soak a Q-tip (or cotton pad) in it. Apply to piercing and let it sit for about 1 minute. Repeat 3 times and follow with a clean water rinse.
Turn the jewelry a few times to work the clean water into the piercing.
Apply a small amount of liquid antibacterial soap to wet Q-tip.
Apply Q-tip to piercing and gently cleanse piercing and jewelry. Rotate jewelry to work soap into piercing.
Rinse area thoroughly with clean water and pat dry with a disposable paper towel (cloth towels can harbor bacteria.)
Do this 3 times daily.
See oral healing and oral cautions below.

TONGUE

Internal Cleaning:

Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of sea-salt (noniodized) into 1 cup (8 oz) warm water in a clean cup. Rinse mouth briefly (10-20 seconds) make sure solution gets to piercing and expel. Repeat until all the solution is gone. Do this three times daily.
Rinse mouth for 30-60 seconds with 1/2 teaspoon of mouthwash (alcohol free) after anything goes into your mouth (except water and clean ice.)
Brush your teeth 3 times daily.
While brushing, gently brush your tongue and jewelry with toothbrush.
See oral haling and oral cautions below.

Oral Healing

Clean piercing as instructed above for 4-6 weeks.
Do not change jewelry for 4-6 weeks.
Sucking on clean ice will help reduce swelling.
Ibprophen taken according to package instructions 3-4 times daily, will help with swelling. Only take for the first 1-3 days as needed for swelling.

Oral Cautions

No oral sexual contact during entire healing process.
Avoid chewing on gum, tobacco, fingernails, etc... during the entire healing process.
Reducing smoking or quitting is highly advisable during healing process. Smoking can increase risks and lengthen the healing process.
Stay away from aspirin, large amounts of caffeine, and alcoholic beverages for the first week. These can cause additional swelling, bleeding, and discomfort.
Refrain from eating spicy, salty, acidic or hot temperature food and beverages for the first week.
Try to avoid excessive talking, actively playing with jewelry or clicking the jewelry against teeth. Undue stress on the piercing can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration and other complications.

FACIAL & BODY

External Cleaning:

Wash your hands with antibacterial soap.
Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon of sea-salt (noniodized) into 1 cup (8-oz) warm water in a clean cup. Soak piercing for 2-3 minutes (for certain piercing it is easier to soak a cotton pad into salt water and apply it to piercing) follow with a clean water rinse.
Apply a small amount of liquid antibacterial to piercing and gently cleanse piercing and jewelry. Rotate jewelry to work soap into piercing.
Rinse area thoroughly with clean water (rotate jewelry to remove all soap) and pat dry with a disposable paper towel (Coth towels can harbor bacteria.)
Do this 2 times daily.

Facial & Body Healing

Clean piercing as instructed above for 4-6 weeks.
To know when to change your jewelry, please see "How long will my piercing take to heal" under FAQS.

All Piercings Caution

Leave the piercing alone except for when you are cleaning it!
Check twice daily (with clean hands) to make sure the ends (balls, spikes, etc) are on tight.
Swelling of the area pierced is normal during the first part of healing (3-7 days.)
Any piercing can bleed off and on for a few days. There can be bleeding under the skin resulting in temporary bruising or discoloration.
You may feel some tenderness, discomfort, aching, pinching, tightness, or other unpleasant sensations off and on for several days after receiving piercing.
Do not be alarmed if you see a think yellowish liquid secreting from the piercing, this is not pus, it is blood plasma, lymph, and dead cells (which indicates a healing piercing.)
Piercings have a series of "ups and downs" by seeming healed then regressing. Try to be patient and keep cleaning it and doing the sea-salt soaks as instructed.
An over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (Ibuphrofen, Advil, Motrin, etc) taken according to the package instructions can reduce discomfort and help diminish swelling.
In the event that the piercing drains a thick greenish pus discharge, instead of the normal secretion, you may wish to see a physician for an evaluation and possible antibiotic treatment. The jewelry should be left in the piercing to allow the drainage of pus. If the jewelry is removed, the holes can close up resulting in an abscess.
Do not use alcohol, peroxide, betadine, or hiberclens on your piercing.
Do not apply any triple antibiotic ointment (neosporin, bacitration, etc) to your piercing.
Do not use band-aids, they limit air circulation and the adhesive can irritate the surrounding area. If you have to cover it, use gauze and medical tape.
Avoid submerging your piercing in water such as pools, lakes, jacuzzis until piercing is healed. If your piercing is going to have long exposer to water, use a breathable, non-permeable wound sealant (tegaderm or clean seals) available at the drugstore, before you get in.
Avoid oral contact, rough play, and contact with other bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing process.
For any further questions or information please call us!

Genital Piercings

Follow Facial and Body cleaning and All Piercing Caution.
It is perfectly alright if you urinate.
No sexual contact during healing process.
Do not change jewelry until healed.
Please call if further questions.

TATTOO AFTERCARE

Do not remove covering for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Do not leave covering on longer than 3 hours.

After you remove covering, you will need to wash your tattoo. Follow the instructions below two or three times daily.

Use lukewarm water and antibacterial liquid soap (Dial is prefered) to gently wash away any ointment and to completely clean the area. Do not use a washcloth or anything abrasive. Your hand is the best tool in this case.
Pat (do not rub) the area firmly with a clean paper towel (Coth towels can harbor bacteria) to get it completely dry.
Follow with a very thin application of Tattoo Goo ointment. Rub lightly and thoroughly into your tattoo for about 2 minutes. Pat off remainder with a dry paper towel.
Repeat step 3 as needed for dryness

***DO NOT USE NEOSPORIN OR VASOLINE***

CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF OINTMENT TO USE!

IMPORTANT

Do not pick or scratch your tattoo!

Do not expose tattoo to the sun or tanning beds for at least 2(two) weeks, then be sure to use at least SPF 30 of Sunblock. The sun and tanning beds will fade your tattoo.

No swimming (or submerging) tattoo in water for at least 2(two) weeks.

If infection occurs, call Mystical Illusions or seek medical attention.

Redness, Bruising and Swelling is normal!