FAQs

The Body Jewellery Shop

FAQ’s

Common Queries/Problems

How long will it take you to answer my email?

We endeavour to respond to any emails we have been sent within 24 hours. Due to the large volume of emails we receive on a daily basis, a response may sometimes take a little longer to come back to you but we do answer any emails we receive as soon as possible. Please rest assured that we read every single email we receive.

How do I know that you are a legitimate business?

We have been in this business for well over 10 years and have formed a fantastic relationship with our customers and suppliers. Bodyjewelleryshop.com has been online since 2000 and is constantly expanding.

We display our full address and contact details, and we highly recommend visiting our TrustPilot page as many of our long-term visitors will be happy to tell you of the great service and successful purchases they have made with us.

Why haven’t I received my order confirmation/dispatch emails?

Whenever you place an order with us, a confirmation email is sent to you with details of the order you have made. As soon as your order is processed and dispatched, a second confirmation email is sent to you indicating that your order is now in its way to you. If you have not received these emails, it is possible they may have been caught in your spam mail folder. It is advisable to look through your spam mail and see if your confirmation emails have appeared there, as you can then make adjustments to ensure that they come through to you without issue in the future. It is also possible that there may have been some sort of error with your confirmation emails not reaching you, either because of server issues or problems in transit. If in doubt as to the status of your order, try logging in to your account and looking at your present order by clicking on ‘View current/previous orders’.

How come your prices are so cheap?

We have been in business for a long time and have developed many contacts that can supply us with great quality stock. This is coupled with the fact that we buy all of our stock in large quantities so that we can offer our customers a fantastic range and superb, affordable prices.

Ordering

How do I place an order?

We endeavour to make the ordering process as simple as possible for you. To order a product, you must first click on the item you are interested in purchasing and a page with information detailing the specifications of the product will be displayed, along with price and weight details. Click the ‘Add To Cart‘ button to add the product to your shopping cart.

Much like shopping in a regular store, your shopping cart allows you to safely keep your items held waiting for you while you continue browsing for other products to add. Whenever you add an order to your cart you will be taken directly over to the cart, which will display a listing of the products you have chosen and a total price before any shipping costs have been added. You may also change the quantity of any item if you require more than one of anything in particular. You can access your shopping cart at any time by clicking on the ‘View Cart‘ button, available in the ‘Shopping Cart‘ box on the right-hand side of the website.

When you have finished adding all of the items you wish to buy to your shopping cart, you may click on the ‘Secure Checkout‘ button to begin the submission of your order. You will be greeted with a page requiring your email address, contact and billing and delivery address details. Please ensure that you verify the information you supply in the relevant fields, and always check that the details you are submitting are correct. If you are a Registered Member you may specify a delivery address if it is different to the billing address. If you are a guest, you will only be able to have your goods shipped to the billing address. Click on continue to move on to the next stage, the ‘Payment And Shipping Method’ page.

The ‘Payment And Shipping Method’ page will allow you to specify both your chosen method of payment and the delivery service that will be used to deliver the product to you. You may select either a ‘Credit/Debit Card’ method or a ‘Personal Cheque/Money/Bank Transfer’ method. When you have selected the details applicable to you, you are ready to move on to the ‘Payment Details’ page. It is here that you can enter details such as credit card information. If you have chosen an alternative method of payment, you order will be classed as an ‘Invoice Order’. A total amount including shipping will be shown, as well as a breakdown of the products you have ordered.

If you are absolutely sure that your order is correct and you have entered all your payment details correctly (if ordering with a credit card), click on ‘Continue’ to finish and submit your order to us. A final breakdown of products with a total cost including shipping will be displayed, and a confirmation email will be sent to you at the email address you specified when placing the order. If you have chosen any other method of payment other than ‘Credit/Debit Card’ please ensure that you note down the total cost of your order including shipping, as this will be important when you make your payment.

Your order will now be with us, ready to be processed!

What is my ‘Shopping Cart’ and how do I use it?

Think of your shopping cart as an online version of a real shopping cart that you would use whenever you go to the store to buy groceries.

Just like a real shopping cart, you can add items, remove them and change the quantity of each item if you want more than one. To add an item to your shopping cart simply click on ‘Add To Cart‘ and you will be taken immediately to your cart. Here you can make adjustments to any products you may have chosen, and can remove any that you added by mistake. You can then either checkout or continue shopping. If you want to access your shopping cart without adding a product, simply click on the ‘View Cart‘ button available in the ‘Shopping Cart‘ box.

What payment methods are available?

We offer a number of payment methods to suit our customers. The most common way of ordering any item from us is with our ‘Credit/Debit Card‘ option, as this is simply the quickest way of pushing your order through and having it processed and dispatched as soon as possible.

How do I know if you have received my order?

As soon as you place your order you will receive an order confirmation email at the email address you specified. This email will contain a summary of the products you ordered, the total cost and includes an order number which you can quote if you have any queries regarding the status of your order. You will receive a further email as soon as your order has been dispatched, indicating the order is now on its way to you.

How long will it take to process my order?

The length of time an order takes to be processed is dependent on how your details pass through our system. Whenever a customer places a Credit/Debit card order, the card information is rigorously checked to ensure maximum security and prevent potential credit card fraud. Your bank will may require security checks to validate your purchase. If all of the details are correctly matched and verified, your order will be processed as soon as possible. If there are any issues, a member of staff may be required to look into the situation and may contact you to verify some details.

Can I cancel my order?

Providing you contact us before your order is dispatched and ideally as soon as possible after making the order, you should be able to cancel your order without a problem. To do this, email or phone us with your order number to hand. If the order is still being processed, we will cancel the order for you. If it has already been dispatched there is nothing we can do. You may refer to our returns policy for the next stage.

I think I may have been charged too much for my order. Why is this?

If you think you may have been charged more than you expected, it is more than likely because we take all of our payments in UK GBP. This means that, in most cases, the amount specified on your bank statement is correct but is simply in your own currency, not British currency. For this reason, we ask that all our overseas customs please convert the amount showing on their bank statement into British Sterling and see if the amount is correct. If it is not correct and you still feel there is an issue, please contact us and we will be happy to look into the matter further.

Delivery Information

What delivery methods are available?

BJS has a range of shipping methods to suit both our national and international customers. These vary in cost and delivery time. We advise customers to take a look at our Shipping Information page, this page contains a breakdown of our shipping methods and how long each will take to deliver the product to you.

How long will it take to receive my order?

The time it takes for our customers to receive an order depends entirely on the locale, the shipping method chosen and the date the order was made. We advise customers to take a look at our Shipping Information page, this contains a breakdown of our shipping methods and how long each will take to deliver the product to you.

Please be aware that the stated delivery times, although often accurate, do vary depending on delays within the postal system. Any delays that occur during transit are entirely down to the postal service in charge of delivering the parcel.

My order has not arrived, what should I do?

If your order is slightly delayed, you can email us for assistance, however, to save time you may want to check our delivery guidelines as follows:

Royal Mail First Class/Recorded Delivery

Orders placed before 2pm will be dispatched the same day providing all items are in stock. If you wish to check stock availability, please email [email protected] or contact our offices 9am-4pm Monday-Friday on 0845 5000 118.

If your order has been dispatched, Royal Mail delivery will normally take between 1-3 days to arrive, however, there may sometimes be delays of up to 15 working days. We cannot follow up or claim for lost packages until a total of 15 working days from the date of dispatch has passed.

Royal Mail Special Delivery

Goods will arrive the next business day after they are dispatched. If you order on a Friday and select next day delivery, you will indeed receive your goods on the Saturday (although please be aware that due to the 95% reliability of the postal services, we cannot absolutely guarantee that the goods will arrive).

If you wish to receive a Saturday delivery, please do not select City Link ‘Next Day By 5pm’ service as this does not include Saturday deliveries. You must choose next day by 1pm or 9am Royal Mail delivery.

International Mail

Standard or Registered International Mail Orders will normally take between 5-14 working days; however, on some occasions they can take up to 21 working days from the date of dispatch. This is due to the delivery process; packages are passed onto multiple delivery services. In rare cases, packages have taken up to a month or two to arrive. You should normally receive your order within 1-3 weeks.

UPS

UPS deliveries will normally arrive within 1-3 days of dispatch.

Can I track my package?

Yes, you can track your package depending on the delivery method chosen. The tracking number will be sent in a confirmation email as soon as your order is dispatched and on its way to you. If you have chosen a delivery method that does not feature tracking, this will not be available.

If, for some reason, you did not receive a confirmation email when your order is dispatched but would still like to track your parcel, simply email us with your order number and a member of staff will supply you with the tracking number.

How is my order packaged?

All of our orders are sent in discreet packaging; typically plain brown padded envelopes or brown boxes. There is no reference to the website featured on the package, and the label will display a delivery address only.

I think my package is lost, what can I do?

Compensation is available on most delivery methods, with the exception of Standard International Mail. If you feel that your package has been lost in the postal system, please contact us and one of our customer support advisors will help you work with the courier that was transporting your package to deal with the matter further.

Returns/Refunds

Can I return an item that I am not satisfied with for a refund/exchange?”

If you wish to return an item for any reason you can do so, but you must first confirm that this is possible by contacting Bodyjewelleryshop.com by phone, fax, email or post. Any goods returned to us without prior consent are sent back to you at your cost.

You must ensure that you return the item within 7 days of receiving your order. Items must be returned in a new or unused condition. We will refund the cost of the items but the shipping is non-refundable. Please be aware that returns are subject to a £1.00 charge. This is to cover the charge issued to us by bank for every refund applied for.

What can I do if I have received a faulty/damaged product?

In the highly unlikely event that an item sent to you is found to be faulty, you may send it back to us for a replacement. We will refund the cost of sending the item back to us. In the UK, items should be sent back via First Class Recorded Delivery. We will not accept extra charges for other courier services or guaranteed next day services. Overseas, items should only be sent back using your country’s national postal service. We recommend using an insured delivery method, however, we will not accept extra charges for Fed Ex or other overnight courier services.

Please make sure that you have clearly read any instructions that may have come with the product, or may be displayed on our website, as products found not to be faulty when they come back to us will be sent back to you at your cost. Please note that our return policy also applies.

Can I exchange the item I have received for something else?

If you would like to exchange your items for different products in our range, you may do so within 7 days of receiving them. Items returned must be in a new and unused condition. Please detail which items you would like as replacements. We will charge your card for the cost of sending these replacements out to you, as well as any extra balance that your updated order may incur. Please note that our return policy also applies.

You can find our return policy and form on the back of your invoice.

Jewellery/Piercing Questions

Do piercings hurt?

Not nearly as much as you may think! The piercing process is so brief that the worst part is the preceding mental anxiety and fear. The pain is completely relative to the individual and their pain threshold, however, the pain incurred during a piercing is nothing that the average person can’t handle.

How do I care for my new piercing?

Your new piercing may secrete a small amount of clear fluid called lymph, this is normal and healthy. As this fluid dries throughout the day, it becomes hard and somewhat sharp. It is very important not to move the jewellery until this crust is removed.

The easiest way to remove this crust is with hot water. Once the jewellery and piercing are clean on both sides, apply a moderate amount of a mild liquid soap to the area. Gently work up a lather over and on the piercing. Slowly, move the jewellery through the piercing six to ten times. If you feel a sharp sensation, check to make sure all of the dried material is removed before proceeding. Let the soap remain in contact with the piercing for about one minute. Then rinse with clean water for at least one minute more. Always use a clean towel to pat dry.

Cleaning your piercing more than two times a day may weaken your body’s own natural defenses. The use of anti-bacterial ointments is generally discouraged as they may block oxygen from the piercing as well as providing a place for stronger contaminants to breed. Alcohol and witch hazel are also considered ineffective cleaning agents. Hydrogen peroxide may sometimes create scar tissue with repeated use.

It is a good idea to make sure that you sleep on clean sheets or with clean sleeping clothes. For ear piercing it is wise to avoid public telephones. You should also disinfect the phones in your home and office. Be careful with hair care products and harsh shampoos.

You should never touch your piercing with dirty hands. Avoid rough handling of a new piercing. Genital piercings should be protected from foreign body fluids until fully healed.

The importance of good nutrition must not be overlooked. A well balanced diet, stress reduction and sleep, as well as quality multi-vitamin supplements are recommended during the healing period.

What are the healing times for piercings?

Each area of the body has its own unique healing period and process. Oral and oral/facial piercings tend to heal fastest, while others tend to heal a bit slower. Also, every individual body heals and reacts to piercings differently, so your friend’s piercing may heal much quicker than yours!

A general guideline for approximate healing times is as follows:

  • Earlobe: 1-2 months
  • Cartilage: 6 months-2 years
  • Lip: 1-2 months
  • Labret: 1-2 months
  • Cheek: 2-3 months
  • Nostril: 3 months-1 year
  • Eyebrow: 2-3 months
  • Tongue: 1-2 months
  • Septum: 1-2 months
  • Navel: 6 months-over 1 year
  • Nipple: 3-6 months
  • Genital: 2-8 months

What are the chances of migration or rejection?

Rejection is usually caused by pressure of the jewellery against the skin that has been pierced, often caused by using straight bars on the body-surface or curved areas (such as the wrist, face or nape), or simply the body refusing to accept the piercing. Rings can get knocked around and that irritation can also cause rejection. Infection and allergy/sensitivity are also types of irritation and can lead to rejection. Some piercings may “migrate” to a more comfortable setting without being rejected. Eyebrows that are pierced too deeply will often migrate to a more comfortable position and stop. This is common with Guiches, Frenums, Brows and even Navels.

The signs of rejection include red, tender and raw skin at the opening holes of the piercing. The holes begin to get closer together leaving a thin scar as the dead skin cells are removed. This can happen extremely quickly or over a long period of time. It can also happen to a brand new piercing or one that has been healed for years.

What is an autoclave?

An autoclave is a device that uses steam to sterilise equipment and other objects. This means that all bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores are destroyed. Autoclaves work by allowing steam to enter and maintaining extremely high pressure for at least 15 minutes. Because damp heat is used, heat-labile products (such as some plastics) cannot be sterilized or they will melt.

Why are piercing guns inadvisable?

Getting pierced with a piercing-gun is very unhealthy for your body. A piercing-gun inflicts blunt trauma force to the body, which increases the chance for infection and an unpleasant healing process. All piercings should be performed with a hollow, surgical steel beveled needle. This will also alleviate the risk of a “blowout”, a volcano-like build-up of flesh that may cause scar-tissue around the exit hole.

Most guns have plastic parts which cannot be properly sterilized; giving rise to the possibility of spreading bacterial infections or more serious blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis B and C.

The second problem has to do with the shape and composition of the jewellery itself and the force applied by it to the body, making healing difficult. These guns were first manufactured to tag livestock and inflict unnecessary blunt trauma to the tissue. The studs used by the guns have clasps which trap bacteria and which, when combined with the too-short post used by the jewellery, compress the tissue. This does not allow for any swelling, makes cleaning difficult and reduces the availability of oxygen to the wound. In addition, the metal used for most of the gunned jewellery is of inferior quality and may inhibit healing by causing contact dermatitis or nickel allergies.

The best and safest option for any piercing is to go to a professional body piercer. These individuals have the proper training to perform safe piercings, unlike most physicians, and certainly unlike the poorly trained clerks piercing people in the high-street stores. Professional piercers observe proper sterile procedures, use single-use sharp needles which do not damage tissue, and good quality body jewellery made specifically for safe and speedy healing.

How long before I can change the starter jewellery?

It is not recommended to change initial piercing jewellery until your piercing is fully healed, unless the new piece of jewellery is sterile. Many piercings will require a change of jewellery during the healing period as the swelling of your piercing is reduced; however, this is a procedure to be carried out by your piercer at your piercing studio with full sterilized jewellery.

If you want to change the jewellery yourself, you will need to do this in accordance with the healing of your piercing – this time period can vary from person to person. There are two things to consider; the initial and full healing periods. The initial healing period is when the body creates a layer of skin between the raw piercing and the starter jewellery. The full healing period is when the new piercing has healed and developed a tough barrier of healthy skin between the piercing and the jewellery. When deciding how long to wait before changing your jewellery you have to remember that you don’t want to reopen the wound. This will delay your healing process and require intense aftercare to prevent possible infection. When you change your jewellery you are going to irritate your new piercing no matter how gentle you are. The best option would be to wait until the piercing is no longer tender (you can play with your piercing without experiencing any discomfort). Use as much care and be as clean as possible when changing your jewellery for the first time.

How do I change my piercing jewellery?

When handling or changing your body jewellery, you must always ensure to clean your hands, preferably with anti-bacterial soap. Once your accessory is screwed on or snapped in, clean your body jewellery one more time to reduce chances for infection. A hot shower or hot compress will help soften your skin before cleaning and inserting body jewellery.

Below is an illustration to help you with the procedure of fitting barbells (or similar screw-on jewellery) or a captive (Ball Closure, Bar Closure or Segment) ring.

  1. Pinch the skin adjacent to the piercing and insert one end of the body jewellery into one hole of the piercing (Illustration 1)
  2. While inserting the body jewellery, massage the opposite hole with a finger (Illustration 2)
  3. Continue inserting and massaging until you feel the body jewellery exiting the piercing
  4. Either screw on or clip in your accessory (Illustration 3)

How do I open and close Smooth Segment Rings, Ball Closure Rings or Bar Closure Rings?

The ball of a BCR or segment of a bar closure ring is held in place by the tension of the ring; there is a dimple on either side for the ring to clip into. To remove the ball or segment, you must push it out of the ring – it does not unscrew. The best place to do this is over a sink with the plug pushed in, just in case you drop a piece.

To make this easier, we would advise the use of Ring Opening Pliers (or similar tool), especially for larger gauge jewellery as it is a lot tougher.

To fit the ball, line one dimple on the ball up with one side of the ring. Hold the ring firmly and push so that the other dimple clips into place. If the ring is too tight to clip your ball or segment into, the Ring Opening Pliers will make this process easier as you will need to expand the ring slightly.

Which ball size do I need for a ball closure ring?

The clip-in accessory size required for a ball closure ring will depend on the gauge (thickness) and the internal diameter of the BCR. It is common for ball sizes to vary, even in the same sized ring, as some will fit more than one size due to the flexibility of the ring.

Below are some estimated sizes for smaller sized BCRs:

1mm or 1.2mm BCRs with an internal diameter of:
6mm – fit 3mm or 4mm accessory
7mm or 8mm – fit 4mm accessory
9mm or 10mm – fit 4mm or 5mm accessory
11mm, 12mm or 13mm – fit 5mm or 6mm accessory
16mm – fit 6mm accessory

1.6mm BCRs with an internal diameter of:
8mm – fit 4mm accessory
10mm – fit 5mm accessory
12mm or 14mm – fit 6mm accessory
16mm or 19mm – fit 6mm accessory
22mm or 25mm – fit 8mm accessory

How do I Stretch my ears?

Stretching a piercing is a gradual process that will last months, sometimes years depending on how large you decide to stretch. It’s important to change your gauge gradually, allowing ample healing time between sizes (normally a minimum of 3-4 weeks). If you move too fast, you risk damaging the skin which may result in scar tissue. Scars make your ear look as if it is cracking around the hole and also makes it very difficult to change gauge. Expect some soreness as your lobes heal and adjust to the new size.

The best and easiest way to stretch without any problems is with the use of stretching tapers (or Insertion Pins). We have a large variety on BodyJewelleryShop, although the most popular is the Steel Tapered Insertion Pin.

How do I use the Steel Tapered Insertion Pins?

The insertion pins are used to stretch up a piercing 1mm at a time – i.e. – if you wanted to stretch from a 1.6mm to 2.4mm, then you would need a 2.4mm pin. The 2.4mm pin starts at 1.6mm and gradually increases in size to a 2.4mm.

To use the pin, you will need to lubricate it (substances such as Savlon, Liquid Soap, Vitamin-E oil are recommended) and push it slowly through your piercing. Once the pin is almost all the way through the piercing you put the jewellery on the end of the pin, and push it though. The pin will then come out of the piercing and the jewellery will be in.

It is recommended to wait at least 3 weeks in between each stretch.

Why are the largest Steel Tapered Insertion Pins 15mm?

Larger gauge jewellery will be much heavier with size so stretches above 15mm will tend to be much easier. You will find that your ear naturally stretches enough for the next stretch to be easy enough without the use of a taper, especially if you wear a heavy piece of jewellery.

Why are plugs and tunnels sold singularly?

All items on BodyJewelleryShop are sold individually, unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that not everyone stretches both ears or even that both sides are at the same size. A good number of people purchase just one plug and would be annoyed at being forced to purchase an extra that they didn’t need.

Will my stretched earlobe close down to its original size again?

Generally speaking, the larger your stretch your earlobe, the harder it will be to downsize the stretch. As you stretch the flesh it will naturally lose elasticity with time. You may also notice after a month or two of wearing the same size, your ear will gradually ‘loosen’ up, making your jewellery slip in and out easily, even with flared jewellery (which will have larger ends than the middle of the plug/tunnel itself).

Most people will find that sizes 8mm and smaller can be downsized fairly easily, although this process will be gradual and will take longer time the larger the stretch is.

You can begin by leaving out your jewellery on a more regular basis and wearing the next size down as soon as you can. Keep the skin healthy and well looked after by moisturising and massaging regularly. This will stimulate the tissue and increase blood-flow to the lobe, as well as keeping it in good condition. We would recommend Vitamin-E Oil, Tea Tree Oil or similar products for this process (although this is mainly down to your preference). You may also find products on the market that provide your skin with elasticity-retaining substances and many beneficial vitamins.

Isn’t it easier to punch larger holes to begin with?

‘Punching’ a large gauge piercing is possible in some piercing studios, however, many piercers refuse to punch large holes because totally removing a plug of skin makes it difficult, if not impossible, to size back down later. Skin is resilient, so leaving it there and forcing it to stretch makes it easier to return to a smaller hole if you decide to gauge down.

What materials can be worn in my piercing?

Jewellery can be made of a variety of materials, although some are better for your piercings than others.

316LVM Surgical Stainless Steel is safe to be worn for people without a nickel-allergy, as this metal contains Nickel. Surgical Stainless Steels are used for bone fixation screws, body pins, bone plates, total joint prosthetics amongst many other applications. Body jewellery listed here is manufactured from equivalent or higher standard material. We do not play or gamble with your health.

Titanium is a very strong metal, stronger than stainless steel and 45% lighter. Titanium does not react with the body, so most people; even those with metal-sensitivities can wear Titanium. We use grade 23, which is implant grade; the same material the medical industry uses for joint replacements as well as pins and rods. No higher qualification exists. Titanium can be coloured using a process called anodizing. Anodizing is a fast and simple electrical process that grows very thin transparent oxides on the surface of the reactive metals. There are no pigments or dyes, the Titanium surface makeup is altered therefore this colour cannot ‘chip’ or ‘wear away’. It takes high voltage to produce the colours; different voltages give you different colours.

Blackline comprises of a PVD coating on G23 Surgical Titanium. PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) has become widely used to deposit wear resistant, thin film coatings onto medical devices (including heart pacemakers, surgical instruments, and orthopaedic implants). The main value in PVD technology rests in the ability to modify the surface properties of a device without changing the underlying material’s properties and biochemical functionality.

Zircon Gold comprises of a PVD coating on G23 Surgical Titanium. PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) has become widely used to deposit wear resistant, thin film coatings onto medical devices (including heart pacemakers, surgical instruments, and orthopaedic implants). The main value in PVD technology rests in the ability to modify the surface properties of a device without changing the underlying material’s properties and biochemical functionality.

Gold, no matter what the karat, is not recommended for initial piercings because gold is an alloy, made up of not only pure karat gold but base metals also. The fluids secreted by a healing piercing cause corrosion of the base metals in the gold. Once a piercing is fully healed, Gold can be worn (9ct gold is recommended), although best for limited periods of time as they will tarnish and discolour when in contact with bodily fluids. Try to keep the jewellery clean and polished regularly to prolong the quality.

Sterling Silver should not be used for piercing body jewellery, but can be worn on the body as general jewellery, in the form necklaces, bracelets, pendants and rings. Silver body jewellery accessories such as clip-in ball closure ring captives are also a popular, safe choice. Silver corrodes when it comes in contact with sulphur, which your body contains and this contact forms toxic substances – Silver Salt. This is why Silver must be kept clean and polished regularly to prolong the quality.

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), also known as Teflon, is an amazing inert biomaterial with excellent biocompatibility characteristics. PTFE has amazing ‘Non-Stick’ properties, lymph does not stick to it. PTFE is also suitable for initial piercings and those taking a long time to heal. Perfect for work if you’re not allowed to wear jewellery, or if you’re going into hospital. PTFE Barbells are perfectly acceptable in the medical world for swapping with your existing jewellery for X-Rays, scans, operations and is also used in facial reconstruction and ear surgery. PTFE barbels are often used in navel piercings of pregnant women because of it’s flexibility; they bend to allow the stomach to expand.

BioFlex is independently judged to be biocompatible and benefits of use include minimised swelling, infections and faster healing times. According to the current state of knowledge BioFlex conforms to all world wide standards on use of body jewellery materials. BioFlex jewellery is flexible, making it ideal for industrial and facial applications – allowing movement will minimise risk of injury to any piercing. BioFlex jewellery is heat tolerant (suitable for autoclaving.) BioFlex jewellery can also be threaded by metal closures and cut to any length with a sharp blade. Unlike PTFE, BioFlex jewellery is available in many colours and shapes (Banana bars , Circular Bars , barbells , Labrets and Nose studs.)

PMMA (polymethyl-methacrylate) is a clear plastic often used as an alternative to glass. It is a shatterproof material as transparent as glass, allowing 92% of the sunlight to pass through. PMMA is light, hard, easy to polish and very durable. Silicone Body Piercing Jewellery is manufactured from certified biocompatible silicone acquired from one of Europe’s largest pharmaceutical suppliers.

Wood is a natural, porous (absorbent) material Due only recommended for mature/fully healed piercings or stretched ears. We do not recommend that wood is submerged in water for long periods of time and avoid any drastic changes in temperature or humidity.

Glass is most commonly worn in stretched piercings. The biocompatible characteristics of glass make it an ultra compatible material for implantation and for body jewellery wear. Many companies are now manufacturing jewellery from poor quality recycled glass, which means that its origins and qualities are flawed and untraceable. We supply only Borosilicate glass so there is absolutely no lead in any of our glass body jewellery. Every piece is hand crafted and inspected to perfect standards creating new products for a new generation.

Silicone piercing jewellery sold on BodyJewelleryShop is manufactured from certified biocompatible silicone, acquired from one of Europe’s largest pharmaceutical suppliers. Our silicone meets the requirements of the following: European Pharmacopoeia, Deutsches Arzneibuch, U.S. Pharmacopoeia Plastics of Class V1. Our silicone also meets the requiremements of EN30993 / ISO 10993, ‘Biological assessment of medical products’ and its’ biocompatibility is tested according to the guidelines of the Triparite Test of the U.S. Phamacopoeia. The dye has been mixed in a ratio of 1:300 and has passed the German BGA medical standard. All silicone is tested for 30 days continuous body implant, however all silicone accessories are intended for temporary application only and designed to cover 6mm barbell ball.

I think my piercing is infected, what should I do?

Infection will usually occur during the healing phase of the piercing, not necessarily as a result of the piercing process itself. Any type of surgical procedure, whether it is a tongue piercing or a kidney transplant, carries a risk of infection even if sterile technique is followed carefully. Good hand-washing is essential for the prevention of infection.

Common symptoms of infection include:

  • Pain and tenderness
  • Excessive redness around the piercing
  • Prolonged bleeding
  • Discharge of yellow or green pus
  • A change in your skin colour around the piercing area
  • Area will feel hot to the touch

The basic steps in treating a wound infection include cleaning the wound, draining infected material and applying heat to promote circulation and stimulate the body’s immune response. Antibiotics are sometimes used depending on the location and severity of the infection. Cleaning and drainage generally involve soaking the wound with a saline solution and removing debris; dead tissue, pus, dirt or other foreign material. In the case of an infected piercing, doctors will often request for the jewellery to be removed and the piercing to be left to heal. It is very important for the piercee to discuss with the physician that the jewellery should remain in place to act as a drain. If the jewellery is removed, the openings of the piercing will close up and the infection will not be able to drain, which can result in an abscess. An abscess is an infection that is trapped under the skin and is indicated by a darkening and hardening of the surrounding tissue, swelling and pain. In very rare cases of severe infection, where there is a lot of destruction of tissue in the area, the jewellery may need to be permanently removed and dead tissue and debris cut away for healing to occur. This should be clearly explained to the piercee if it appears to be necessary.

Moist heat is best for promoting healing of an infected piercing, so a warm, wet salt-water hot-compress applied to the area would be appropriate. Even more care must be taken with hand-washing and avoiding manipulation of the jewellery. Sheets and clothing in contact with the area should be changed at least daily. Promote circulation and a healthy immune system with good nutrition, avoiding alcohol, and quitting smoking. This is extremely important, if not essential to the healing process.

Antibiotics are typically necessary if the infection has spread beyond the immediate area of the wound. This as known as cellulitis and occurs when the body can no longer wall-off the infection. Redness, warmth to the touch and extreme tenderness extending more than a half inch from the piercing itself would be suspicious for cellulitis. In most cases, early treatment with antibiotics manages infection before it becomes severe.

Infected cartilage piercings such as the nose and upper ear will take longer to heal, as cartilage does not have its own blood supply; it depends on the surrounding tissues to provide oxygen and nutrients by diffusion. This also makes it more susceptible to infection and harder to treat. Destruction of cartilage by an infection can also lead to deformity of the ear or nasal contours. While most of these infections still clear well with early use of antibiotics, it is a risk that you should know about.

How do I measure for a Cock Ring?

To measure for your Cock Ring size, it is best if you measure twice, once while you are soft and once when erect. You will be able to see if there is a big difference because you need to fit it while you are soft; you do not want the piece to be too tight when erect.

To measure, get a piece of string or ribbon and wrap it around the area, you need to measure at the base of the penis and behind the scrotum. You can then either divide the length by 3.14 or place the string in a circle and measure across the centre. This will give you your diameter measurement.

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