Should I use an Unlicensed Body Piercer?
Thanks to the internet, it is now easier than ever for people to get hold of body piercing equipment such as a piercing gun. These items are available from international websites and can be purchased by anyone without regulation. This means that an increasing number of people are offering body piercing services from their own homes.
Some people only offer these services to their friends and family, whereas others choose to sell their services to members of the public. These piercers normally offer their services for much less than a professional parlour could, but is it really worth it to make a saving?
Licensing Laws
In the United Kingdom, anyone who is performing a piercing in exchange for money or an alternative form of payment is required to obtain a special license. This helps to regulate the industry to ensure that minimum standards are met. Anyone who is operating without a license is therefore operating illegally.
Although it is not an offense to use an unlicensed provider, supporting an unlicensed business can result in vulnerable people being put at risk. It is also unlikely that an unlicensed business is contributing to the national tax system.
Hygiene standards
People who carry out piercings in their kitchen or on their sofa are unlikely to meet the hygiene standards that are required when doing a piercing. Failing to follow hygiene guidelines can increase the risk of infection developing after the procedure. Although most infections are relatively minor and can be treated with over-the-counter products, infections can easily become more serious if they are not treated properly.
Sharing needles and piercing equipment is not recommended. If the piercing equipment has not been sterilised before use, it is possible that blood borne diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis could be transmitted from person to person. The types of piercing guns that are available to purchase over the internet are very hard to clean and sterilise properly, meaning that they are highly likely to spread infection.
Lack of training
Although no formal qualifications are required to become a professional piercer, most piercers are able to attend informal training sessions and go to piercing conventions. This enables them to share knowledge and gain essential skills that are required to make a living out of body modification. These skills are essential for people who want to perform more unusual types of body piercing.
Casual piercers are unlikely to have the same skill set, and therefore they should never be used for exotic or unusual piercings. If mistakes are made in these types of piercings, the consequences can be far more serious. Failing to understand the procedures properly may also mean that they do not understand the aftercare requirements either. Poor aftercare can lead to infections or may result in the body rejecting the piercing.
Medical Care
Most professional piercers will have some first aid skills or medical knowledge so that they know what to do if something does go wrong. They should have the tools and equipment required to deal with basic issues, and they should be able to identify if something isn’t quite right following a piercing. Most professional piercers will understand what to do if a client feels faint or dizzy after a piercing.
Home piercers are less likely to understand how to react if there is a problem. They may not recognise the signs and symptoms of the medical issues which are caused by poor piercings. Likewise, they may also be eager to distance themselves from any problems that do occur. This can result in customers failing to seek medical help when they need it.
No Insurance
If a piercer is operating without a license, then they will not be covered by the right kind of insurance. This means that if something does go wrong with the procedure then it can be much harder to get your money back or claim compensation. In the most serious cosmetic compensation claims, compensation can be worth thousands, however the claimant may never receive their full award if they have used an uninsured piercer.
No Consumer Support
Unlicensed piercers are not covered by any industry body or industry standards. This means that you will not be able to turn to any major body for support if you do experience an issue.
Industry bodies often work with local authorities to continue to improve professional parlours. However, there is no major driver working to improve unlicensed sellers. Likewise, fewer reviews are available for unlicensed sellers. As these sellers are flying under the radar, you will not find reviews for them on major business review sites. This means that you may not be able to get an accurate idea about the quality of their work.
Although the choice is yours when it comes to your body modifications, it is recommended that you always choose to use a licensed body modification artist for any body piercings.