Pros And Cons Comparison: Should You Get A Body Piercing?

Body piercing is a form of fashion art whose time has come. Are you someone who is ready to give it a try?

Getting your body pierced for beauty is a novel idea whose time has come. Actually, from the earliest dawn of humankind, piercing the body has symbolized a variety of responses to a range of circumstances, including the desire to appear fearsome, victorious, or alluring. In many cases it was a male warrior whose body held the greatest number of piercing designs, but females also had body parts pierced to symbolize a role or enhance a bodily function. Nowadays, it's all about fashion, but you don't want to try this phenomenon before giving it some thought.

If you have been thinking about having a body part pierced for fashion purposes, here are a few things to consider:

1. Pierced earlobes is the most longstanding body piercing that has come down to modern times. Formerly the mark of a slave as well as fashion adornments in most world cultures, pierced earrings have stood the test of time to once more surface as a major fashion statement. But now that look has multiplied, with a row of piercing that extends along the ear's cartilage. Ornaments may be the same or mixed and matched for a colorful effect. This may be the piercing to start with until you determine your personal degree of adventurousness.

2. Facial piercing is more visible to observers. Eyebrows, noses, chin, and tongues are the usual popular locations for gems to be placed. Some employers will not permit their workers to display them to clients while on the job. Younger people who traditionally have fewer social obligations or concerns about personal appearance and others' reactions may enjoy this type of piercing.

3. Body piercing can be exhibited with revealing clothes or kept private for personal enjoyment. For example, a pierced navel might be exposed with a short top or low-cut waist clothing. Geared toward recreational rather than professional appearances, a navel piercing seems to be favored more among youth than middle-aged fashionmongers. But famous folk of all ages have experimented with this type of body art.

4. Getting a body piercing means that you may have a permanent scar. If left in place long enough, a pierced opening will leave an indentation in the skin. Should you decide to remove the pierced jewelry, a tiny scar may remain visible for a long time, or always. Decide in advance if you can live with this.

5. Body piercing can bring on a skin infection. Some of these can become severe and require emergency treatment as well as closing of the hole. Other infections may need a course of antibiotics to clear up. Those with diabetes or other circulatory or nerve disorders should consult a doctor before having a body part pierced.

Before jumping on any fashion bandwagon, take time to weigh the pros and cons. You can always schedule an appointment to get a piercing done, but once it has been made, you can't as easily remove it. Be sure it's something you truly want that will accent your personal style before making a permanent commitment.

© Demand Media 2011