Body Piercing And Tattoos

Fashion trend: eyeball jewelry

2006-01-31T04:39:00.000-08:00

Fashion trend: eyeball jewelry
Body piercing is so 1990s. From Holland comes the newest thing, pierced eyeballs.
Body piercing and tattoos make way. The latest fashion trend to hit the Netherlands is eyeball jewellery.

The procedure involves inserting a 3.5 mm (0.13 inch) wide piece of specially developed jewellery — the range includes a glittering half-moon or heart — into the eye’s mucous membrane under local anaesthetic at a cost of 500 to 1,000 euros ($1,232).
“In my view it is a little more subtle than (body) piercing. It is a bit of a fun thing and a very personal thing for people,” said Gerrit Melles, director of the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery (www.NIIOC.nl).
The piece of jewellery is inserted in the conjunctiva — the mucous membrane lining the inner surface of the eyelids and front of the eyeball — in sterile conditions using an operating microscope in a procedure taking about 15 minutes.
“Without doing any harm to the eye we can implant a jewel in the conjunctiva,” Melles said. “So far we have not seen any side effects or complications and we don’t expect any in the future.”
The Rotterdam-based institute, which develops new ocular surgical techniques in corneal, cataract and retinal surgery, developed and patented the jewellery made with special materials and the surgical procedure.
The institute, which carries out the procedure in cooperation with an eye clinic near the city of Utrecht, said it has a waiting list for people who wanted the implant.

Bad-ass Brass Knuckle Implants

2006-01-21T17:46:00.000-08:00

Bad-ass Brass Knuckle Implants

[POSTED BY SHANNON LARRATT]
Earlier today I was looking at some fancy-pants Rhinestone brass knuckles on boingboing. If people think that's cool, check out Krissy's implanted silicone brass implants by Joe Amato in Florida. You may also remember Joe as one of the gonzo piercers who brought us eyelid piercing.

The procedure took a few hours (after which Krissy went back to work the same day) with most of the time being spent laying anchor stitches to reduce shifting. Healing was uneventful with some bruising and swelling for the first week. Mederma treatment is starting soon to minimize the insertion scar.

Parents given a say with regards to children’s piercings and tattoos

2005-12-18T02:21:00.000-08:00

Parents given a say with regards to children’s piercings and tattoos
El Paso parents were given some power back Tuesday.
A new city ordinance now makes it illegal for minors to get a tattoo, and body piercings must now require parental consent.
These new requirements will affect tattoo parlors and piercing shops all over the city. They are part of a new set of state laws that went into effect in order to give parents more say on what happens to their children’s bodies.
City council passed the new ordinances Tuesday.
One makes it illegal for anyone to tattoo a person under the age of 18, and another ordinance slaps a felony charge on to anyone who body pierces a minor under the age of 18 without parental consent.
Body piercing shops and tattoo parlors must now get a permit from the city, in addition to a license from the state.
There was some concern raised by City Representative Anthony Cobos, who wondered if these new requirements will create underground piercing shops.
But officials with the City-County Health Department said the new ordinances will give local police the authority to shut down illegal shops.
Officials with the City-County Health Department plan to meet with owners of these shops in the coming week to discuss when to put the new ordinance into effect.

Tattoo, body piercing had to be regulated

2005-12-18T02:12:00.000-08:00

The tattoo and body-piercing industry badly needed to be regulated in the state. ThatвЂ™s why the General Assembly took the appropriate step recently in enforcing an amendment that was passed in 2002 вЂ“ an amendment that had been unused due to a lack of administrative regulation. Under the new regulations, beginning April 1, children under the age of 18 must have written, notarized permission from their parents in order to get a tattoo or a piercing. Body-piercing businesses would also have to apply for registration and a certificate from the local health department. This is just common sense. Local health departments, which will be regulating the facilities, will be making routine checks to ensure that businesses are following state guidelines. Enforcement is crucial in order for this to work. Another vital part of the amendment holds piercing businesses to the same health guidelines as tattoo parlors. This will ensure that the facilities use sanitized tools to perform their procedures. It could also cut down on diseases that are spread through the use of needles and unsanitary practices. Most business owners werenвЂ™t upset with the new law and actually say that they welcome it. Jon Fowler, manager of TopperвЂ™s Fineline Tattoos and Pro Body Piercing, said that the new regulations wouldnвЂ™t affect his business much. вЂњWe followed the regulations of cleanliness before, too, but itвЂ™s about time they passed some regulation,вЂќ Fowler said. вЂњSome people get in this industry and donвЂ™t take it seriously. They just get into it for the dollar bills.вЂќ Others in the business, such as Brad Ausbrooks, tattoo artist at Artistic Encounter, said that the law might actually help because it would make 18-year-olds want a tattoo or piercing more. This could be true, and when they turn 18 it is ultimately their choice. But at least they will have a few years to mature before making that critical decision. Under these guidelines, the tattoo and body-piercing businesses will be better regulated and some children will make more informed decisions at 18 than they would at an earlier age.

Tattoo, body piercing places face standards

2005-07-18T02:32:00.000-07:00

Tattoo, body piercing places face standards
When I was growing up, teenage girls were allowed one and only one ear piercing.
It was not cool for any male to have any kind of piercing. Tattoos were not widely accepted either. People who sported tattoos and body piercing back then were looked upon with some disdain. For the most part, the places that did the tattooing and piercing were not widely accepted either. Times have changed. Nowadays, from the nose to the toes, it seems like body piercing and tattooing is becoming more popular everyday. At the same time, the tattoo and piercing industry has, for the most part, become regulated. Those regulations have brought up business and sanitation standards to help insure that your son, daughter, husband, wife, father, or mother will receive a quality service without fear of having a bad experience. If you or anyone you know is looking to be pierced, prodded, or poked, look for some of the following standards before you take the plunge:The Texas Department of Health requires all tattoo and body piercing businesses to be licensed. The business must display the license in a conspicuous place. Tattooists and piercers must also be registered with the Department of Health. Use only a licensed business that employs registered employees. The business must also keep a permanent record of all tattoos and piercings performed. Businesses that perform only ear piercing are exempt from the license and registration requirements.A person must be at least 18 years of age to receive a tattoo in the State of Texas. Persons younger than 18 may have tattoos that are deemed offensive or questionable removed with the consent of their parents. Parents or guardians may appear with a person who is less than 18 years of age to give their consent. Consent may also be given in the form of an affidavit, however, there are additional requirements that apply in preparation of the affidavit. A person must also be 18 years of age to receive a body piercing in the State of Texas. Parents may give consent for those younger than 18 by appearing in person with them. Written consent may also be given, however, the process is more restrictive and the consent must specify what part of the body is to be pierced. Neither the person performing the tattoo or piercing, nor the person receiving the tattoo or piercing can be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Businesses must also keep their equipment clean and sterile and unused equipment must be kept in clean dust-tight containers. In addition to these important basic rules, there are a number of administrative rules placed on tattoo and piercing businesses. For more information on existing laws or to file a complaint about a business, contact the Texas Department of Health at 512-424-6500, or visit the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 146 on the internet at www.state.tx.us and the go to laws and statutes section. Make sure your experience with tattooing or piercing is a good one. For more information on this or any other crime prevention topic, contact the Conroe Police Department Crime Prevention Unit at 756-5588, ext. 2250, 2327 or 2226.

New Body Piercing Laws Take Effect Thursday

2005-07-14T02:29:00.000-07:00

New Body Piercing Laws Take Effect Thursday
Body piercing is very popular among young people these days but parents wonder who is wathcing out to make sure it’s done right and safely.
Right now, nobody is, but that’s about to change.
Anyone can perform body piercing in Kentucky without registering with state health officials and there’s no safeguards to stop anyone from performing piercings on minors but starting Thursday the state is cracking down and legitimate piercing parlors said they couldn’t be happier.
Chelsie Iscoe considers herself a piercing expert.
She is a professional body peircer at Mother’s in Covington and has perfromed hundreds of piercings, it is something she takes very seriously.
“Pretty much you’re taking somebody else’s life in your hands and your own as well,” said Iscoe.
Kentucky health officials agree. That’s why starting Thursday, they’re requiring the registration and certification of all piercing studio’s and body piercers.
Even if you’re just getting you’re ears pierced health officials said you should now make sure that business is certified.
“There are diseases that can result from piercing operations, anytime the skin is broken,” said John Merkle, Kenton County Health Department.
“Everything touching you today is coming out of sterile packaging. Here’s my little indicators showing you that everything has been properly cleaned,” said Iscoe.
Piercing studios will have to display proof of registration and undergo inspections, health officials will check to make sure facilities are kept clean and safe and equipment is sterilized.
“If they’re not pulling out packages, if they’ve got the tools laid out in front of you before you even get back there, that’s a bad sign,” Merkle said.
Iscoe said anyone performing a piercing should wear gloves and change them several times during each piercing.
And starting Thursday anyone under the age of 18 must provide notarized consent from a parent or legal guardian before getting pierced.
Iscoe said that’s just common sense.
“It’s not a fashion statement, it’s a personal change. You’re altering your body,” Iscoe said.
Ohio and Indiana already have state regulations for body piercing.

Ouch! Complaints rise about bungled piercings

2005-07-10T02:27:00.000-07:00

Ouch! Complaints rise about bungled piercings
There were seven complaints to local medical offices about botched and infected body piercings last year, but no one is sure if any of the faulty procedures were performed at licensed businesses in Ocean City.During the summer of 2003, the Worcester County Health Department received seven complaints about botched or infected body piercings, up one from the previous year, through six medical offices and Atlantic General Hospital.
Three of the reports received by the health department did not name the piercing establishment. Two noted that the jobs were performed outside of Worcester County and two were done by friends.
Most of the patients were teen-agers, including three 16-year olds and one 17-year-old. The other two patients were ages 21 and 31.
Three of seven complaints were related to infection, but one was questionable and not further investigated. Another complaint was about bleeding from the pierced site; one questioned the location of the piercing and one involved skin healing over the jewelry.
Of the seven cases, four were severe enough to warrant the patients visiting the doctorвЂ™s office, two required follow-up medical attention and one needed surgical intervention. Only one case required a repeat office visit.
Three reports were received in June, three in July and one in August. Doctors treating the patients said the piercings ranged from the same day to four months old.
Last year only 10 businesses, down three from the previous year, were permitted by the health department to perform body piercing. All of the shops were located in Ocean City. Of the 13 that had permits in 2002, only nine renewed and one existing facility was re-permitted under new ownership. No new businesses were permitted.
“Our number of establishments hasnвЂ™t been going up. ItвЂ™s actually been decreasing a little,” Debbie Goeller, county health officer, said.
Just 13 piercers were licensed last year, down from 16 in 2002. Only 11 of those licensed in 2002 renewed their permits for 2003 and two new piercers were permitted.Of the five who gave up their licenses, three left the area, one had the license revoked and one just didnвЂ™t reapply.
Six of the people licensed last year were permitted to pierce in more than one shop, more than in the two previous seasons. In some cases, the piercers were working for the same business owner at multiple establishments.
The health department received complaints about two unlicensed piercers, one in Berlin and one in Pocomoke, who were allegedly piercing underage patrons using unsafe practices. However no action was taken because the people were not willing to name the piercers or act as witnesses.
One person also alleged that there was an unpermitted Boardwalk business offering piercing. The Ocean City Police Department investigated but could not verify the complaint.
Two complaints were about improper practices, not providing proper post piercing information, in piercing shops in the Boardwalk. The were also investigated and determined to be unfounded
Another complaint alleging improper practices at a shop could not be investigated because the woman admitted that she was so intoxicated before and during the procedure that she couldnвЂ™t remember where she was pierced.
One business and piercer were each suspended by the health department for 10 days in June for piercing an underage patron. Another business and piercer were suspended for 10 days in July for piercing an underage person as well as not getting copies of identification for nine patrons. A third business and piercer each received 20-day suspensions in September for piercing two underage people in August.
The Worcester County Commissioners agreed on March 16 to keep the body piercing permit and license fees the same for the coming year at $590 for an individual piercer license and $ 2,945 for the establishment permit. Goeller said costs for administering the program have remained relatively unchanged.
In order to coordinate the permit year with the countyвЂ™s fiscal year, Geoller recommended extending the life of the permits and licenses for this year only from 12 to 15 months.
Health officials conducted 53 routine inspections of the permitted businesses through October and made 85 additional visits for various reasons, such as spore testing of sterilization equipment prior to reopening for the season, dissemination of information, retesting after a business failed a test, facility walk-throughs and investigations.
Sixty-four spore tests were conducted and only one piece of equipment failed. The test was repeated and the equipment passed.
Worcester County adopted its skin penetrating body adornment code in April 2001. The health department handles the permitting and licenses, keeps an out of for medical issues and investigations complaints.
Wor-Wic Community College provides the required training for new piercers through a health and safety course for practitioners.

Court Affirms Nipple Piercing Conviction

2005-07-03T02:24:00.000-07:00

Court Affirms Nipple Piercing Conviction
The state Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction of an Albuquerque shop owner who offered free nipple piercing if customers underwent the procedure in the store’s window. In 2002, Renee Sachs was convicted of violating Albuquerque’s ordinance banning nudity in a public place. She received a 90-day deferred sentence.
In a 3-0 ruling Tuesday, the Appeals Court also upheld the constitutionality of the city’s public nudity ban.
Sachs’ attorney, Jeffrey Dempsey of Albuquerque, said his client would continue with her legal challenge by asking the court to rehear the case or petition the state Supreme Court to review the ruling.
Sachs ran an advertisement two years ago promoting the free nipple piercing. The first customer to undergo the procedure in the shop’s window was a man and the second was a woman.
When police arrived at the tattoo and body piercing shop, a woman was sitting in the window exposing her breasts as she had her nipples pierced. Several people on the sidewalk were watching.
Sachs was convicted of violating the city’s ordinance that bans nudity in public and prohibits store owners from allowing people to be nude in a public place of business.
The Appeals Court ruled that the ordinance did not violate the Equal Rights Amendment of the New Mexico Constitution or the state’s Human Rights Act, which prohibits gender-based discrimination.
In her appeal, Sachs contended that the ordinance was unconstitutional because it discriminated against women by prohibiting the public exposure of a female breast but not a male breast. She also argued that the ordinance forced her to offer body piercing services in a way that discriminated on the basis of sex.
The court disagreed.
“The city ordinance does not prohibit public nudity of women while allowing public nudity by men,” the court said in an opinion written by Judge Michael Vigil. “It recognizes that females and males have different anatomies, so the objective is accomplished in a nondiscriminatory manner.”
The court also concluded that nipple piercing is not a form of expression protected by the First Amendment.
“The Court of Appeals found that the city nudity ordinance did not operate to the disadvantage of women. We disagree with that,” said Dempsey. “For example, if it had said that Caucasian people can take their shirts off and all others cannot, it seems hard for me to see how that would not operate to the disadvantage of people of color. We think this is the same thing.”

Georgia House bans genital piercings

2005-07-02T02:22:00.000-07:00

Georgia House bans genital piercings
Genital piercings for women were banned by the Georgia House Wednesday as lawmakers considered a bill outlining punishments for female genital mutilation.
The bill would make such mutilation punishable by two to 20 years in prison. It makes no exception for people who give consent to have the procedure performed on their daughters out of religious or cultural custom.
An amendment adopted without objection added “piercing” to the list of things that may not be done to female genitals. Even adult women would not be allowed to get the procedure. The bill eventually passed 160-0, with no debate.
Amendment sponsor Rep. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, was slack-jawed when told after the vote that some adults seek the piercings.
“What? I’ve never seen such a thing,” Heath said. “I, uh, I wouldn’t approve of anyone doing it. I don’t think that’s an appropriate thing to be doing.”
The ban applies only to women, not men. The bill has already been approved by the Senate but now must return to that chamber because of the piercing amendment. Both chambers of the Legislature must agree on a single version of a bill before it can go to the governor for final approval.

Underage Body Piercing

2005-07-01T02:14:00.000-07:00

Underage Body Piercing
Body piercings are becoming increasingly popular, especially among teenagers. There are rules regarding how old you have to be to get the work done, but apparently not everyone’s abiding by them.
You may consider body piercing a modern mark of self-expression, but this tradition is actually believed to have started five-thousand-years ago.
Of course, times have changed. Now many states and cities regulate body piercing.
For instance, in Philadelphia, if you’re under 18 - you have to bring a parent along. And both of you must show I-D. If you’re under 16 - you also have to have a doctor’s note.
“Do all the piercers here follow those age requirements and do they know what they are?”“Yeah.”So how did 16-year-old Karen get this? “Karen”/DOYLESTOWN, PA.:
“I still like it. I’m glad I got it done.”Her father isn’t. He says he knew nothing about the piercing until it was too late. “Jack”/DOYLESTOWN, PA.:
“I’m still upset.”“I can’t believe that a decision that I was entitled to make was taken away from me for sixty dollars.”Karen says she got her piercing at Fat’s Tat on South Street without either parent present. So we got curious - would Fat’s Tat break the law with our hidden cameras rolling? To find out - we sent in a 17-year-old volunteer who asked for a nose piercing. She is never asked for identification and the piercer is just about to execute the procedure before our minor calls it quits.
“The girl you see in the chair is under 18 and he’s just about to pierce her nose. What do you think about that?”“Terrible.”But this same Piercer who tells us his name is Tom looks a lot like the guy in our undercover video and doesn’t seem all that remorseful. This doesn’t disturb you or bother you?”“Not really. It happens once in a while.”“Jack”:
“They should be out of business. I think that this city needs to do something about it.”So we showed our video to Philadelphia’s Department of Health and Safety. Richard Zipin/PHILA. DEPT. OF HEALTH:
“This is a very serious issue.”Inspector Richard Zipin is in charge of monitoring body piercing establishments. “This individual at this shop should have asked for that identification and made records of that allegation by the individual that they are that age to retain that for the records.”The attorney for Fats Tats says the owner is appalled by our findings. He says quote, “it’s a shame. We apologize. It shouldn’t have happened and we will do everything in our power to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Fats Tats also says all piercers are independent contractors and Tom is no longer allowed on the premises. Action News did visit a number of body piercing shops in Philadelphia and in New Jersey. Fats Tat was the only one that did not ask our underage volunteer for identification.