Keep your original jewelry in until your piercing is fully healed,
and let a piercer make the first change. Changing it too early can irritate the piercing, tear the tissue, and set healing back.
Why not change it yourself
A piercing can look healed on the outside while the inside is still fragile.
Healing piercings can shrink or close within minutes once the jewelry comes out.
Forcing jewelry through a fresh channel damages the tissue.
Downsizing
Many piercings start with longer jewelry to make room for swelling. Once the swelling goes down, your piercer will swap it for a shorter piece. This is one change that often happens before healing is complete, and it should always be done in the shop.
Jewelry changes at the shop
We offer jewelry changes for healed and healing piercings. We only carry high-quality, implant-grade titanium jewelry, so you get a piece that's safe for your piercing.
Once it's healed
Keep jewelry in at all times. Even healed piercings can shrink.
Check threaded and threadless ends now and then to make sure they're tight. Use clean hands.
Choose implant-grade titanium or other high-quality metals. Nickel causes most metal allergies.
If jewelry has to come out for a medical procedure, ask us for a non-metal option to hold the piercing open.
Sources
Association of Professional Piercers, Aftercare
Association of Professional Piercers, Suggested Aftercare for Body Piercings
Mayo Clinic, Piercings: How to prevent complications
