Body Piercing is becoming more than just a trend

Body Piercing is becoming more than just a trend; it has become a culture in Bangalore.

There are traditional beliefs attached to nose and ear piercing. Earlier it was done by hand but now day’s youths can to go to a jeweler, the doctor or to a beauty salon and studios where the piercer will put a gun loaded with the stud against the significant body part and shoot it.

“Ear and Nose piercing has been their in India from decades and it has been done for beauty and aesthetic looks for the ladies and males too,” said Dr Ashok Patil, Physician and Piercing specialist.

He added that the conventional way of piercing has a risk factor and cause allergic reactions, bleeding, pain, bacterial infection, and viral infection and puss formation.

“I brought an ear piercing gadget (gunshot machine) in 1980 and this machine gives no pain, no bleeding and no infection,” said Dr. Patil.

He further added that body piercing is not advisable by Indian Medical Association and if it’s properly performed to the ear and nose, the risks can be minimized. In addition, the sterilized kits to be used to reduce the chances of infection.

“Don’t ever go for unlicensed piercer and always look for a professional ones whom you feel he or she hygienically safe,” said Aradhye Ackshatt, an engineering student.

He added that if piercing makes one feel good about how they look, it’s worth it and piercing can easily be removed if the look isn’t right or the person feels physical and mental discomfort.

He also believes that depending on the piercing and the sensitivity of the body part being pierced, he prefers hand piercing rather than gun.

“Piercing with gun on the upper ear frequently end with longer healing times and the gun was considered and used for piercing the ear lobes only,” said Dr Patil.

“I had an interest in it, I would call it an innate interest that had nothing to do with societal or fashion trends or sexual orientation trends but yes for sure it comes at a price,” said Sandeep Godara, ESPN Sports Channel, Administrator and Human Resource.

“It cost me 50 dollars for my left ear,” he said.

He added that body modification practices exist across cultures and transcend simply aesthetics and indigenous beauty standards. These practices are understood to be universal features of traditional societies, significations of status and belonging.


He also reveals that any kind of procedure which involves contact with blood or bodily fluids requires strict adherence to cross-contamination prevention and piercing guns are usually made with plastic and cannot be sterilized in an autoclave. They wipe it with alcohol or antiseptic in between uses.

“It is not unreasonable to guess that in a two-week training course, the pierces are not being taught about infection control and blood-borne pathogens and a quick wipe with a sterile pad is not effective in removing disease-carrying blood,” he said.

“I have been practicing ear piercing from back 20 years and using gun shot machine to pierce the ears and my customers has no complaint about it,” said Margaret Panthaki, a beautician

She added that the areas that used for piercing at least take a month to heal up without changing the studs.

“I am running this business from back 15 years and perform body, ear, nose and tongue piercing and charge from Rs 50 to 1000 depend upon the piercing,” said Viswanathan, a practitioner from US and UK tattoo and body piercing studio.

He added that we used US and UK products like gunshot machine, studs, and needles for our customers and the age of the customer ranges from 10 to 50 years of age.

“We are in this body piercing market from back one year and import material from US and export in India to the local jewellery shops, hospitals and local markets,” said Biju, a mechanical engineering student.

He added that it is advisable to keep the stud (earning) at least of minimum of three months without changing it and the customers prefer to theses US and UK products not the local brands.

“Nothing comes free, be it body piercing or anything else,” said Rupali Dhiman, SEO copywriter, Icronex Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

“Although I didn’t spend a fortune on my ear piercing in India, but I have couple of friends staying in abroad have spend around 20 to 30 dollars on this,” she said.

She added that I have four piercing in my both ears including tragus piercing in my left ear and all this including accessories cost around Rs 800.

However, the youth, which are exposed to western culture are following the trends otherwise piercing was always rampant among Hindu sadhus, not to mention the womenfolk throughout history.