Piercing Info
Piercings are done on a walk-in only first come, first serve basis.
To get pierced, you must bring a valid photo ID such as a Driver's License or Passport.
MINORS under 18: Need parent or legal guardian present, a state or county birth certificate, AND a photo ID such as a student ID, year book photo, state ID, or Passport.
MINORS under 18: Need parent or legal guardian present, a state or county birth certificate, AND a photo ID such as a student ID, year book photo, state ID, or Passport.
Each piercing at Stockton Tattoo & Piercing is done by a highly trained professional using a single-use, laser-cut piercing needle. All jewelry used is put through a sterilization process using an autoclave.
Depending on location of piercing, the fee starts at $40 (includes jewelry). Call or email us if you have a question on a specific piece of jewelry or type of piercing and we'll be happy to assist.
PAYMENT
We accept cash, Master Card, Visa, American Express, any major credit card, Venmo or Zelle. All special orders must be paid in full upon ordering. All sales on body jewelry are final sale, no exceptions.
JEWELRY FOR FRESH PIERCINGS
PIERCING WITH IMPROPER JEWELRY
A fresh piercing with jewelry that’s too small and/or thin will put pressure on the piercing along the entrance and exit, which can lead to irritation, and can cause the body to respond by developing scar tissue or ‘bumps’ at the surface of the skin around the piercing.
JEWELRY DOWNSIZING
It’s important to get pierced with jewelry that will encourage your body’s natural healing process. Most fresh piercings are done with jewelry that is a little longer or larger in diameter than you will ultimately need. This is done to accommodate initial swelling and prevent any possible problems that can occur from incorrectly sized jewelry. Downsizing your jewelry once initial swelling has subsided, usually after 3-6 weeks, can be crucial to the proper healing of your piercing. Our piercer will help guide your initial jewelry selection and advise whether you’ll require downsizing at the time of your appointment.
PIERCING WITH OUTSIDE JEWELRY
Piercing jewelry is specifically designed to aid the healing process and differs from ready to wear jewelry (like butterfly back earrings). If you have a piece of body jewelry you would like to be pierced with, please bring it by for review by our piercer who will make the decision on a case by case basis.
BEFORE YOUR PIERCING
You will be asked to fill out a consent form. Please take care to read the questions carefully and answer each question truthfully to best assist you.
- Please don’t come on an empty stomach, and do not consume any alcohol or drugs before your appointment.
- Please bring a physical copy of your state or federal issued photo ID.
- Please let us know if you plan on flying soon, as high elevations may cause increased swelling and we want to ensure you have the correct sized jewelry.
AFTER YOUR PIERCING
Every healing process is different, impacted by your individual body, diet, climate, and lifestyle. Consistent aftercare and not touching, twisting, or interfering with the natural healing process should ensure a positive healing experience. Your body was designed to heal itself. Help it along by following the below guidelines and aftercare instructions, and please contact us with any questions or concerns.
- DO NOT treat your new piercing without first washing your hands with warm water and soap. Touching your piercing with unclean hands will inevitably introduce bacteria to the open wound.
- DO NOT touch, twist, or play with your new piercing. Any twisting or turning you do to your jewelry can irritate your piercing and rotate bacteria from your environment into your healing tissue.
- DO NOT use chemicals or any type of ointments on your piercing, as they will cause irritation and prolong healing time. This includes rubbing alcohol, peroxide, bactine, neosporin, bacitracin, tea tree oil, or other harsh chemicals.
- DO NOT submerge your piercing during the healing process. This includes the ocean, pools, baths, and hot tubs, to avoid exposure to infection-causing bacteria.
- DO NOT remove your jewelry yourself. If you need to take out your jewelry for a medical procedure, come by the shop and one of our piercers will do it for you.
- DO NOT listen to your friend’s advice over ours. Call or visit the shop, we have experience and we want to help.
- BE CAREFUL not to snag your new piercing. Watch out for towels, clothing, fibers, seatbelts, and purses.
- PLEASE NOTE: if you like your jewelry, keep it in. Once jewelry is removed, the hole will immediately start to shrink and it becomes difficult (if not impossible), to put your jewelry back in.
AVERAGE HEALING TIMES
Below you’ll find approximate healing times for different piercings. As every healing process is individual, these timelines are to be used as a guide. Your piercing may take longer or not as long to heal.
- BRIDGE: 3–4 months
- EAR LOBE: 3-4 months
- EAR CARTILAGE: 6–9 months
- EYEBROW: 3–4 months
- LIP: 3–4 months
- NOSTRIL: 6–9 months
- NIPPLE: 8-12 months
- NAVEL: 6–9 months
- SEPTUM: 2–3 months
- TONGUE: 2-4 months
- VERTICAL LABRET: 3–4 months
AFTERCARE METHODS
Your piercing is a wound that your body will work naturally to heal. Your job is to keep the piercing clean while your body does its job. As your piercing works to heal itself, it will inevitably discharge fluids and cells. To combat this, we recommend washing your new piercing twice daily – once in the AM and once in the PM – using a sterile saline wound wash such as NeilMed Piercing Aftercare Spray that contains water and .9% sodium chloride. Spray directly onto piercing twice a day, no rinsing necessary. Make sure you wash your hands with soap and warm water each time you wash or touch your new piercing.
You can purchase NeilMed Piercing Aftercare Spray at our shop, or sterile saline wound wash in the first aid aisle of most drug stores. If you are unable to access a sterile saline spray, as an absolute last resort, you can make a sea salt solution to hold you over temporarily until you are able to access a sterile saline spray:
Dissolve ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized (iodine free) sea salt into one cup (8 oz.) of warm water. Be sure ratio is precise, as using too much salt can irritate the piercing – a strong solution is not better. Soak your piercing in the cup of salt water or apply a compress of the solution, using saturated clean gauze or paper towel. Rinse thoroughly.
You can purchase NeilMed Piercing Aftercare Spray at our shop, or sterile saline wound wash in the first aid aisle of most drug stores. If you are unable to access a sterile saline spray, as an absolute last resort, you can make a sea salt solution to hold you over temporarily until you are able to access a sterile saline spray:
Dissolve ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized (iodine free) sea salt into one cup (8 oz.) of warm water. Be sure ratio is precise, as using too much salt can irritate the piercing – a strong solution is not better. Soak your piercing in the cup of salt water or apply a compress of the solution, using saturated clean gauze or paper towel. Rinse thoroughly.
ORAL PIERCINGS AFTERCARE
- Maintain excellent oral hygiene and rinse mouth twice daily with distilled water.
- Rinse mouth out after any eating, drinking, or smoking anything, except water.
- For the first few weeks, avoid foods that are hot in temperature, spicy, or high in citric acid, such as grapefruit and oranges, as well as highly fermented foods like beer, wine, and certain cheeses.
- To help reduce swelling in the initial weeks, try ice chips, sleeping with your head elevated over your heart, and over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines such as Ibuprofen.
- Once your piercing has healed, clean your jewelry regularly as plaque can build up on it, as it does on your teeth.
QUESTIONS? PROBLEMS?
Healing a piercing requires dedication. Remember that irritation does not necessarily mean infection. Please call, email, or stop by the shop with any questions or concerns. We’ve seen it all and we have much more reliable experience than google or your friends.
Healing a piercing requires dedication. Remember that irritation does not necessarily mean infection. Please call, email, or stop by the shop with any questions or concerns. We’ve seen it all and we have much more reliable experience than google or your friends.