People love the attention they get from a body piercing. Whether it is an ear piercing that is gold and dangles a few inches just to sway and get someone special’s attention. Or maybe it is a gold or multi-colored belly button ring that you where with that new bikini to show off that tan and flat stomach of yours.

Whatever you may want for a piercing, there is a place and a special ring to fit it. From piercing you belly button, up to you ears, and down to your private areas, anything now can have a piece of metal stuck in it to show it off for everyone to see.

Body Jewelry is the fashion statement of the future and not only applies to a piercing but also tattoos which will make you both beautiful and able to make a personal statement. From the physical attributes of a piercing to the sexual attributes of making your body more sensitive.

There is a problem however, businesses now are taking a harsh look at body jewelry so be careful. If applying for a new position at a company that wants a professional look you may have to try and hide your piercing or tattoo. Many do not understand why this is, so let me explain: the professional look is to promote uniformity in a company, not individuality, so someone with a nose ring or someone showing off a belly button ring that dangles may hurt a company’s image and therefore disqualify you for a job. So be very cautious if this is something you are considering, check the short term and long term of what this will do, these are permanent additions to your body.

Though body piercings might look good on you, not everyone will think the same.

SOURCE: American Family Physician; Center for Young Women's Health, Children's Hospital, Boston | GRAPHIC: The Washington Post - November 7, 2006

The best way to determine the amount of pain associated with a specific type of body piercing is to ask someone who has experienced the pain firsthand. This is also an excellent way to determine if you really want to have that specific part of your body pierced, since a pierced individual will be able to inform you of any complications, infection, or problems he or she has experienced with the body piercing.

Another way to determine the amount of pain associated with a body piercing is to speak with a piercer. These individuals who pierce a variety of body parts for a living are usually able to walk you through the entire process from cleaning the needle to the healing process.

Generally, tongue piercings are generally thought to be the most painful, but in actuality, many believe the belly button to be the most painful area to be pierced. The tongue has a tremendous healing capacity, allowing it to quickly bounce back from any sort of trauma. Generally, tongue piercing is most associated with swelling, but little bleeding or pain. Belly buttons tend to have the greatest problems associated with piercing since the belly button takes an extremely long time to heal. Often, the belly button can take up to one year to heal completely, and is often prolonged due to the position on the body. Jewelry is likely to become snagged on clothing, therefore irritating the wound further.

Most piercers use a type of cooling spray or numbing lotion that will temporarily freeze the area and prevent pain. Ask the piercing parlor where you intend to have your piercing done to see if this is an option. Also, many piercers use well practiced techniques to lessen the pain as much as possible.

If you are concerned about the pain, bring a friend or companion to accompany you on your piercing adventure. Be sure to avoid taking any medications or alcohol before you visit a piercer, since piercers will not allow you into their salon if they believe you to be under the influence of any potential medications.