Anesthetic

Anesthetic is a numbing agent used to prevent pain and discomfort during piercing. The use of anesthetic for piercing procedures is a controversial subject. Many piercers refuse to use any form of an anesthetic or will only use a numbing agent if the client absolutely insists on it. There are many reasons for this. The prime reason is that the client needs to be able to feel where the piercing is located so they can communicate if the needle is not positioned properly. In this sense, not using an anesthetic is actually a safety measure during the piercing procedure. Many piercers also claim that anesthetics prolong the healing process and actually make the procedure more painful once the topical agent wears off. Finally, there are some people who believe that the pain is an integral part of the piercing experience. For these reasons, there are many piercers who do not use anesthetics during the procedure.

If you really want or need an anesthetic for a piercing procedure, make sure to tell this to your piercer. Never take any medications or apply any creams without consulting your piercer since it can cause further problems. The piercer has to be the one to apply the anesthetic. Typically, the anesthetics used for piercing procedures are topical creams and numbing sprays. In some mild cases, ice can be used to cool and numb the area. After the procedure, you can take some oral painkillers to prevent discomfort but keep in mind that these pills don’t work beforehand and can’t be used as an anesthetic.