A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Chain Link Piercings Gone Bad (Well, Duh!)

So the fifteen year old DIY-piercer in this photo came in to Color Works in West Des Moines, Iowa with their mother after their doctor refused to help with the problem he’d caused. He’d decided to do the piercings himself — a pair of lip rings and a septum — using, and I kid you not, pieces of chain link that he’d clipped off with wire cutters. They weren’t pierced in place — they were just “crushed” in place with a pair of pliers and brutally crimped into his flesh!

Evan removed them (and one was even rusted), cleaned him up, and told him to go back to the doctor. While Evan was dealing with the problem, the kid refused to stop touching the problem areas no matter how much he was told, and his mother let his four little brothers and sisters come running into the piercing room from the lobby, upon which the one kid immediately starts going through the garbage. Jarret (who took the photos) got them under control as the mother told him about how she’d tried to cut the piercings out with scissors. Darwin Award anyone?

Seriously, this is why in my opinion laws need to allow young people to get body piercings. “18+” and “16+” laws do nothing but hurt young people. Doctors don’t give a fuck and don’t know what they’re talking about most of the time and are so constrained by liability insurance that they often can’t help even if they want to, parents are clueless, and there are plenty of fly-by-night shops and nomadic piercers willing to abuse pierce kids anyway… High quality shops need to be accessible to people of all ages, because the fact is, people of all ages want piercings, and they’ll get them one way or another.

Comments

904 responses to “Chain Link Piercings Gone Bad (Well, Duh!)”

  1. Fredex Avatar
    Fredex

    It is people like that who give things a bad name for everyone. I mean most people if they choose to do the piercings themselves will actually pierce with a needle rather than just crushing it on with pliers, I can’t see how he even though it would work.

  2. Fredex Avatar
    Fredex

    It is people like that who give things a bad name for everyone. I mean most people if they choose to do the piercings themselves will actually pierce with a needle rather than just crushing it on with pliers, I can’t see how he even though it would work.

  3. Fredex Avatar
    Fredex

    It is people like that who give things a bad name for everyone. I mean most people if they choose to do the piercings themselves will actually pierce with a needle rather than just crushing it on with pliers, I can’t see how he even though it would work.

  4. Fredex Avatar
    Fredex

    It is people like that who give things a bad name for everyone. I mean most people if they choose to do the piercings themselves will actually pierce with a needle rather than just crushing it on with pliers, I can’t see how he even though it would work.

  5. rx_queen Avatar
    rx_queen

    this is so stupid, why the hell would you “crush” it in?!
    if you wanted three piercings that badly, surley you’d look up how to do it in a book or on the internet.. or something, does he think piercers use rusty pieces of chain… ahhhhh this is horrible!

  6. rx_queen Avatar
    rx_queen

    this is so stupid, why the hell would you “crush” it in?!
    if you wanted three piercings that badly, surley you’d look up how to do it in a book or on the internet.. or something, does he think piercers use rusty pieces of chain… ahhhhh this is horrible!

  7. rx_queen Avatar
    rx_queen

    this is so stupid, why the hell would you “crush” it in?!
    if you wanted three piercings that badly, surley you’d look up how to do it in a book or on the internet.. or something, does he think piercers use rusty pieces of chain… ahhhhh this is horrible!

  8. rx_queen Avatar
    rx_queen

    this is so stupid, why the hell would you “crush” it in?!
    if you wanted three piercings that badly, surley you’d look up how to do it in a book or on the internet.. or something, does he think piercers use rusty pieces of chain… ahhhhh this is horrible!

  9. stabbyLOVE Avatar
    stabbyLOVE

    This still makes angry.

  10. stabbyLOVE Avatar
    stabbyLOVE

    This still makes angry.

  11. stabbyLOVE Avatar
    stabbyLOVE

    This still makes angry.

  12. stabbyLOVE Avatar
    stabbyLOVE

    This still makes angry.

  13. Jezika Avatar
    Jezika

    he’s a scrummy looking kid anyway even if 18+ & 16+ laws weren’t in place he looks as if he wouldn’t have the cash to get them done professionally. lol

  14. Jezika Avatar
    Jezika

    he’s a scrummy looking kid anyway even if 18+ & 16+ laws weren’t in place he looks as if he wouldn’t have the cash to get them done professionally. lol

  15. Jezika Avatar
    Jezika

    he’s a scrummy looking kid anyway even if 18+ & 16+ laws weren’t in place he looks as if he wouldn’t have the cash to get them done professionally. lol

  16. Jezika Avatar
    Jezika

    he’s a scrummy looking kid anyway even if 18+ & 16+ laws weren’t in place he looks as if he wouldn’t have the cash to get them done professionally. lol

  17. sarah schizm Avatar

    What a fucking idoit

  18. sarah schizm Avatar

    What a fucking idoit

  19. sarah schizm Avatar

    What a fucking idoit

  20. sarah schizm Avatar

    What a fucking idoit

  21. coley Avatar

    im 13 and have my nose pierced….it depends on how the acual individual cleans there piercing. i’ve had no problems…..so far …..:)

  22. coley Avatar

    im 13 and have my nose pierced….it depends on how the acual individual cleans there piercing. i’ve had no problems…..so far …..:)

  23. coley Avatar

    im 13 and have my nose pierced….it depends on how the acual individual cleans there piercing. i’ve had no problems…..so far …..:)

  24. coley Avatar

    im 13 and have my nose pierced….it depends on how the acual individual cleans there piercing. i’ve had no problems…..so far …..:)

  25. abigail Avatar
    abigail

    i honestly believe that people need to be educated in schools about piercings and tattoos and maybe there wouldnt be so many stupid kids doing their own. it frustrates me when kids come into the shop i work in and try to tell me the law. the funniest one is that aparently british law states you can have a tattoo under 16 if its YOUR OWN NAME and 16-18 parental consent. these kids dont have a clue because NO ONE TELLS THEM.

  26. abigail Avatar
    abigail

    i honestly believe that people need to be educated in schools about piercings and tattoos and maybe there wouldnt be so many stupid kids doing their own. it frustrates me when kids come into the shop i work in and try to tell me the law. the funniest one is that aparently british law states you can have a tattoo under 16 if its YOUR OWN NAME and 16-18 parental consent. these kids dont have a clue because NO ONE TELLS THEM.

  27. abigail Avatar
    abigail

    i honestly believe that people need to be educated in schools about piercings and tattoos and maybe there wouldnt be so many stupid kids doing their own. it frustrates me when kids come into the shop i work in and try to tell me the law. the funniest one is that aparently british law states you can have a tattoo under 16 if its YOUR OWN NAME and 16-18 parental consent. these kids dont have a clue because NO ONE TELLS THEM.

  28. abigail Avatar
    abigail

    i honestly believe that people need to be educated in schools about piercings and tattoos and maybe there wouldnt be so many stupid kids doing their own. it frustrates me when kids come into the shop i work in and try to tell me the law. the funniest one is that aparently british law states you can have a tattoo under 16 if its YOUR OWN NAME and 16-18 parental consent. these kids dont have a clue because NO ONE TELLS THEM.

  29. beccababes Avatar
    beccababes

    omg. that looks painful.
    i can see where he was coming from wantin to fo them himself because the pathetic law says were are not allowed piercings like this.
    im 14 and i have so far pierced my own navel, upper lip frenulum, nose,snakebites and earlobes 9 times and i actually used the proper equiptment and cleaning products.
    however thats not the point
    the point is i wouldny have had to do that if ithe law had allowed me to have piercings at this age
    the law should be lowered to age 14+
    then stupid teenagers like me would not have to use pathetic and frankly dangerous self piercing eqquiptments like the boy in the pictures.

  30. beccababes Avatar
    beccababes

    omg. that looks painful.
    i can see where he was coming from wantin to fo them himself because the pathetic law says were are not allowed piercings like this.
    im 14 and i have so far pierced my own navel, upper lip frenulum, nose,snakebites and earlobes 9 times and i actually used the proper equiptment and cleaning products.
    however thats not the point
    the point is i wouldny have had to do that if ithe law had allowed me to have piercings at this age
    the law should be lowered to age 14+
    then stupid teenagers like me would not have to use pathetic and frankly dangerous self piercing eqquiptments like the boy in the pictures.

  31. beccababes Avatar
    beccababes

    omg. that looks painful.
    i can see where he was coming from wantin to fo them himself because the pathetic law says were are not allowed piercings like this.
    im 14 and i have so far pierced my own navel, upper lip frenulum, nose,snakebites and earlobes 9 times and i actually used the proper equiptment and cleaning products.
    however thats not the point
    the point is i wouldny have had to do that if ithe law had allowed me to have piercings at this age
    the law should be lowered to age 14+
    then stupid teenagers like me would not have to use pathetic and frankly dangerous self piercing eqquiptments like the boy in the pictures.

  32. beccababes Avatar
    beccababes

    omg. that looks painful.
    i can see where he was coming from wantin to fo them himself because the pathetic law says were are not allowed piercings like this.
    im 14 and i have so far pierced my own navel, upper lip frenulum, nose,snakebites and earlobes 9 times and i actually used the proper equiptment and cleaning products.
    however thats not the point
    the point is i wouldny have had to do that if ithe law had allowed me to have piercings at this age
    the law should be lowered to age 14+
    then stupid teenagers like me would not have to use pathetic and frankly dangerous self piercing eqquiptments like the boy in the pictures.

  33. gabb, Avatar
    gabb,

    in australia you can get all non-genital piercings at any age as long as you have parental/legal guardian consent
    yay us (y)

  34. gabb, Avatar
    gabb,

    in australia you can get all non-genital piercings at any age as long as you have parental/legal guardian consent
    yay us (y)

  35. gabb, Avatar
    gabb,

    in australia you can get all non-genital piercings at any age as long as you have parental/legal guardian consent
    yay us (y)

  36. gabb, Avatar
    gabb,

    in australia you can get all non-genital piercings at any age as long as you have parental/legal guardian consent
    yay us (y)

  37. snakelady1956 Avatar
    snakelady1956

    I agree that maybe the age limit for certain piercings could be lowered; however, some kids will not take proper care of the piercing no matter what, because they will think that something bad won’t happen to them. I agree with everyone else who said that this kid was an idiot for using these metal links and pliers for doing the piercings. Where was his head at? Where were his parents? This kid is damn lucky he still has a face!! I hate to think what would have happened to him if he got MRSA or something else. If he was my kid, I’d take him for a psych eval ASAP!!!

  38. snakelady1956 Avatar
    snakelady1956

    I agree that maybe the age limit for certain piercings could be lowered; however, some kids will not take proper care of the piercing no matter what, because they will think that something bad won’t happen to them. I agree with everyone else who said that this kid was an idiot for using these metal links and pliers for doing the piercings. Where was his head at? Where were his parents? This kid is damn lucky he still has a face!! I hate to think what would have happened to him if he got MRSA or something else. If he was my kid, I’d take him for a psych eval ASAP!!!

  39. snakelady1956 Avatar
    snakelady1956

    I agree that maybe the age limit for certain piercings could be lowered; however, some kids will not take proper care of the piercing no matter what, because they will think that something bad won’t happen to them. I agree with everyone else who said that this kid was an idiot for using these metal links and pliers for doing the piercings. Where was his head at? Where were his parents? This kid is damn lucky he still has a face!! I hate to think what would have happened to him if he got MRSA or something else. If he was my kid, I’d take him for a psych eval ASAP!!!

  40. snakelady1956 Avatar
    snakelady1956

    I agree that maybe the age limit for certain piercings could be lowered; however, some kids will not take proper care of the piercing no matter what, because they will think that something bad won’t happen to them. I agree with everyone else who said that this kid was an idiot for using these metal links and pliers for doing the piercings. Where was his head at? Where were his parents? This kid is damn lucky he still has a face!! I hate to think what would have happened to him if he got MRSA or something else. If he was my kid, I’d take him for a psych eval ASAP!!!

  41. Jack Healy Avatar
    Jack Healy

    I got my first piercing when I was fifteen, my eyebrow… but I was religious about cleaning it. I even spent the money and got it done right…. i assumed that if an air particle touched it then my whole right eye would be gone. I’m suprised I didn’t wear an eyepatch over it.

  42. Jack Healy Avatar
    Jack Healy

    I got my first piercing when I was fifteen, my eyebrow… but I was religious about cleaning it. I even spent the money and got it done right…. i assumed that if an air particle touched it then my whole right eye would be gone. I’m suprised I didn’t wear an eyepatch over it.

  43. Jack Healy Avatar
    Jack Healy

    I got my first piercing when I was fifteen, my eyebrow… but I was religious about cleaning it. I even spent the money and got it done right…. i assumed that if an air particle touched it then my whole right eye would be gone. I’m suprised I didn’t wear an eyepatch over it.

  44. Jack Healy Avatar
    Jack Healy

    I got my first piercing when I was fifteen, my eyebrow… but I was religious about cleaning it. I even spent the money and got it done right…. i assumed that if an air particle touched it then my whole right eye would be gone. I’m suprised I didn’t wear an eyepatch over it.

  45. wayde Avatar
    wayde

    i have a lip persing it didint hurt when i got it and i had it for a mounth it hurts i take care of it i think its enfacted

  46. wayde Avatar
    wayde

    i have a lip persing it didint hurt when i got it and i had it for a mounth it hurts i take care of it i think its enfacted

  47. wayde Avatar
    wayde

    i have a lip persing it didint hurt when i got it and i had it for a mounth it hurts i take care of it i think its enfacted

  48. wayde Avatar
    wayde

    i have a lip persing it didint hurt when i got it and i had it for a mounth it hurts i take care of it i think its enfacted

  49. cutthroatchris Avatar
    cutthroatchris

    what his septem
    its pierced with the same metal!

  50. cutthroatchris Avatar
    cutthroatchris

    what his septem
    its pierced with the same metal!

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