Once upon a time, I was working in a bookstore and one of my coworkers saw my own tragus piercing and proceeded to inform me that the piercing was incredibly dangerous because there is a nerve there and if they pierce it, it will paralyze your face. “No, there isn’t,” I said dryly, trying to extract myself from her eager jabbering. She continued to explain that this was dangerous and then did something that I really, really hate. She reached out and put her grubby finger on my piercing while asking, “Doesn’t that hurt?” I actually flinched and likely responded by telling her that yes, it hurt terribly and I was in constant pain, followed by a roll of my eyes.
What’s the purpose of this trip down memory lane? Urban legends, myths and misconceptions. We’ve all heard them, I’m sure. The dreaded nerve that will paralyze your entire face. Piercing your tongue will cause you to lose all your sensation of taste. If you have a tattoo over your spine you can’t get an epidural. Some of them are funny, some of them are ridiculous but the point is, people believe them and that can have consequences.
BME has always tried to serve not only as a documentation of body modification but as a platform for education. Here’s where you come in readers. Tell me about what urban legends, myths and misconceptions you have heard regarding body modification and if you have the knowledge, feel free to also debunk the myth with solid facts. The information we all come up with is going to be included in the new Misconceptions FAQ on the BME Wiki.
So let’s have them! And just so you don’t think I don’t love you, here’s a gratuitous photo of a beautiful woman pulled from the moderation queue.
Meizy’s piercings were done by Mike French and Spider. Her stone trinity spirals are by Oracle.
Comments
288 responses to “Pop rocks and soda pop!”
X, Y, or Z pigment takes longer to heal in skin than any other pigment.
X, Y, or Z pigment takes longer to heal in skin than any other pigment.
when i had my vertical bridge, everyone thought they were screwed into my brain. same with most people assuming that my smiley is pierced through my gums. probably the biggest urban myth for me is that piercings are this horrible painful thing that are excrutiating to get done.
when i had my vertical bridge, everyone thought they were screwed into my brain. same with most people assuming that my smiley is pierced through my gums. probably the biggest urban myth for me is that piercings are this horrible painful thing that are excrutiating to get done.
when i had my vertical bridge, everyone thought they were screwed into my brain. same with most people assuming that my smiley is pierced through my gums. probably the biggest urban myth for me is that piercings are this horrible painful thing that are excrutiating to get done.
when i had my vertical bridge, everyone thought they were screwed into my brain. same with most people assuming that my smiley is pierced through my gums. probably the biggest urban myth for me is that piercings are this horrible painful thing that are excrutiating to get done.
i girl i once knew said that eyebrow piercings in the wrong spot will make your eyes droopy , nipple piercings will cause breast cancer ,and if you have a tattoo your in a gang . i have also heard that any male genital piercing will cause the guy to become sterile . a nurse asked my Dr if my tattoos would mess up x-rays they where taking of my head (my scalp it tattooed ). a lot of people have assumed that my knuckle tattoos say “love / hate ” because its so common , my knuckles actually say “shanwich” its sad how many people will ask what something says , instead of reading it .
i girl i once knew said that eyebrow piercings in the wrong spot will make your eyes droopy , nipple piercings will cause breast cancer ,and if you have a tattoo your in a gang . i have also heard that any male genital piercing will cause the guy to become sterile . a nurse asked my Dr if my tattoos would mess up x-rays they where taking of my head (my scalp it tattooed ). a lot of people have assumed that my knuckle tattoos say “love / hate ” because its so common , my knuckles actually say “shanwich” its sad how many people will ask what something says , instead of reading it .
i girl i once knew said that eyebrow piercings in the wrong spot will make your eyes droopy , nipple piercings will cause breast cancer ,and if you have a tattoo your in a gang . i have also heard that any male genital piercing will cause the guy to become sterile . a nurse asked my Dr if my tattoos would mess up x-rays they where taking of my head (my scalp it tattooed ). a lot of people have assumed that my knuckle tattoos say “love / hate ” because its so common , my knuckles actually say “shanwich” its sad how many people will ask what something says , instead of reading it .
i girl i once knew said that eyebrow piercings in the wrong spot will make your eyes droopy , nipple piercings will cause breast cancer ,and if you have a tattoo your in a gang . i have also heard that any male genital piercing will cause the guy to become sterile . a nurse asked my Dr if my tattoos would mess up x-rays they where taking of my head (my scalp it tattooed ). a lot of people have assumed that my knuckle tattoos say “love / hate ” because its so common , my knuckles actually say “shanwich” its sad how many people will ask what something says , instead of reading it .
My piercer back when I was 18 getting my first piercings wouldn’t pierce my nipples diagonally because he said I would never be able to breastfeed. I told him I never planned on having kids but he said never say never. What a way to get around admitting you’re an incompetent piercer!
My piercer back when I was 18 getting my first piercings wouldn’t pierce my nipples diagonally because he said I would never be able to breastfeed. I told him I never planned on having kids but he said never say never. What a way to get around admitting you’re an incompetent piercer!
My piercer back when I was 18 getting my first piercings wouldn’t pierce my nipples diagonally because he said I would never be able to breastfeed. I told him I never planned on having kids but he said never say never. What a way to get around admitting you’re an incompetent piercer!
My piercer back when I was 18 getting my first piercings wouldn’t pierce my nipples diagonally because he said I would never be able to breastfeed. I told him I never planned on having kids but he said never say never. What a way to get around admitting you’re an incompetent piercer!
I worked as a painter one summer and a guy working with me asked if I had to be careful not to get paint on my tattoos so they don’t wash off when I wash the paint off…
I also got asked a lot if my bridge piercing went through the bone.
I worked as a painter one summer and a guy working with me asked if I had to be careful not to get paint on my tattoos so they don’t wash off when I wash the paint off…
I also got asked a lot if my bridge piercing went through the bone.
I worked as a painter one summer and a guy working with me asked if I had to be careful not to get paint on my tattoos so they don’t wash off when I wash the paint off…
I also got asked a lot if my bridge piercing went through the bone.
I worked as a painter one summer and a guy working with me asked if I had to be careful not to get paint on my tattoos so they don’t wash off when I wash the paint off…
I also got asked a lot if my bridge piercing went through the bone.
My favorite of all time was a girl who insisted that her brother needed to have the artist make the stencil bigger because “tattoos shrink when they heal” I informed her that tattoos were in fact not the same as shrinkydinks and this would not happen.
Another good myth you hear a lot is that you can no longer breast feed if you’ve had your nipples pierced, I know this isn’t true as my best friend has breast fed 4 children and had her nipples pierced long before having any of them, also she had the epidural right through her celtic knot work on her lower back, the nurse that did it said it made it more difficult but not impossible.
My favorite of all time was a girl who insisted that her brother needed to have the artist make the stencil bigger because “tattoos shrink when they heal” I informed her that tattoos were in fact not the same as shrinkydinks and this would not happen.
Another good myth you hear a lot is that you can no longer breast feed if you’ve had your nipples pierced, I know this isn’t true as my best friend has breast fed 4 children and had her nipples pierced long before having any of them, also she had the epidural right through her celtic knot work on her lower back, the nurse that did it said it made it more difficult but not impossible.
My favorite of all time was a girl who insisted that her brother needed to have the artist make the stencil bigger because “tattoos shrink when they heal” I informed her that tattoos were in fact not the same as shrinkydinks and this would not happen.
Another good myth you hear a lot is that you can no longer breast feed if you’ve had your nipples pierced, I know this isn’t true as my best friend has breast fed 4 children and had her nipples pierced long before having any of them, also she had the epidural right through her celtic knot work on her lower back, the nurse that did it said it made it more difficult but not impossible.
My favorite of all time was a girl who insisted that her brother needed to have the artist make the stencil bigger because “tattoos shrink when they heal” I informed her that tattoos were in fact not the same as shrinkydinks and this would not happen.
Another good myth you hear a lot is that you can no longer breast feed if you’ve had your nipples pierced, I know this isn’t true as my best friend has breast fed 4 children and had her nipples pierced long before having any of them, also she had the epidural right through her celtic knot work on her lower back, the nurse that did it said it made it more difficult but not impossible.
The “no epidurals” thing has come up in hospitals when nurses/doctors have seen my tattoos. More than once I’ve been asked if I have my lower back done, because if so when (lol, yeah right) I have babies, they wouldn’t do an epidural.
So yeah, there’s one hospital out there that believes it. D:
The “no epidurals” thing has come up in hospitals when nurses/doctors have seen my tattoos. More than once I’ve been asked if I have my lower back done, because if so when (lol, yeah right) I have babies, they wouldn’t do an epidural.
So yeah, there’s one hospital out there that believes it. D:
The “no epidurals” thing has come up in hospitals when nurses/doctors have seen my tattoos. More than once I’ve been asked if I have my lower back done, because if so when (lol, yeah right) I have babies, they wouldn’t do an epidural.
So yeah, there’s one hospital out there that believes it. D:
The “no epidurals” thing has come up in hospitals when nurses/doctors have seen my tattoos. More than once I’ve been asked if I have my lower back done, because if so when (lol, yeah right) I have babies, they wouldn’t do an epidural.
So yeah, there’s one hospital out there that believes it. D:
I actually had an otherwise smart woman ask me if my nape surface piercing was two separate studs, that like, I dunno, meet in the middle or something I guess? I didn’t quite know what to say, surely that is obviously not the case!
I actually had an otherwise smart woman ask me if my nape surface piercing was two separate studs, that like, I dunno, meet in the middle or something I guess? I didn’t quite know what to say, surely that is obviously not the case!
I actually had an otherwise smart woman ask me if my nape surface piercing was two separate studs, that like, I dunno, meet in the middle or something I guess? I didn’t quite know what to say, surely that is obviously not the case!
I actually had an otherwise smart woman ask me if my nape surface piercing was two separate studs, that like, I dunno, meet in the middle or something I guess? I didn’t quite know what to say, surely that is obviously not the case!
Here’s a good one – That eyebrow piercings grind on the brow bone structure and indent your skull if you’re wearing curved barbells. I had a 17 year old kid come in to my work with a straight barbell (pretty sure it was jewelry for a tongue piercing) through his eyebrow piercing. It was blatantly rejecting and I told him he should consider switching out his jewelry for a curved barbell. His response? “Well I heard those push in on the bone behind it and leave indents in your skull” I laughed. He’s probably having fun with his super cool-looking rejecting tongue jewelry through his face, but hey, at least its not grinding on his skull.
Here’s a good one – That eyebrow piercings grind on the brow bone structure and indent your skull if you’re wearing curved barbells. I had a 17 year old kid come in to my work with a straight barbell (pretty sure it was jewelry for a tongue piercing) through his eyebrow piercing. It was blatantly rejecting and I told him he should consider switching out his jewelry for a curved barbell. His response? “Well I heard those push in on the bone behind it and leave indents in your skull” I laughed. He’s probably having fun with his super cool-looking rejecting tongue jewelry through his face, but hey, at least its not grinding on his skull.
Here’s a good one – That eyebrow piercings grind on the brow bone structure and indent your skull if you’re wearing curved barbells. I had a 17 year old kid come in to my work with a straight barbell (pretty sure it was jewelry for a tongue piercing) through his eyebrow piercing. It was blatantly rejecting and I told him he should consider switching out his jewelry for a curved barbell. His response? “Well I heard those push in on the bone behind it and leave indents in your skull” I laughed. He’s probably having fun with his super cool-looking rejecting tongue jewelry through his face, but hey, at least its not grinding on his skull.
Here’s a good one – That eyebrow piercings grind on the brow bone structure and indent your skull if you’re wearing curved barbells. I had a 17 year old kid come in to my work with a straight barbell (pretty sure it was jewelry for a tongue piercing) through his eyebrow piercing. It was blatantly rejecting and I told him he should consider switching out his jewelry for a curved barbell. His response? “Well I heard those push in on the bone behind it and leave indents in your skull” I laughed. He’s probably having fun with his super cool-looking rejecting tongue jewelry through his face, but hey, at least its not grinding on his skull.
The last time I had bloodwork done the nurse told me they wouldn’t put a needle through a tattoo because ink could get into the bloodstream. Whether that’s true or not I thought it was worth noting that it was believed and practiced by a professional.
The last time I had bloodwork done the nurse told me they wouldn’t put a needle through a tattoo because ink could get into the bloodstream. Whether that’s true or not I thought it was worth noting that it was believed and practiced by a professional.
The last time I had bloodwork done the nurse told me they wouldn’t put a needle through a tattoo because ink could get into the bloodstream. Whether that’s true or not I thought it was worth noting that it was believed and practiced by a professional.
The last time I had bloodwork done the nurse told me they wouldn’t put a needle through a tattoo because ink could get into the bloodstream. Whether that’s true or not I thought it was worth noting that it was believed and practiced by a professional.
oh the amount of people that ask me if i have my gum pierced! I’m sorry but it would be very very difficult to heal a gum piercing and quite impractical. Interesting though, that’s what i get asked with my smiley, but no one asked me that when i had my frowney.
I’ve heard that lips can paralyze you, belly buttons as well.
Oh and the amount of people that think my ear was cut to 25mm from a stud is crazy….
oh the amount of people that ask me if i have my gum pierced! I’m sorry but it would be very very difficult to heal a gum piercing and quite impractical. Interesting though, that’s what i get asked with my smiley, but no one asked me that when i had my frowney.
I’ve heard that lips can paralyze you, belly buttons as well.
Oh and the amount of people that think my ear was cut to 25mm from a stud is crazy….
oh the amount of people that ask me if i have my gum pierced! I’m sorry but it would be very very difficult to heal a gum piercing and quite impractical. Interesting though, that’s what i get asked with my smiley, but no one asked me that when i had my frowney.
I’ve heard that lips can paralyze you, belly buttons as well.
Oh and the amount of people that think my ear was cut to 25mm from a stud is crazy….
oh the amount of people that ask me if i have my gum pierced! I’m sorry but it would be very very difficult to heal a gum piercing and quite impractical. Interesting though, that’s what i get asked with my smiley, but no one asked me that when i had my frowney.
I’ve heard that lips can paralyze you, belly buttons as well.
Oh and the amount of people that think my ear was cut to 25mm from a stud is crazy….
Not medically outrageous or anything like that, but I guess my all-time favorite would have to be the assumption that no one will hire me because of a couple facial piercings. I also like the assumption that I’m shallow because piercings are, of course, only done when people want to “stand out”.
Not medically outrageous or anything like that, but I guess my all-time favorite would have to be the assumption that no one will hire me because of a couple facial piercings. I also like the assumption that I’m shallow because piercings are, of course, only done when people want to “stand out”.
Not medically outrageous or anything like that, but I guess my all-time favorite would have to be the assumption that no one will hire me because of a couple facial piercings. I also like the assumption that I’m shallow because piercings are, of course, only done when people want to “stand out”.
Not medically outrageous or anything like that, but I guess my all-time favorite would have to be the assumption that no one will hire me because of a couple facial piercings. I also like the assumption that I’m shallow because piercings are, of course, only done when people want to “stand out”.
I got told by a family friend, that my tragus piercing is unsate because it can easily get infected and that the infection can spread to the bone in my skull, but I can’t remeber what she said after that. I also get told that my eyebrow piercing could paralyze half of my face because of the nerves in the eye brow (but I’m sure heaps of people have heard that), same thing will my old tongue webbing piercing (that I would l lose all feeling and sense of taste in my tongue).
I got told by a family friend, that my tragus piercing is unsate because it can easily get infected and that the infection can spread to the bone in my skull, but I can’t remeber what she said after that. I also get told that my eyebrow piercing could paralyze half of my face because of the nerves in the eye brow (but I’m sure heaps of people have heard that), same thing will my old tongue webbing piercing (that I would l lose all feeling and sense of taste in my tongue).
I got told by a family friend, that my tragus piercing is unsate because it can easily get infected and that the infection can spread to the bone in my skull, but I can’t remeber what she said after that. I also get told that my eyebrow piercing could paralyze half of my face because of the nerves in the eye brow (but I’m sure heaps of people have heard that), same thing will my old tongue webbing piercing (that I would l lose all feeling and sense of taste in my tongue).
I got told by a family friend, that my tragus piercing is unsate because it can easily get infected and that the infection can spread to the bone in my skull, but I can’t remeber what she said after that. I also get told that my eyebrow piercing could paralyze half of my face because of the nerves in the eye brow (but I’m sure heaps of people have heard that), same thing will my old tongue webbing piercing (that I would l lose all feeling and sense of taste in my tongue).