Piercing FAQs

At Anatomic Body Piercing, serving Gainesville and Ocala, FL, we specialize exclusively in professional piercings — we are not a tattoo shop that happens to offer piercing. You are never just a number here.

We take the time to answer every question, address any concerns, and make sure you leave with all the knowledge and confidence you need about your piercing. Your comfort, safety, and satisfaction are our top priorities.

We know you may have questions before your visit, so we’ve put together answers to some of the most common ones below.

 

Q: Do you accept credit cards?
A: Absolutely! We take all major credit cards, including Amex and Discover, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more. If you bring cash, though… you’re officially one of our MVPs.

Q: What type of jewelry do you carry?
A: We stock the largest selection of safe, high-quality body jewelry in the region — and we only pierce with threadless or internally threaded designs. This ensures smooth, comfortable insertion with no exposed threads.
Our piercing jewelry is made exclusively from:

  • ASTM-F136 implant-grade titanium

  • Niobium

  • Solid 14K/18K nickel-free gold

  • Platinum

  • Glass

Every piece is free of scratches, nicks, burrs, or polishing compounds and has a flawless mirror finish. We will never pierce with unsafe materials like surgical steel, G23 titanium, plated metals, or externally threaded jewelry. For healed piercings, we also carry a variety of safe organics and specialty metals.

Q: Why are your piercings and jewelry more expensive than other shops?
A: The real question is: What is your safety and comfort worth?
Cheaper piercings often mean cut corners — low-quality jewelry, rushed service, outdated aftercare advice, unsafe sterilization, or tools and needles that don’t meet professional standards.

Some shops even “cold sterilize” jewelry — soaking it in disinfectant instead of autoclaving it — which is both unsafe and against proper health protocols.

We use only jewelry from trusted manufacturers, have state-of-the-art sterilization procedures, and industry-leading safety practices. That does make our prices higher — but it also means your piercing is far more likely to heal well and last.

If you value your body, invest in quality. We think you’re worth it.

Q: Can I bring my own jewelry to get pierced?
A: Sorry, no. Most jewelry bought at malls, online, or from other shops does not meet safe, implant-grade standards — even if it’s labeled “surgical steel.” Many of these pieces contain mystery metals, unsafe alloys, or have external threads that can damage tissue. We will only pierce with verified high-quality, biocompatible jewelry.

Q: What piercings do you offer?
A: We offer nearly every piercing that is both safe and anatomically viable for you. Certain piercings — such as navels, tongues, surface anchors (dermals), industrials, forward helix, daith, rook, and genital piercings — require an in-person anatomy check first. We will never perform a piercing we believe won’t heal well or is unsafe for your body.

Q: What piercings will you not perform?
A: We will not perform piercings that are inherently unsafe or have poor healing outcomes, such as snake eyes (horizontal tongue tip piercings) or surface anchors in hands or feet.

Fun Fact: Snake eyes piercings are banned in Oregon and several other regions due to the damage they cause. We’re happy to explain why certain piercings should never be performed.

Q: How much should I tip my piercer?
A: Tips are never required but always appreciated! As in other service industries, a tip is greatly appreciated if you’re happy with your experience.

Q: Can I bring my child while I’m getting pierced?
A: We ask that you avoid bringing children unless absolutely necessary. Piercing requires focus and a calm environment for both you and other clients. If you must bring a child, another adult must stay with them in the waiting area — children are not permitted in piercing rooms unless they are the ones being pierced.

Q: How do you clean and process your piercing tools?
A: We follow a rigorous, multi-step sterilization process:

  1. Initial rinse: Tools go into an enzymatic solution to prevent organisms from drying.

  2. Ultrasonic cleaning: Heated ultrasonic baths with specialized solutions break down any debris. Followed by a full scrub of the implements.

  3. First sterilization: Instruments are autoclaved in our bulk Tuttnauer unit.

  4. Final sterilization: Right before use, instruments and jewelry are sterilized again in a Statim autoclave cassette within the sterile field.

Needles are never reused and are disposed of in sharps containers after each use. Jewelry is never reused for another client.

Q: I already have several piercings but want them to look more cohesive. What should I do?
A: Book a Curation Session! One of our piercers will help you select jewelry that suits your anatomy, style, and budget, creating a cohesive and unique look from our thousands of available pieces.

Q: I saw a jewelry piece in your studio before, but it’s gone now. Can you get it again?
A: Usually! If the manufacturer still produces it, we can often special-order it for you. Some pieces are discontinued, so availability varies. Special order turnaround times can range fro