Body piercing (defined as any piercing beyond the standard earlobe piercing) has become such a popular form of body modification that between five and ten percent of the population of the United States has indulged in at least one form of it at some time in their lives. In most cases, once a person gets a body piercing, they follow the first one with more. There are lots of considerations; however, for making sure that your body piercing is done safely so that you don 't end up with either an infection or a poorly done piercing that could leave an unsightly scar. It ain 't ear piercing, honey... The procedure for a good body piercing isn 't the same is for getting your earlobes pierced. Most earlobe piercings that you see done in a mall or jewelry store involve using a piercing gun that quickly shoots the actual earring post through the earlobe. This may be fine for an area of the body that has soft tissue and is easily pierced, but it isn 't a good idea for other parts of the body for a few reasons. First, it isn 't as accurate as a needle, so lining it up won 't always work. Just as with any gun, there is a recoil that will make the aim inaccurate. Second, the force of the gun will cause bruising and damage to the skin that isn 't necessary and will slow the healing process. Third, a piercing gun can 't be sterilized completely, so there is a higher risk of infection. The message is clear -- never get a body piercing done with a piercing gun. Always go to a professional