Why do you not pierce minors?
Minors and body piercing
Updated Wednesday June 11, 2008
Brian Skellie
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AAMI
Member ASTM
Committee F04 on Medical
and Surgical Materials and Devices
Committee F04.12 on Metallurgical
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Thank you for your interest in our services, if you are under the legal age for piercing, we have to ask you to wait.
The body changes that will influence the health, appearance and wearability of pierced jewelry are unpredictable. Most professionals will not provide piercing services to minors on the well founded basis that it is unlikely to turn out well.
Examples of migrated
and rejected navel piercings
Oral, nipple and genital piercing raise more legal issues, such as accusations of sexual assault.
We don't pierce any minors at all. Current local ordinance requires that you are 18 years of age.
The legal situation in the US does not allow us to be free of liability, no matter what kind of contract or release we have, with or without parental consent. We hope that you are willing to wait.
We extend as a courtesy a discount on the service of half price within the month after your 18th birthday.
We did provide this piercing service for young people for a time, before we could be sure beyond reasonable doubt that the results were not consistently representative of the caliber of work we are capable of.
The catch is this: you might get a fabulous looking placement, excellent jewelry, and initially heal very quickly. Evidence supports the fact that still the piercing will change as you continue to grow, and will be likely to turn out ugly over the next year or two. If you get it now, it is unfortunately likely that it will be shallow and misplaced after a few months to a year or so. We suggest that you get it done later, after age 18, so that it can last and look its best.
The complications involved in liability, informed consent and legal guardianship have dissuaded us from the practice. Liability insurance does not yet exist to cover piercing a minor other than ears and noses, except a physician's malpractice policy. A doctor would be insured to protect their business and cover for medical expenses if you had a problem.
Read through our information to get you started in your research, and to help you understand why it will be worth the wait to do it right the first time.
Your body parts will hopefully still be there after you are 18, and we will look forward to making you shiny...