• The tattoo procedure is invasive and painful.
  
  
  
• Tattoo establishments are rarely licensed or regulated for quality and cleanliness.
  
  
  
• If not sterile, the needles used in the procedure can put you at risk for serious, life threatening infections like HIV; Hepatitus B and tetanus.
  
  
  
• People are at higher risk for chronic skin disorders such as sarcoid, keloid scarring, allergic dermatitis, photosensitivity reactions, psoriasis, and benign or malignant tumors.
  
  
  
• The pigments used for tattoos contain small metal fibers. This can prohibit a person with a tattoo from having a MRI, a fairly new and widely used medical diagnostic test.
  
  
  
• Tattoo removal is difficult, sometimes painful, and very expensive. Laser removal runs about $300.00 per square inch and is rarely covered by insurance.

• As with tattoos, piercing studios are not usually licensed or regulated for quality and cleanliness.
• Body piercing increases your risk of serious infections and unsightly scarring. There are specific risks associated with the particular body part that is pierced:

CARTILAGE

• Healing time: NOSE: 2 months, UPPER EAR: 12 month
• Due to the poor blood supply of cartilage, infections can be very serious and difficult to treat.

TONGUE

• Healing time: 4-6 weeks
• Affect speech and eating
• Metallic studs can cause erosion of dental enamel and tooth fracture.

NAVEL

• Healing time: 6-12 months
• Moisture and friction from clothing enhance chance of infection
• Common area for keloids (large unsightly scarring).

NIPPLE

• Healing time: 2-6 months
• Permanent scarring of milk ducts can interfere with breast feeding later in life.