Answers to the questions we hear most often about appointments, pricing, jewelry, children’s ear piercing, healing, aftercare, and what to expect at the studio.
Professional Piercing Studio · Homer Glen, IL
Both are welcome. Walk-ins are accepted on a first come, first served basis during all studio hours. Booking an appointment guarantees your time but is never required.
Book online at thepiercingboutique.com/booking. Booking guarantees your time. For same-day availability or time-sensitive questions, calling (708) 787-4445 is the fastest way to reach us.
Most single-piercing appointments run 15–30 minutes including consultation, sterile setup, the piercing, and aftercare education. Multiple piercings or ear curation consultations take longer — let us know when booking.
Please give us as much notice as possible. Text or call (708) 787-4445 and we'll get you rescheduled.
Yes. You’re welcome to bring support with you. We just ask that the number of guests stays reasonable for the available space so the studio remains comfortable and the piercer has room to work. For minor appointments, a parent or legal guardian must be present.
Yes — eat a proper meal before coming in. Low blood sugar is one of the most common causes of lightheadedness and fainting during a piercing. Eat a real meal, stay hydrated, and get a decent night's sleep. These three things genuinely affect your experience.
No. We use sterile single-use piercing needles for every piercing, including children’s ear piercings. We do not use piercing guns.
Piercing needles are sterile and single-use. Reusable instruments are appropriately cleaned and sterilized according to studio protocol before use.
We always start with an anatomy assessment. If your requested placement isn't ideal for your tissue — we'll tell you honestly and explain why. We'll mark the placement, show you in a mirror, and nothing happens until you approve it.
We offer implant-grade titanium and solid 14k gold options for initial piercings. Jewelry is selected for fit, anatomy, and the needs of a healing piercing.
Why it matters: Jewelry stays in your body for months while tissue heals around it. Material quality directly affects healing outcomes — it's a clinical decision, not an aesthetic preference.
“Surgical steel” can refer to different alloys and standards. We prefer implant-grade titanium for many initial piercings because it is lightweight and commonly used for body jewelry intended for healing piercings.
Threadless (press-fit) jewelry uses a bent post that locks into a flat-back labret rather than threading through the piercing. The flat disc back sits flush against the skin and can be comfortable for many placements. Ends can be changed once appropriate without necessarily replacing the entire post. We prefer jewelry styles designed to minimize unnecessary friction through the piercing channel and causes unnecessary irritation.
Generally, no. We can only verify the material and sterility of jewelry we source ourselves. If you have a piece you'd like to wear once healed, we're happy to look at it and advise when and how to make the switch safely.
Timing depends on the piercing and why the jewelry is being changed. Some piercings need an earlier downsize, while decorative changes are usually better once healing is further along. We recommend having us assess the piercing before changing jewelry.
Healing times vary by location and individual. General ranges:
Piercing bumps can have several causes, including irritation, pressure, snagging, jewelry fit, or other factors. Because bumps and infections can look similar, contact us for a piercing check and seek medical care if you have significant heat, spreading redness, worsening pain, fever, or other concerning symptoms over time, or fever. Text us a photo if you're unsure.
A piercing can look settled on the outside before the channel is ready for a decorative jewelry change. Come in for a quick assessment so we can determine whether it is ready or whether a downsize or additional healing time makes more sense.
It is best to avoid unnecessary submersion of a fresh piercing in pools, lakes, oceans, and hot tubs while it is healing. Showers are generally easier to manage because the piercing is not soaking for an extended period.
We offer children’s earlobe piercing with verbal consent from the child when appropriate. A parent or legal guardian must be physically present with their own valid photo ID and must sign a consent form. The child must also verbally express willingness — we will not pierce a child who appears unwilling, regardless of parental permission.
We use sterile single-use piercing needles for children’s ear piercing rather than piercing guns. This gives the piercer direct control over placement and allows us to pair the piercing with jewelry selected for the child’s ear and healing needs.
We offer implant-grade titanium flatback options for children’s ear piercings, along with select butterfly-back options. Jewelry choice depends on fit, comfort, and the family’s preference. You can also review our children’s ear piercing page for more detail.ks for the healing period whenever possible.
A note on butterfly backs: Butterfly-back earrings can apply pressure against healing tissue and snag more easily — the most common reason lobe piercings take longer to heal. We'll always walk you through the best option for your child.
Sterile saline spray 1–2 times per day, leave it alone otherwise. The biggest challenge is keeping little hands away from the jewelry. Teach them to look but not touch. Do not rotate or twist the jewelry — this is a long-debunked practice that causes irritation.
Spray sterile saline (0.9% sodium chloride, no additives) directly on the piercing 1–2 times per day. Let it air dry or gently pat with a clean paper towel. Avoid: hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, Neosporin or ointments, rotating the jewelry, or over-cleaning.
Yes. You can contact us during healing with questions or photos, and we can help you decide whether the piercing needs an in-studio check. For urgent or medical concerns, contact an appropriate healthcare professional.
If you think a piercing may be infected, contact an appropriate healthcare professional for medical evaluation. You can also contact us for a jewelry or piercing check, but we do not diagnose infections.
Most piercings are a sharp pinch that lasts less than a second. Cartilage has a bit more pressure and slightly longer sensation. The anticipation is almost always worse than the piercing itself. Eating beforehand, sleeping well, and staying calm make a measurable difference.
Yes — more common than most people expect, and it has little to do with pain tolerance. A vasovagal response can hit people with high pain thresholds too. The most reliable prevention is eating a full meal beforehand. If you feel off during your visit, tell us immediately.
Some health conditions or medications may affect whether piercing is appropriate or how healing should be managed. If you have a medical concern, ask your healthcare professional before the appointment and let us know about anything relevant to the procedure.
Our piercing pricing page lists current prices, minimum ages, and what is included with each service. When a price range is shown, the final total depends on the jewelry selected.
We accept cash, major credit/debit cards, and Apple Pay.
Professional jewelry changes are $10. If you need a healing check or have questions about jewelry fit, contact the studio and we’ll tell you the best next step.
If you still have a question after reading the FAQ, call the studio or book an appointment and we can go over it with you. For same-day or time-sensitive questions, calling is the fastest way to reach us.