We offer a wide selection of ear, facial, body, and genital piercings. Certain placements may be anatomy-dependent, and a consultation appointment is recommended so our piercers can assess whether the piercing you're interested in is a good match for your unique anatomy. For safety and best outcomes, we do not perform horizontal tongue piercings, tongue web piercings, smiley piercings, surface bars, or surface anchors.

We charge a service fee for all piercing procedures, which covers the professional care and expertise of our piercers. In addition to this fee, each piercing includes two essential components: a decorative top and a flat back labret post. Our decorative tops are exclusively made from solid 14k gold, offering both style and lasting quality. For the labret post, you can choose between implant-grade titanium or solid 14k gold, depending on your preference. For a full overview of service fees and product pricing, please refer to our price menu.

A deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your appointment slot. This deposit will be refunded during your scheduled visit. Please note: deposits are non-refundable in the event of a no-show.

We’re happy to accommodate walk-ins whenever our piercers have availability. However, our schedule tends to fill up quickly, especially day-of. So we strongly recommend booking your appointment in advance to ensure ample time for your desired service. All available time slots can be viewed in real time on our appointment page. If you don’t see a time listed, it means we're fully booked at that moment.

We adore both human babies and fur babies (we often have treats on hand!), but for safety and sanitation reasons, they’re not permitted in the piercing procedure room. If you’re bringing a little one or pet to your appointment, please ensure someone can care for them outside the room during
your service. Exceptions will be made for trained service animals that assist with disabilities or medical conditions.

Yes, we offer earlobe piercings for children ages 7 and up, ear cartilage piercings for teens 14+, and nostril or septum piercings for teens 15+. We do not pierce babies under any circumstances. For all appointments involving minors, please review and follow our ID requirements carefully to ensure a smooth and successful visit.

Please review the following requirements carefully, as we are unable to make exceptions under any circumstances. A parent or legal guardian must be present at the piercing appointment for any minor. ID Requirements:

1. Current photo ID for both parent and child.
2. If last names differ, you must provide the original birth certificate or court-issued guardianship/adoption paperwork.
3. Full names on all documents must match the IDs exactly. If names have changed since the issuance of the birth certificate or guardianship paperwork, official name change documents are required — please check for maiden names or other discrepancies.
4. Original physical documents are preferred, but clear and legible scans or photos on a phone will be accepted.

For the health and safety of both parent and child, we do not offer piercings to anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. During these stages, the body undergoes significant hormonal shifts and prioritizes energy toward growing and nurturing the baby. This can compromise wound healing — making new piercings more prone to irritation, infection, or rejection, even if they seem minor. To ensure a smooth healing process and minimize any risk, we recommend waiting until breastfeeding has concluded before scheduling your piercing.

Piercing appointments are scheduled for 45 minutes. If you arrive late, we may not have sufficient time to complete your service. If you’re running behind, please send us a text — we’ll do our best to accommodate you whenever possible.

Yes. All our piercers are distinguished members of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). Our studio is certified by the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and we are proud to be among the few fully disposable piercing studios in the United States — setting a high bar for safety and hygiene.

We pierce exclusively with sterile, single-use disposable needles. This method is significantly safer than piercing guns and allows our piercers to achieve the most precise angle for beautifully placed, professional piercings. Piercing guns cannot be properly sterilized and may cause blunt force trauma to the tissue — leading to increased risk of complications and a less refined result.

Getting a piercing is quick — most feel like a sharp pinch followed by a brief sensation of pressure, depending on the placement. The experience is generally very tolerable, and many clients say the anticipation is the most intense part. You can expect the area to feel warm afterward as your body begins the healing process.

Most piercings are initially performed at 16g, though nostril piercings are done at 18g, nipples at either 14g or 12g, bridge piercings at 14g, and genital piercings typically start at 12g or larger. Septum and daith piercings are placed with 16g rings. We’re happy to pierce with larger gauges upon request and will assess each case individually during your consultation to ensure precision and safety.

Only daith and septum piercings are initially performed with rings. All other piercings are placed using flat back labret studs and should remain as such until fully healed and well-established, at which point a ring may be safely introduced.

Healing time varies depending on the type of piercing and individual healing response. We strongly recommend waiting until your piercing is fully healed before changing jewelry, as premature changes can disrupt the healing process. When in doubt, feel free to book a check-up appointment with us to ensure everything is progressing smoothly. As a general guideline: earlobe piercings typically heal within 3–4 months; ear cartilage piercings such as helix, conch, flat, daith, rook, and tragus take about 6–9 months; septum piercings heal in roughly 2–3 months; nostrils around 6–9 months; nipples and navels require 9–12 months; bridge piercings take 4–6 months; and eyebrow piercings heal in 3–4 months. For genital piercings, healing time depends on the specific placement — please consult with your piercer for personalized guidance.

To protect your new piercing and promote proper healing, it’s strongly recommended to avoid submerging it in water for at least the first three months — and ideally until it’s fully healed. Chlorine in pools and hot tubs is a known irritant, while natural bodies of water such as oceans, lakes, and rivers can carry a broad range of bacteria that may lead to infection.

If you're planning summer activities or vacations, especially with piercings below the neck, consider timing carefully to avoid unnecessary risk. Submerging or soaking a healing piercing can compromise its recovery. Instead, allow warm water to gently run over the area during your shower — this can help rinse away any buildup without causing harm.

Irritation and infection are not the same — minor symptoms like light bleeding, bruising, and swelling are common during the healing process and not necessarily cause for concern. If you’re unsure, we encourage you to reach out at piercings@fiatluxsf.com or schedule a check-up appointment.

It’s completely normal for a healing piercing to discharge fluids. If that discharge begins to crust or harden on your jewelry, it may be a sign that you need to increase your use of sterile saline spray. Letting warm water run over your piercing in the shower can help loosen and rinse away buildup naturally. Avoid picking off any crusty material, as it’s often attached to healing tissue and removing it can cause damage.Until your piercing is fully healed, do not swim, soak, or submerge it in any body of water — including pools, tubs, saunas, lakes, or oceans. These environments pose a high risk of introducing bacteria, which can lead to serious infections.If you experience irritation that you suspect may be more than just surface-level, consult with your piercer. At an in-person appointment, we can often distinguish between typical irritation and potential infection. Should we suspect an infection, we’ll kindly refer you to your medical provider for appropriate care.

What you’re seeing is most likely an irritation bump — named exactly for its cause: irritation. These bumps commonly appear after a hard snag or pull, or when a piercing hasn’t been downsized around the six-week mark. A longer post left in too long can exert pressure on the surrounding tissue, leading to the formation of a bump.

If you notice one developing, we recommend booking a check-up appointment as soon as possible so we can assess and guide you through next steps. While there are other potential causes, an in-person evaluation is the best way to determine what’s going on.

It’s important to note that irritation bumps are not the same as keloids. Keloid scarring is typically genetic, and if you’ve never experienced keloid formation before, it’s very unlikely that’s what you’re dealing with.

To support a smooth healing process, be mindful to avoid snagging your piercing on towels, clothing, bag straps, pillowcases, or any other fabrics or accessories. Refrain from contact sports and other activities where the area might be bumped or pulled, including sleeping directly on the
new piercing, until it’s fully healed.

If your jewelry is struck or snagged, it can loosen, fall out, or potentially break. Please check our aftercare guidelines.

If you lose your earring during healing, it’s important to have a new flat-back earring reinstalled promptly to prevent the piercing from closing. If closure occurs, we’ll need to allow several months for complete healing before safely re-piercing the area to avoid scarring or tissue damage.

If your jewelry requires repair, feel free to bring it into one of our stores or email us at piercings@fiatluxsf.com for instructions on how to mail it in. We’ll be happy to take care of it for you. Please note that we cannot guarantee your jewelry won’t come loose, fall out, or break — and unfortunately, we are not able to offer replacements or refunds for lost items.

With proper daily care, you’re unlikely to experience any issues. But if you do, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to troubleshoot with you.

Flat back labrets offer a safer, more comfortable alternative to traditional butterfly-back earrings, which often feature excess post length that can poke or irritate the ear—especially while sleeping. Available in a variety of lengths and gauges, labret posts can be custom fitted for a flush, secure feel once healed, with interchangeable tops that allow for wear across multiple piercings. Their low-profile design traps less bacteria, making them ideal for both fresh and healed piercings. Flat back labrets come in two styles: threadless (also known as press-fit or tension) and threaded, both offering ease of insertion and stable wear. Jewelry purchased online includes a complimentary taper tool to help with installation.

For safety reasons, we’re unable to use outside jewelry for new piercings. Because we cannot verify the material, size, style, or finish of externally sourced pieces, we cannot guarantee that they’ll be appropriate — or safe — for initial healing. Every piercing requires specific jewelry dimensions suited to your anatomy and healing needs, and we rely on trusted, high-quality brands designed to last a lifetime with proper care.

Please treat your piercing and body jewelry with care—especially during physical activity or when removing clothing, showering, or using towels. If jewelry is bumped or snagged, it may loosen, fall out, or break. While we take great care to ensure durability and quality, we cannot guarantee that your jewelry will remain secure or undamaged under all conditions. We are not responsible for lost items and cannot offer replacements or refunds in such cases. With consistent daily care, most clients experience no issues.

If your jewelry requires repair, simply bring it to one of our stores and we’ll be happy to assist. Upon receipt, we will evaluate the damage, confirm any applicable repair costs, and obtain your approval before proceeding. If we determine the issue stems from a manufacturing defect, we will cover the full cost of the repair.

If the item needs to be shipped to us, all shipping costs — both to and from our studio — are the client’s responsibility. To coordinate shipping, please contact us at piercings@fiatluxsf.com.. We cover return shipping within the contiguous U.S. once repairs are complete. To coordinate shipping, please contact us at piercings@fiatluxsf.com.

For added peace of mind, we recommend insuring your jewelry through your homeowners or renters policy, or via dedicated jewelry insurance. This coverage protects against theft, significant damage, stone loss, or full loss.

We’re happy to re-use our flat-back style jewelry for new piercings, provided the top is solid 14k gold or platinum. For safety and fit, each new piercing requires a freshly sterilized backing. Please note, we’re unable to reuse barbells, curves, or rings for initial piercings. A service fee will also apply for the piercing itself.

To ensure proper sterilization, please drop off your jewelry at least two hours before your appointment. If your appointment is in the morning, we ask that you drop it off the day prior.

All our piercing jewelry is crafted from natural stones and solid 14k nickel-free yellow gold, rose gold, and white gold — though some white gold pieces may contain trace amounts of nickel. We also offer nickel-free platinum by special order. For flat back labrets, we use either implant-grade titanium or solid 14k nickel-free gold for optimal safety and comfort.

Sterling silver is not biocompatible and therefore unsuitable for body piercing jewelry. For those seeking a silver-toned option, we offer 14k white gold, as well as platinum available by special order — both providing safe, high-quality alternatives.

Opening and closing a seam ring is best demonstrated visually — check out our video to see how they work. Seam rings are ideal for piercings where you’d like to insert a hoop and leave it in the long term. Because gold is a soft metal, frequent bending can distort its shape, so minimizing manipulation is key to preserving its integrity. If you prefer a ring but plan to switch your jewelry often, ask your piercer whether that style can be made as a hinged ring or “clicker” instead for easier handling.

Our piercers are happy to assist with the installation or removal of your piercing jewelry. To schedule a visit, please book an appointment. Prefer to do it yourself? Watch our video tutorial on how to safely install and remove threadless flat back studs.

Check our detailed aftercare instructions to support proper healing. Most importantly, avoid touching the piercing or jewelry, refrain from sleeping directly on it, and clean gently using sterile saline spray 3 to 5 times daily — never use alcohol, tea tree oil, peroxide, soap, or ointments. Around 4 to 6 weeks post-piercing, we recommend booking a check-up appointment to determine whether your jewelry is ready for a downsize. Proper care today helps ensure long-term comfort and beauty.

Most ear piercings are initially done with a longer post to accommodate natural swelling during the healing process. We recommend scheduling a check-up appointment around six weeks into healing to assess whether your piercing is ready for a shorter post. If so, the longer flat back labret will be replaced with a shorter one — making for a more comfortable fit and helping to avoid irritation from extended jewelry length. Check our price menu for service and product fees.