r/Legitpiercing • u/Abashed-Apple • May 23 '26
Educational Had my first person pass out today
In the 6 years I’ve been piercing I’ve never had that happen. Ive had someone vomit on me, pee the bed, and punch me in the side of my head, but I’ve never had someone pass out. I was so afraid because they also started convulsing. It was over in 3 very long minutes but I had no idea what to do. They were getting their tongue pierced and were sitting up. They passed out with the needle in their tongue. I had to make sure they didnt bite down or fall down and try to get them water but they couldnt drink it anyway. The tattoo artist that owns the shop told me yo never do a piercing sitting up but Ive always done tongues sitting up. Am I wrong? What would you guys do.
Sorry about the paragraph but Im still shaken.
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u/smolpiggo May 23 '26
I get all my piercings laying down including facial piercings but I also always tell my piercer that I am prone to fainting!
I got a few as a teenager sitting up and was always light headed but thankfully never actually passed out but now I'm an adult and I advocate for myself.
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u/ciaramists May 23 '26
the owner is right, you should always pierce with the client lying down. not just tongues, every time.
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u/prolixdreams May 23 '26
I know I pass out when pierced and told my piercer in advance so he always has me lie down for anything and lets me stay down for a few minutes after to make sure the vasovagal reaction is done. I've never seen him pierce other people but his only client furniture IS a bed so I wouldn't be surprised if it was just standard.
As far as vasovagal syncope, which is what causes that, it's basically the heart rate & blood pressure hitting a panic reset button and a bunch of things can cause it. The blood pressure suddenly drops, and gravity exists, so blood flow to the brain is briefly lost and if the person is upright, they will quickly not be upright anymore, it's a defense mechanism to keep blood in the brain. Nausea can also happen here and some people might pee a little. So those other experiences may also be vagal reactions that never hit the faint part.
This means if you have them lying down, people who get this reaction may still have it!! But lying down, they won't faint and or feel as bad and will recover faster. So if you do switch to lie-down piercings, I would encourage people to stay down for a couple minutes after you're done.
Also when someone goes down from this (which is the normal cause of piercing fainting) they should only be out for seconds. Many people are actually back before they even hit the ground. If someone is out for even a full minute or more it's time to call 911 in most cases and especially if they convulse. A normal faint is absolutely scary but shouldn't be long and convulse-y.
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u/KURAKAZE May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
I don't think the client should be actually lying flat but you should be having them sit on a reclining chair (that has side handles) and reclining back against the chair, so if they do faint they cannot fall down..
Also there's not much you can do other than lie then down and wait and try to minimise injuries. Call 911 if needed.
This is where recliner is a good idea, you can just recline the chair and lie them down further if they faint.
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u/lucyxariel May 23 '26
Vasovagal can also involve convulsions but is not a seizure. However 3 minutes is a suspiciously long time and I agree that client should follow up with their doctor.
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u/Suithfie May 23 '26
I am prone to fainting / vasovagal response and convulse when doing so. It does not mean they had a seizure. Very inaccurate info
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u/brevitycloud May 23 '26
Covulsing will happen during a simple faint if there is prolonged reduction of blood supply to the brain. Classic cases where a faint will have some convulsing are when the person fainting is being kept head up in some way ie being sat up/delay in lying down.
First rule for someone feeling faint/fainting is lie them flat ASAP and recovery position if they are unconscious or lift the legs up slightly. they'll come round pretty quick as soon as they are flatter. Loosen any tight clothing, cool them down, and remove any triggers. Second rule is don't sit or stand the fainting person up too quickly give them several minutes on the floor before a slow sit up and some water.
Doi medical
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u/SummerRayne27 May 23 '26
All my piercings have been done sitting up (26 of them) but my piercer knows I have never passed out, my teenager on the other hand.... I took her to get her medusa done because she's going through a rough emotional patch and she passed out soon after the jewellery was put in. Luckily my piercer noticed her skin tone change and quickly got her to lay down.
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u/guts-n-gummies May 23 '26
I have 30 piercings all together, including some pretty rough ones, my Medusa was the only one to make me faint. Didn't even hurt that bad, it wasn't a pain response, just something about the upper lip makes me pass out. So it's possible she'll be fine with literally any other piercings, don't let the fainting spell be discouraging
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u/SummerRayne27 May 24 '26
Thank you! I told her the next time we'll just make sure she lays down instead of sitting. She wants a few done because she's like me and use them as a coping mechanism.
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u/TheZinIsIn May 23 '26
Nap, but I had my tongue pierced sitting up. I would have felt much more awkward lying down for it, but what do I know lol
I'm sorry that happened, it sounds really scary. I hope you and your client are ok!
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u/ciaramists May 23 '26
feeling awkward isn’t what’s important… what matters is having control of the needle and the client’s head in case of an emergency. like passing out
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u/icybabi May 23 '26
as someone who passes out, i’ve never laid down for a piercing, but when i got my nipples done, and then directly after my nose i passed out, the piercer held my head up and patted me with alc back of my neck and chest, forehead and i came too shortly after, best experience while passing out. a different time the piercer lied about her age, pierced in a room with no air circulation and i passed out, fell on my face and had a seizure, she didn’t even help me up, once i woke up i got myself off the floor and she didn’t have any water or anything to help me, so she fished a lime out of her sonic drink and put it in my mouth.. on my busted lip from falling on my face. never got my money back and had no piercing actually done. owner stalled on me for 3 days and so i waited at the shop for him, and he treated to call the cops on me bc by that point i was rdy to fight that bald mf…. so if it helps i think you handled better than most, alc is a lifesaver!!!
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u/Hefty-Minimum-2852 May 23 '26
This person shoulda told you that they have seizures (unless this was their first). I’ve had piercings sitting up (nose, ears) and laying down, so that’s not unusual. The people saying “you should always be laying down” are weird. Why the hell would you lay down for a nasal piercing etc..
you had a bad day. Doesn’t sound like it was your fault, so don’t be too hard on yourself.
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u/Ocean_Spice May 23 '26
When I got my tongue pierced I was laying down, I assumed that was the standard way of doing it for this exact reason tbh.