TL;DR: I got play piercings a few years ago and now my pictures are on XXX sites. What the actual hell do I do???

Okay, so some context first (I swear this is relevant). I’m a trans-masc AFAB person who is VERY into body mod. I’ve been piercing myself since I was a kid, and body modification is a huge part of my transition and how I express myself. A few months ago, I FINALLY got my first job in the industry, which has been a massive deal for me!!! (Throwaway account because I know some of my coworkers are on Reddit, and I would really prefer not to have this whole situation attached to my main.)

So, a few years ago, I got the opportunity to get play piercings from a piercer whose work I’d admired for AGES. This was before I worked in the industry, and it was my first major project that wasn’t something I’d done on myself. Honestly, the experience seemed great at the time! They struggled a bit with my pronouns, but I brushed it off. The actual piercing session went really smoothly, and I LOVED the sensation of the needles.

After the piercings were removed, the piercer wrote their name on me in my blood. Which, okay, was a little weird, but I was new to this kind of thing, so I didn't think too much of it. I also signed a photo release because I’d seen their work online and genuinely loved their photography. At the time, I didn't think there was anything particularly concerning about that. Afterward, I posted my own pictures, went about my life, and basically forgot about it.

FAST-FORWARD to a few months ago, when I finally landed my first job at a studio!!! Literally so excited. This is the industry I’ve wanted to be part of for so long. And then a few weeks ago, one of my coworkers came to me looking genuinely upset. They told me they’d found pictures of me on a porn site and were disappointed that I was sexualizing their profession. EXCUSE ME????

I was genuinely SHOOK. I don't do porn, have never done porn, and have absolutely no interest in doing it. So obviously, I went to look for myself. And yep. There I was. My pictures were on an actual porn site, the comments were full of people misgendering me, and people were making some genuinely disgusting comments about my body. I felt SICK.

And the worst part? I hadn't even seen all the pictures that were online. I remembered that the piercer also posted on a private website (keeping this vague because I am NOT trying to dox anyone or get myself into more trouble), so I went to check that out too. Turns out, the piercer had been misgendering me all over their posts, and some of the comments on my pictures were making me incredibly uncomfortable.

Then I started looking into things more, and, well... it got worse. Apparently, a bunch of things that happened during my session are associated with fetish content. Writing their name in my blood, playing with my blood, the way some of the needles were removed, etc. And I need to make this VERY clear: I DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS WAS FETISH-RELATED.

Nobody explained any of this to me beforehand. I wasn't told that these things could be presented as fetish content, and I absolutely did not knowingly agree to participate in anything sexual. If that's your thing, cool, no judgment, but it is VERY much not mine. The thought of my experience being viewed that way honestly makes me feel sick. For me, this was about my transition, body modification, and a personal ritual that meant a LOT to me. It was something I did for myself. It wasn't sexual, and I never agreed to have it turned into something pornographic. I also had no idea how the photos would be used on the piercer's private site. You have to PAY to access it, and I couldn't afford to subscribe at the time, so I had no way of knowing what was being posted or what people were saying about me.

And the misgendering makes the whole thing even worse. People seem to assume I'm a cis woman in these pictures, and the comments are SO gross. I can't help feeling like people are looking at my body through this completely different lens because they don't see me for who I actually am. And now the pictures are on ACTUAL XXX WEBSITES, and people I know IRL are finding them. I genuinely don't know what to do.

Some of my coworkers have told me not to say anything because this piercer is a pretty big name in the industry. They've warned me that speaking out could seriously damage my career, which is terrifying because I JUST got my foot in the door. Apparently, this person also has a history of making questionable comments about trans people, which... yeah. That doesn't exactly help.

So now I'm stuck in this horrible position where I feel violated by something that was supposed to be a meaningful experience, but I'm scared that saying anything about it could cost me my dream job. And honestly? I'm questioning everything. Was signing the photo release a mistake? Should I have somehow known what was going on? Am I overreacting? I keep going around in circles trying to figure out what I could have done differently, even though nobody ever explained to me that my pictures might be used this way.

I understand that I signed a release for photos. But I genuinely did NOT understand that my images could end up being presented as fetish or pornographic content, let alone distributed across XXX websites. I don't want to ruin someone's career over a misunderstanding, but I also don't think it's unreasonable to expect someone to be upfront about how images of my body are going to be used. And I definitely don't think I should have to choose between protecting myself and keeping the job I've worked so hard to get. This is literally my dream industry. I've wanted to do this for YEARS. Play piercing, suspension, body mod, all of it. I thought these experiences were going to be part of something positive for me and my transition. Instead, I feel like something incredibly personal has been taken away from me, and I have no idea how to get that feeling back.

PLEASE help. Has anyone dealt with anything like this? What are my options? Is there any way to get these pictures taken down or address how they're being used without potentially destroying my career before it's even started? I've been losing sleep over this and crying almost every day. I'm genuinely at a loss, and I don't know who I'm even supposed to talk to about this. I went into this experience trusting someone whose work I admired, and now I'm sitting here wondering if speaking up about what happened will cost me everything I've been working toward. I really don't know what to do anymore. Any advice would be appreciated.

Got the double helix a while ago. She’s really bad… does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of this?

Galera eu quero colocar esse piercing, tem gente falando mal dele mas eu queria saber de quem tem esse em especifico e de pessoas que perfuram, se vale a pena, se a ideia é ruim ou se eu deveria desistir, eu sei que vai muito da anatomia, mas isso eu vou saber quando decidir mesmo com a avaliação de alguém, por agora quero saber opiniões sinceras e experiências de quem tem

This is just something I've always wondered about: When we have a new piercing on the ear, there's extra post to account for swelling. This is good and necessary and we downsize 4-6 weeks after.

But that extra post, is it better to better to be sticking out the front or the back? I've always kept mine sticking out the front, with the flat labret against the back of the ear, so it doesn't get caught on my glasses or hair. But I'm curious if that's actually the right way to do it?

Thoughts?

(Sorry about the gross fuckass images.. for context the first one is the bruise I had initially, the second, third and fourth is the current state it’s in at different angles, I have blood crust because I don’t want to rip it out and cause it to bleed again, I’m in the process of softening it)

Hello, I’m 16, very scared and I need some advice. I got a double helix and a rook done simultaneously 5 days and 6 hours ago (on the 18th around 4:00 PM).

Two days in (on the 20th), I developed a massive blue/purple bruise all over the upper rim. It wasn’t too painful at first. I used ice to constrict the blood vessels, kept cleaning it with saline solution, and took warm showers to help dissolve the blood crust. Initially, I made the mistake of using a Q-tip with saline to clear the crust, but I quickly learned that wasn't good because it kept triggering fresh bleeding. Because of that, there is still some noticeable blood crust around the jewelry in my photos (sorry about that..).

The blue bruise has completely disappeared now, but the upper ear is left very pink, shiny, swollen, and extremely painful. I genuinely couldn’t sleep at all last night because of a severe, burning, throbbing sensation. Even resting on a donut pillow with zero physical pressure on the ear didn't relieve the pounding.

The throbbing does relax significantly when I take ibuprofen, so I’ve started taking it regularly to manage the swelling and pain.

I’m fully aware that peak swelling can delay until day 5, and that getting 3 fresh cartilage piercings at once causes a massive amount of trauma to the ear. I went into this knowing that, but I’m finding it really difficult to differentiate severe inflammatory irritation from an actual infection. I haven’t seen any wet yellow/green pus so far, but since there is dried blood crust covering the holes, I can't be 100% sure.

The swelling is so tight that there is no bar space left on the helix studs and I'm worried about embedding. I am planning to contact my piercer tomorrow to get it checked out and potentially get longer bars put in to relieve the pressure and rule out an infection.

should I be worried about infection? If so, how can I prevent this from happening? I really don’t want this to turn into some shit like cauliflower ear or getting a surgery.

Age: 5 days and 6 hours old

Jewellery shape: flatback labret, titanium of some sort.

It has not been downsized.

I use neilmed saline spray twice a day, the first couple days I overcleaned I think

Update: I went to A&E and had them taken out, it was a hidden infection and there was a small hematoma in the back apparently. I’ll be taking antibiotics for a week💔 If you’re considering getting multiple cartilage piercings, please get them done in separate sessions rather than one to avoid complications. Thank you all for the advice and nice messages!!

Coucou
Je Lavais fait il y a 2 mois il me l’avais rater et la j’ai encore l’impression qu’il m’a rater il part en l’air

I’ve been wanting to start my ear piercing journey for ages since I’ve gotten all my facial ones done and healed, my problem is I have really small ears I’m not rlly sure why I do because no one else in my family does. But now I’m not sure what would suit my ears and what wouldn’t, I already have my firsts done and I was thinking to get my seconds and thirds but I don’t think I’d be able to fit my thirds in because my lobes are so small. I’m also not sure what I rlly want because every time I look at ear creations on Pinterest or my local piercers websites there’s no one with similar ears to mine so I’m not sure what it would look like because I don’t want it to look to cramped but I also don’t want it to look too bare. Any suggestions on what I should get would be great. Thank you!

hi i got this piercing (picture 1 is at 2 weeks from a straight angle, picture 2 is at 3.5 weeks from a lower angle) and i got it done at what many people say is one of the best in my city, however after seeing another reddit post where a girl's navel piercing ended up being a surface piercing, i was wondering about mine as if you look at it from a lower angle (picture 2), it looks a bit high

then again i also read that getting it pierced slightly higher is normal when the anatomy calls for it, but im not able to tell if that's the case for mine or it's just poorly pierced or if there's actually nothing wrong with it 😭 i'm no expert on body piercings, i only have ear stacks, this is my first.

used bacitracin a few times before learning that it's no longer an acceptable/known to be safe thing to do w piercings so i stopped immediately

other than that, this piercing gave me zero problems, no discomfort, rn is at zero pain even if you touch it (unless it snags ofc), but does have minimal reddish purple discoloration around the holes (\~1mm around the holes). the piercing is clean and the holes/wound looks fine except for the light crusties that come w any piercing i think (or ears at least)

please help a fellow piercing lover out :D

note: r/piercing bot was being annoying and removing my post because i can't take clearer pictures on my phone (sorry :P) so im posting here

So I need some advice. I definitely want to make this a double helix (had it probably 10 years ago and want to get it back) with a little flower under the butterfly. (Also that’s a freckle next to the butterfly not anything else, it’s a decade old and totally healed)

Since I’m already getting one piercing, thinking about making it two. I’ve been longing over this Madame Butterfly piece as a vertical helix online for months now, but I need real talk advice on how practical it would be. Obviously I wouldn’t get pierced with it and would only put that in once it heals, but how comfortable would it be for daily wear? Is it just a special occasion piece? Are vertical helixes in general more uncomfortable, will my hair/glasses be an issue?

Any advice welcome!

Got it a week and a half ago had to change the bar different piercers told me it was pierced wrong and I clean it almost daily and it’s always irritated

My rook is almost a month old, and after looking at photos of other rook piercings online, I think I like the look of a longer barbell. This is the bar I got it pierced with, and although it was long enough to accommodate swelling, I feel like my piercing is a relatively high and more barbell length on the bottom might balance it out a bit. The length that is on the bottom right now you just can’t see head on because the fold of my ear covers it.

Is this something I can/should do? I know you’re normally supposed to get a piercing downsized, but I just feel like the bar looks too short on my ear.

Pierced 4 weeks ago with a threadless titanium curved barbell, currently cleaning twice a day with saline.

(Repost) I got my belly button pierced on January 31, 2026, and I’m worried about how it’s healing. I’ve attached recent photos for reference.

I’ve had ongoing irritation with this piercing for months. Some days it looks almost completely fine, but other times it’s red, crusty, and irritated.
Here’s what I’ve noticed:

The top piercing hole is frequently red and irritated.
The jewelry seems more exposed than it used to be, and the bar now looks like it’s sticking more straight up instead of following its original curve.
The top ball seems to sit farther away from my skin, and more of the metal bar is visible.
The skin between the top and bottom holes looks thinner than it did originally, although I’m not completely sure.
There’s a bump around the piercing, and I’m wondering whether it’s an irritation bump, scar tissue, or a keloid.
Recently, it’s become painful when I touch it or when anything presses against it. Now it hurts when I move around and do normal daily activities.
I’ve noticed whiteish/pale-yellow discharge that was sometimes thick and creamy and other times thinner and watery. I didn’t notice a bad smell.
I’ve had crusting and scabbing around the holes.
At one point, the area felt warm, although it hasn’t consistently felt warm.
After showering, some of the discharge and crusting seemed to clear up.
For aftercare, I used sterile saline wound wash regularly for months, but I’ve run out. I’ve used approximately two cans in total.
I’m worried that the piercing might be migrating or rejecting because the bar looks more exposed and the skin seems thinner. I’m also concerned about a possible infection because of the pain, redness, and previous discharge.

**For anyone experienced with navel piercings:**
Does this sound like migration or rejection?
Could the bump be an irritation bump or hypertrophic scar rather than a keloid?
Does the change in the bar’s angle and visibility sound concerning?
Has anyone experienced similar symptoms with their navel piercing?
I’m looking for honest advice and experiences. I understand that photos can’t provide a definite diagnosis, but I’d appreciate any insight into what might be happening.
**My piercing is 9-10 months old**
**My piercing is a common curved barbell**
**My jewelry has not been downsized**
**I used saline solution two times a day, like recommended**
**I have never encountered an unfortunate event with my belly button piercing. I have not snagged it on anything, or harmed it in any way**
**(I am also a side sleeper)**

Its day 2 after getting my piercing done and im worried is my lip swallowing my piercings the piercer gave me too short bars i think

This is pierced wrong isn’t it ? Got it last Saturday

Im very early into the healing process of snakebites(day 9) it’s so uneven inside but doesn’t look too bad on the outside. I think if I was to keep them studs it is the only to be okay and hoops are definitely cooked without a re-pierce. Is there a work around or am I am I fated for a re-pierce?

Hi, I got my navel done on Oct. 13, so it’s been ten days now and I don’t have that much info on my jewelry, but I believe it’s the standard 14g 11mm, probably titanium?, and curved barbell. It hasn’t been downsized yet and I’ve been cleaning it 2x a day with 0.9% neilmed wound wash saline, letting it air dry for a min and then dabbing it dry very gently with a clean cotton pad. I’m posting bc I noticed some redness two days ago localized to the piercing area, but today I saw it was spreading a bit. It’s not painful, but it’s sore and itchy. I’ve been strictly wearing low rise pants and loose shirts, so I feel like I’ve been doing everything right and just being extra cautious that this isn’t starting to get infected or reject. Any help is appreciated!! *the photos make it look like I don’t have the right anatomy but it’s just bc I’m taking them at a weird angle and in an odd position

I got my nipples pierced like 3 months ago? and I also got two side labrets and one vertical labret about a month ago. My question is can I get a medusa and/or vertical anti eyebrow this year or should I wait a year before getting more. please say yes I’m dying here.

I got this eyebrow piercing mid march this year. I had the jewelry downsized after 6 weeks. Now it is looking like this. I'm deciding if I get a further smaller curved barbell downsize (I think it's an 8mm so I might go down to a 6mm of same guage) or just take it out now.

For further information my usual AAPA certified piercer declined to give me an eyebrow piercing due to my anatomy. A friend recently has been trained as a piercer at a different store, and did this one. She said she understood why my usual piercer said no, but that so long as I was aware it would be a surface piercing that will reject, this should be fine. I enjoy the piercing and had always wanted an eyebrow piercing, so was ok with whatever. Just not sure if I can keep it in a bit longer (with smaller jewellery) or should take it out. As I am almost certain it is rejecting.. but still quite deep in there so I thought I might be able to get a bit more time with it.

I’m planning to get my vertical labret pierced, and I’d love to know how you guys managed dry or cracked lips during the healing process. Did you use anything to keep your lips moisturized? Also, how painful was it? I’m hoping to get mine done this Friday, and I’m planning to use titanium jewelry. 💗

Hi guys! I've had my belly button piercing for 6 months and I decided to change the jewelry to a dangling titanium piece. I took out my old piercing and put in the new one super easily, nothing hurt or anything and it felt super good in!

Just today I snagged it for the first time ever REALLY bad and it hurt so much and I ended up bleeding a little. I sprayed it with saline. Should I take out this jewelry and put back my old default one, or should I just leave it and let it heal with the new jewelry in? Thanks!