Gilded Lotus Luxury Piercing (located within the Plantas + Tinta Tattoo Studio) is an independent, locally [woman] owned tattoo and piercing studio located within the Tampa / Seminole Heights area. 

Address:

 1715 N Howard Ave Suite C

 Tampa, FL 33607

Due to the primarily appointment-only based services, there is currently no studio phone number. All artists typically work through their booking websites, email, or social media. Thank you for the understanding.

While we work to be efficient, we are a client centered studio. We aim to not only pierce and bedazzle - but look to help continue educating clients with what they are experiencing and how to work with their jewelry. Not just service and send. 

Safe, professional, experienced, quality customer service. Over 15 years collective knowledge and experience with our piercing staff. 

All of our jewelry meets implant grade standards, and are worthy of a lifetime of wear. 

Yes! The studio has *some* street parking in front of the building, as well as a parking lot available behind the plaza. There is no cost for parking.

All Jewelry sold from this location is all sales final. Once jewelry exits the studio (if you purchase and do not have one of our piercers install for you) you cannot bring the item back for return or exchange. If you select jewelry and we install it - it is yours to purchase. For health and safety purposes, we cannot allow anyone to “try on” jewelry. Our professionals are always happy to assist and show you how your jewelry works and get you fitted.

We at this time use Square point of sale systems. We accept credit and debit card transactions, and Apple Pay. 

We are always happy to assist wherever we can and as long as we have a piercer available we are happy to get you in the chair. With that said we primarily work through appointments on services and clients will be encouraged to book before anything else at https://gilded-lotus-luxury-piercing.square.site/

For any new piercing appointments, we use Square appointments and encourage clients to use our link here at https://gilded-lotus-luxury-piercing.square.site/ to set any new appointments. This will have the most current and up to date time slots available. 

We understand life has an unpredictable way about it, and know that sometimes plans do not always go the way we initially wanted. If you need to reschedule please contact us as soon as possible and we can move your appointment to work best with your time. If you show more than 10 minutes late to your appointment and we do not have the appropriate time to provide your service, we will reschedule. 

If there is a last minute, day-of reschedule or you are unable to show to your appointment, and do not call or contact us, the appointment will be canceled and a cancellation fee will be charged.

For any adult 18 years and older, we must have an in-date Government issued photo ID. 

We cannot accept any out of date/expired identification forms. Since we copy and retain photo ID for health department records, we are unable to accept military ID. Acceptable identification forms would include a Drivers License, State Identification card, or Passport. (Criteria primarily showing photo ID with name and date of birth). 

Florida requires us to have a notarized consent form for any minor services. This includes piercing, but also jewelry change outs and installs. Our studio does encourage having some form of I.D. for the minor, but it is not currently required. The legal parent/guardian on the release form must be present with in-date government issued I.D. for all services. 

For minors Ages 5 through 12 we  require a consultation prior to piercing (and encourage prior to booking a piercing appointment as to ensure no loss on booking fees).. This will be a no cost sit down with at least one piercer to go over general heal times, what to expect with the piercing experience, expected price quotes and even select jewelry. If there are any concerns about going forward we can consult on how we can provide the best experience when the minor is ready for the piercing. 

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Age Minimums

• Age 5 -12 - Ear lobes

• Age 13 - Helix, Tragus Conch

• Age 14 - 15 - Nostril, Rook, Septum

• Age 16 -17 - eyebrow, Daith, Lip, Navel, Frenulum (inner webbing of lips), Snug, Upper/Lower Lip, Industrial

• Age 18+ Bridge, Dermal, Tongue, Nipples, Genitals

Absolutely no genital, dermal, bridge, tongue, or nipple piercings will be performed on minors, even with a consenting parent or guardian. Studio policies are a general culmination between what our insurance policies will cover & experience with current servicing piercers. We believe we carry a responsibility in what we can offer and hold the right to be selective on what we provide and policies are subject to change at any time deemed necessary. 

Notary forms for any services for minors are required. No exceptions - this goes for fresh piercings, as well as any jewelry changes, downsizes, or simple jewelry removals. New form each time for every new service.

 The legal guardian on the form must be present fully for the procedure. 

Notary forms are null should any age or information on the form change, the signing guardian is not present or the date on the stamp passes. 

Unless documented by a legal court, no one other than parent or guardian can sign for a minor. 

(Court documents are required if so). 

Once the minor has turned 18 years, they are considered an adult and must then have their own in-date, government issued photo I.D. for any further services. 

Due to it being a conflict of interest - we do not (and legally cannot) have a notary on staff. Please do not rely on having one readily available and please plan accordingly. 

We have blank forms linked on our booking website, or directly here:(INSERT MINOR NOTARY FORM)

https://gilded-lotus-luxury-piercing.square.site/uploads/b/e189d150-4caf-11ed-838f-b775bc488a54/9bab9c40-4f70-11ed-a6c3-07df4040283b.pdf

Piercings will vary in cost between the service fee, and cost of jewelry. At this time, most piercings will start around $75.00 and go from there depending on services and jewelry.

Our pricing breaks down as : service fee + jewelry price = final cost. 

 We have many different styles and materials to choose from. 

Please call or stop by the studio for more accurate quotes on cost.

Since we are dealing with a controlled wound heal, there is a limit to ensure your body can focus on the long term healing that is involved with healing piercings. We suggest healing no more than 4 piercings at any time. 

In a scenario where you may have gotten 2 piercings in the week previously, then the max amount of piercings in the next session would be no more than 2 - for example. And for some bodies this may still be a lot to handle. “Time heals all wounds” truly applies here and you are worth the time it takes to have a successful piercing. 

All materials are sourced from reputable companies that meet ASTM standards for internal wear. Our materials in jewelry will be implant grade titanium, implant grade steel upon request (custom order at this time), implant grade niobium, as well as sold 18k-14k Yellow, Rose and White gold. Or, with our much larger gauge jewelry for lobes, we carry glass.

For any fresh piercing, we are only able to use jewelry sourced from our manufacturers as we can guarantee the quality and make of the materials. 

If you are looking to install jewelry in a healed piercing we are happy to assist. With any jewelry brought in from an outside source (whether it be a small purchase from an online boutique or a familial heirloom) we must make mention that we cannot guarantee the quality of these items and without knowing 100% on the material - we will not be able to predict how the wear may feel for you and your existing piercings. Bringing in any items like this, you acknowledge this possibility and take responsibility for any poor reactions to jewelry brought in. We understand the need for professionals and we respect your autonomy on what you choose to wear. Just know that some pieces may be advised against or suggested you wait before we offer to assist depending on the condition of the piercing and jewelry brought to us. 

At this time we are unable to offer reprocessing services for worn jewelry pieces. We appreciate the understanding with current buildout limitations.

Yes - with identification needs & information is listed for consent form purposes.

Since our piercing stations are fairly small, we do permit a pal - but suggest limiting it to bringing a single person back with you. If the piercee is a minor - then their guardian on their notarized releases & consent form must be present and any other attendees can wait in our lobby.

Piercings are a modification to the body. There is a possibility of discomfort with any of these services. But being human we have a relationship with discomfort - ever skin your knee from playing on the playground? Perhaps ever experience a paper cut? We deal with small aches and other moments in daily life. Consider this just another brief moment in that realm. And our professionals will compassionately facilitate and walk you through this process. You’re not alone.

Simple answer - No (please). The numbing creams/topicals or injectables can negatively impact how the piercing may be made or the healing process. Our piercers need to be able to evaluate the anatomy appropriately and the numbing solutions can make that part of the process difficult. Since it “freezes” the tissues and capillaries it may change how the tissue moves during evaluation and can result in a poorly placed piercing or a client may experience excess swelling not typically seen without numbing solutions. 

As piercing professionals - we have no footing in the medical profession and we cannot diagnose any ailments or apply any possible remedies. This will include any piercings discussed on the internet to cure anything. There is currently no known or proven documentation that proves any piercing will cure any ailment. All we can guarantee is a well placed piercing with quality jewelry and professionals to see you through the healing process.

These are some basic aftercare instructions. We believe in a “less is more” attitude and keeping it quite simple. The human body is amazing and with a little help, quite able to heal itself. Contact us if you have other questions!

STEPS:

• WASH your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching your piercing for any reason.

• SALINE rinse to clean as needed while healing. For certain piercings, it may be easier to apply saline to clean gauze saturating any buildup with saline solution. OR You can saturate and rinse with running water in the shower with your regular hygiene routines. 

• RINSE piercing site as needed to remove any residue from the body or cleaning solution. Moving or rotating jewelry is NOT necessary during cleaning or rinsing at any time.

•DRY by gently patting with a clean and disposable paper product. Cloth towels can harbor bacteria and snag the jewelry causing injury and irritation.

• Initially: some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, and/or bruising. (The inflammation in this part of the process is why we start with typically longer or wider jewelry initially.)

• During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) which will form a minimal amount of crust on the jewelry. The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.

You may see inflammation settle after a month or two of initial piercing. Once this occurs, we encourage a checkup and possibly getting shorter or more snug fit jewelry. This will help reduce large movement or a chance to snag the piercing, making a smoother healing process.

• Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it to move. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily routine, your body may begin to secrete an odor, this is normal however is an indication that your piercing needs to be cleaned more often. (Again shower and saline ONLY suggested).

• A piercing might seem healed before the healing process is complete. Although it feels healed, the deeper tissue remains fragile. Be patient, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing process.

Even healed piercings that you have had for years can shrink or close in minutes! This varies from person to person; if you like your piercing, keep your jewelry in.

Please come in 1 month after piercing for a check up and possible down size of jewelry

•Avoid cleaning with alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or any harsh products, as these can damage cells. Avoid using ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.

• Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions, or any products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). These cause irritation and are not intended for long-term wound care.

• Avoid over-cleaning. This can delay the healing process and irritate your piercing.

•Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry, and vigorous cleaning. These activities can cause the formation of uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing, and other complications.

• Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.

• Avoid submerging the piercing in unhygienic bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc. (Minimum suggestion is 3 months, but professionally we highly encourage being 100% fully healed - anything before that may risk irritation or infection). 

•Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, and sprays, etc.

•DO NOT TOUCH! Beyond gentle cleaning - NO twisting, turning, spinning, rotating or removing the jewelry during the healing for most optimal healing. 

•AND LASTLY - While the internet is an incredible resource for information, there is also a lot of shared information that is dated (we have found better ways since) or just plain wrong (tea tree oil is not your friend). Please reach out to your piercer if you have any concerns and avoid using any internet sensational remedies without communicating with your piercer.

Honestly - the first answer is going to be that every body heals differently. That stress, how you stay hydrated or eating habits will all have an impact on the body. Please firstly give yourself time and patience.

With that said though, my Average Heal times for piercings range:

9-12 Months for Helix, Conch, Industrial, Tragus, Rook, Daith, Snug, (pretty much any cartilage piercing), Bridge, Nipples, Navel, Dermal/Surface Anchor

4-6 Months Lobes, Nostril, Eyebrow, Lip, 

2-4 Months Tongue, webbing

For specific or large gauge size piercing, please contact your piercer.

We appreciate your trust and for coming back to the studio for any concerning piercing experiences you are having. We don't just make new piercings, we are here to assist you through the healing process. We pride ourselves on aseptic technique and while we encourage you to come see your original piercer for any concerns you may have - we are NOT doctors and CAN NOT offer any medical advice. If you feel your piercing or health is at risk, please seek a qualified professional immediately. 

If you are experiencing simply irritation with a piercing though, please see us directly. We will go over a plethora of questions to help identify the root of the cause of irritation and troubleshoot to get your healing back on track.

There are many reasons why we won’t use a piercing gun. While the “process” of a piercing gun may seem faster - the simple force of the piercing from a piercing gun can create blunt force trauma from the “piercing”. In addition there is no way to appropriately sterilize the “gun” for initial use. The jewelry used in these mechanisms are typically low quality mystery materials and are at best made as a “one - size - fits - all” and won't work well for nearly all piercings. This is nearly the same for “hand pressurized devices” as they will in turn impact the body in the same traumatic way. The human body is amazing and can heal in spite of a lot of things. But we want to give you the most optimal service, piercing application, and jewelry to make this the easiest healing you can have. Let’s say “NO” to piercing guns + Pressure devices. 

Shortest and safest answer - never. Longer answer is: everyone heals and your piercings will behave differently depending on location of piercing, how long you have had the piercing, and condition of the piercing channel when jewelry is removed. Even if you have been healed for a long time, no issues and all is sunshine and rainbows, there is always a small possibility that a piercing channel may close without jewelry keeping it open. But, if you choose to remove jewelry and have difficulty reinstalling it, we are here to help with all piercing and jewelry issues. Please stay in touch - the sooner we see you the easier it may be to get you back on track!