What appears to be a decorative fad, pursued by people of all ages, is, for the most part, an invasion of the body by poorly trained individuals. Simple-to-complex, the insertion of body jewelry is embarked upon on a whim with little concern for health, including the possibility of infection. Many of those who opt for piercings have outcomes that are unremarkable and relatively trouble free. Others, less fortunate, end up with irreversible scars, serious infections, torn anatomic structures and teeth that are fractured, disfigured or have drifted out of line.