A student comes to your office excited about the prospect of getting her tongue pierced. "Isn't it cool?" The popular trend of body piercing is on the rise. It is our job as nurses and health promoters to alert students to the facts. Students must be informed about the risks involved so they can make suitable decisions about their bodies. Piercing may be more than an assertion of individuality. This article describes body piercing health risks and treatment methods, and how school nurses can advise students on the risks and care of body piercing.