As clothes get slinkier this summer, consider flaunting some body art

"First they pull out your tongue and put it in a metal clamp, then pierce it from the bottom up," says 28-year-old Ian Badenhorst. "Afterwards it was swollen, and I couldn't eat properly. I also had difficulty speaking."

He chats over a beer with similarly pierced friends. Among the group there are dozens of earrings as well as tongue, nose bridge, eyebrow and chin rings. His friend Lee James has five piercings: lip, tongue, bridge of the nose, eyebrow and chin. It may seem madness to some, but Ian says that he "always wanted to do something different" and that his girlfriend dared him.

Ian is not alone in his new piercing fetish. Bobo, a pretty 27-year-old waitress at Malone's, has recently had her nose and belly button pierced because "it looks good." She feels that Chinese people are now accepting of piercings, and fortunately she works in a Western bar where no one seems to mind.

Of course many would disagree with Bobo's estimation about the increasing acceptance of the piercing and tattooing trend. To some it is simply another way of beautifying the body and no different from dyeing your hair, to others it will always be seen as a form of punishment or self mutilation. Ms. Ni, whose 24-year-old son plans to get a tattoo says, "I've read that the body is a precious gift and should never be abused or defaced, and I agree with that." Similarly, Mr. Zhu, a 36-year-old taxi driver, says, "I don't like it. I think it would be bad for my business."

Others, however, think it's great for business. JohnLong Tattoo, on Maoming Bei Lu, is one of the earliest tattoo and piercing places to open in Shanghai. Today, the place thrives with an average of 80 customers per month. "The most popular areas to get pierced are belly, eyebrow, lip and ear," says manager Violet Chow. At JohnLong, it costs ￥100 per piercing or ￥200 for more complicated areas like the tongue or nipple. "Nipple piercings are not so common and are mostly wanted by Westerners," Violet says. Genital piercing, however, isn't generally done at all as the areas need a lot of special aftercare and are prone to infection.

Tattoos have similarly enjoyed increasing popularity during the last few years. When celebrities like David Beckham and Angelina Jolie flaunt their body art, the masses stumble forward to keep within step of what's sexy. And as the weather heats up and clothes become skimpier, summer in Shanghai seems the best time to take the plunge.

Nicoletta Ramsenthaier, who works for a clothing manufacturer, proudly shows off her new tattoo. The unusual design, which plays across her foot, was her own creation. "I already have two and was in the mood for another one," she says. She chose to have it on her left foot as it can easily be shown off when wearing heels. In the fashion industry tattoos are not unusual; in fact they're becoming commonplace -- so much, in fact, that Chinese and Westerners aged 30-plus are also now joining the craze.

Many such designs are unique to the owner and are often done as a reminder of a special event such as a wedding or the birth of a child. One 38-year-old expat, Eugenia Lindsey, decided to get a dragonfly tattoo as a reminder of Shanghai when she found out she would be leaving China for good. Although tattoos may be, as the owner of Ed Tattos, Ed Mensajes, says, "timeless and something you can live with your entire life," they are definitely not costless. Prices range from ￥300 to ￥2000 depending on size, color and difficulty of design.

Pain and safety, however, are two of the biggest worries regarding tattooing and piercing. "Yes of course it hurts," says Ramsenthaier "but it is bearable." Badenhorst agrees. "When I had my tongue pierced, the pain only lasted about 5 minutes," he says. Concerns about the transmission of viruses via the blood such as tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis B and C, however, are much more real. All can be contracted if the needles have been reused or not sterilized properly. Going to a reputable establishment or somewhere that has been recommended is your safest option.