Aftercare for Hook Suspension
Hook suspension is a form of body modification, where hooks or barbells are inserted under the skin, and used as ‘anchors’ attached to rope to suspend someone.
Hook suspensions and energy pulls are not classically ‘starter’ activities. They can be difficult and dangerous, but practiced with due care and attention, they can be truly heightening experiences.
If you’re interested in being suspended, ensure that you carefully vet the Top in question, and always be mindful that there are often psychological side effects, in addition to physical healing time.
Healing After Hook Suspension
Healing time varies person to person, but the following information should be helpful in ensuring that you keep safe and well during the process.
During the initial healing process, there will most likely be some bleeding, localized swelling, tenderness, or bruising. It’s perfectly normal to see some discoloration, experience itching, and even encounter excretion of thin whitish-yellow fluid
Important note: This is not pus; pus is thicker. If you suspect it’s pus, you may need a course of antibiotics to fight infection.
The area may appear healed before the healing process is complete. This is due to the wound healing from the outside in.
Be patient and keep the area clean throughout the entire healing process.
How To Keep Your Piercings Clean
Wash your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching any open wound for any reason.
Use a preferred liquid antimicrobial or liquid antibacterial soap.
Apply a small pearl-sized bead of soap in your hand, preferably while showering, and wash the area for no more than 30 seconds.
Be sure to rinse well.
Let the area air dry, or pat dry with a disposable paper product.
Do not use cotton towels or a similar fabric.
Do not over-clean - Avoid the use of alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, betadine, hibiclens, or ointment.
Everyday Care For New Piercings:
Stay healthy, get enough sleep, and eat a nutritious diet.
Stretch gently to reduce tightness in the area.
Keep open wounds out of soaking water, such as baths, lakes, pools, jacuzzis, etc. Consider using a waterproof bandage to protect the area if necessary.
Avoid oral contact, rough play, and contact with others’ bodily fluids on or near the open wound.
Avoid stress and recreational drug use, including excessive caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
Avoid all beauty and personal care products on or around the open wound including cosmetics, lotions, serums, and sprays.
Potential Psychological Effects of Hook Suspension
Prepare for the possibility of being overwhelmed, or underwhelmed
It’s an extraordinary experience to be suspended, and once you’re back on the ground you’ll be high from the experience. This ‘high’ can last anywhere from a day or two to a week. Be mindful that at some point you have to come back down, and it’s inevitable that this will happen.
When coming down from the initial high, you might experience an altered reality. There are no grave dangers, but you may experience ‘drop’. If you find yourself feeling down after suspending, it’s often helpful to share your feelings with others that have experience in suspension.
Due to the complexity and overwhelming task of interpreting the experience, you may not feel the spiritual or psychological effect until some weeks later.
In addition, understand that the normal perceptions of time may not apply - don’t be surprised if a 15 second suspension gives you what seems like hours and hours of experience to interpret. It’s perfectly normal.
As with most kinks, don’t rush into the next experience too soon to enjoy the full effect of the last.
Special thanks go to The_Carnie for his assistance in providing this guide for us to share with you. The_Carnie is a highly experienced practitioner of suspension, needle play, and piercings. If you have any questions about your healing, or if you’d like to know more, please reach out to him directly.
