If you are getting an oral piercing, the piercer will give you a small cup of listerine to rinse with for at least one minute. This will kill any bacteria present in your mouth, thus prepping the area to be pierced.

If your piercing is elsewhere, after you are sitting comfortably in an adjustable chair, or lying on a doctor's table, the piercer will swab the piercing area with Povidone Iodine. This servers the same purpose as the Listerine does with oral piercings, that is to kill bacteria. The piercer will then make some preliminary marks, possibly using a ruler, caliper, or other measuring tool. Next come the sterile gloves, as the piercer sets up the instruments that will be used for the procedure. Most of the time, but not always, some sort of forceps, or clamp, is used to compress the skin, holding it firmly, but not painfully, in place. This will insure a quick and accurate piercing. A sterilized rubber band will be used to adjust the tension of the forceps. If a clamp or pair of forceps is not used, a device called a needle receivertube may be used. This device serves to isolate and stretch the area to be pierced, and to provide a safe exitway for the needle. 

Once the clamp or tube is in place, the piercing is done very quickly, usually taking one second or less. The clamp or tube is removed, and a cork is placed on the end of the needle.

Next comes the jewelry. If the jewelry wasn't inserted in the same motion as the needle, then it follows the needle through, usually guided by another smaller pair of forceps. It is then adjusted, and, in the case of rings, the bead is inserted, or in the case of barbells, the beads are screwed on.