Blood carries infection-fighting white blood cells throughout the body--so much of the risk has to do with how much blood flow the pierced area receives. For example, fleshy areas such as the bottom of the ear lobes have lower incidences of complications because they have more blood flow, compared with the upper ear lobe, which contains a lot of cartilage and fewer blood vessels. (By the way, cartilage can also exert pressure on piercings, making them more difficult to heal.)

The eyebrow is a highly "vascular" or blood-filled area, and is generally an area associated with a lower incidence of infection.

One other risk is scarring. Since the eyebrow is one of the most visible areas for a piercing, scarring in this area can be particularly distressing.

If you do decide to get a piercing, proper hygiene--both during and after the piercing--can make all the difference.

Make sure you get the piercing done by a professional in a safe and clean environment. Regulations on safety vary by state, but in general, the salon should have a sterilizing machine for their instruments and should keep their instruments in sealed pouches.

They should use only sterilized jewelry of non-toxic metals, have their technicians wear disposable rubber gloves during the process and make sure they sterilize the area to be pierced beforehand. Beware of places that use piercing guns, which can cause tissue damage and infection.

Your piercing technician will explain how to care for your piercing after it's done, but be prepared to clean the area each day until it heals.

Before you settle on a shop, check its reputation. Talk to other people who might have gotten their piercings at the place you are considering and check online. For more information on piercings, check out gURL's fast facts on body piercings.

Good luck.