SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle...GUESS WHAT??!! Updated first post...

I have been researching this for the past week because 1 of my holes closed. A few jewlery stores still do piercing, but not many...and they use the gun, which is how I got my ears originally pierced when I was 4. However, law required tattoo parlors to only use needles because the guns can not be sanitized and they can crush the skin and cause damage. So, this will be my first time w/ a needle. My question is...how badly does this hurt? I know what to expect from the gun, but given the above problems, I think I'll opt for the needle. I want to wear earings for mine and my MOH's wedding, but I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to needles. Anyonw have it done w/ a needle that can give me an idea of what to expect. I'm such a baby!

UPDATE: I am so excited!! I played around some more w/ some Neosporin, Alcohol, and an ice cube and the hole re-opened in the back w/ no pain! I did not have to even get my ears re-pierced. So now I have the earings FH gave me (14k gold studs) in my ear! I am so happy that I am going to be able to wear earings for my MOH's wedding, as well as my own.

Message edited 5/29/2006 7:25:14 PM.

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

wow! i have never head of a needle piercing in the ear before....

i actually just saw a sign at my doctors office that they do piercings too!!

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

i had mine done by the gun, both on my ear lobe (where i once wore 5 holes ) and in my cartilage. When I pierced the little nub of the ear (I forget what it's called) they used a needle and I didn;t have the best experience. It could have been that my cartliage was thicker there but it got very infected and I had to take it out.

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

Where is your doctor? I wonder how much that would cost.

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

Hummm All my piercings were done with Gun;s 5 holes in my ears and my belly I dont remember it hurt so much i closed my eyes for most of it ..

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

i've gotten my ear pierced using a needle but not in the traditional lobe area......I have my "conch" pierced...it's the hard fold in your ear between you cartlidge area and your inner ear......I actually prefer the needle...it's slower.....but I think it hurts less...the gun is quick...but def. not pain-less...its gives you the throbbing feeling afterward that you don't get with a needle. i'm not going to say it didn't hurt at all...but it's not gonna be as bad as you think.... Good luck!

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

---

Posted by Wintersbride

Where is your doctor? I wonder how much that would cost.

---

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

the gun should be fine...just make sure they clean your ear before and you keep it clean after the piercing.

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

definetely go with a needle. you just said its cleaner with a needle. um hello you dont want someone elses ear junk and cooties on you haha. its too risky these days. the needle might hurt a lil more but it wont get infected and it's just safer. i have had plenty of piercings in my day and i've only had one get infected which is the bellybutton but thats common to get that infected cause you're constantly rubbing it with your clothes.

so please, just go to a tattoo shop or something. maybe go to utopia it might be cheaper.

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

My mom pierced my ears with a needle when I was about twelve. She numbed it with ice and I remember sitting there and was like ARE YOU DONE YET. and she said oh, I'm done, the earing is in, I was just cleaning up the water from the ice. You'll be fine!!!!!!!

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

Well the funny thing is that I played around w/ it some and the earing actually went in more then 3/4 of the way, but would not break through to the other side...so I got a needle...my conclusion is that there is some scar tissue because even w/ the needle I could not break through. So, I am going to try calling a doctor to do it. The tattoo place did not have a needle small enough for a regular sized earing...can you believe it?

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

The exact same thing happened to me. I stopped wearing earrings for a few years and the holes closed up partially. I couldn't get the earrings to go in all the way, just partially. Anyway my aunt used a needle to repierce them. It didn't hurt at all and I didn't even notice when she did it.

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle

mine were done with a needle... just use alot of ICE...

Also make sure you sterlize the needle and have peroxide on hand and ointment.

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle...GUESS WHAT??!! Updated first post...

bump

Re: SWR - Piercing...gun vs needle...GUESS WHAT??!! Updated first post...

I actually pierced my own cartilage in my left ear with a needle... and lots of ice. I was home for Christmas during college... I was bored and wanted to do something different. With lots of ice, all I felt was pressure! Looking back, I would rather have had someone else do it, but it didn't hurt!