Home ear piercing

[opalescent]

Has anyone tried these little disposable ear piercing kits? They seem to be all over TikTok etc.
I want 2-3 more lobe piercings; and it seems crazy to pay £40 for it?

Thoughts?😊

[quote opalescent]@TheBodyPiercer I don't in any way wish to undermine your expertise as a professional piercer. And I'm sure you've had to correct many dodgy piercings. But for a bog standard couple of lobe piercings, I would resent paying £40 to be honest. It took less than a second. If I have an issue, I'll take them out.

If I was going for anything more complex I would definitely go to a professional.
[/quote]
There's nothing big standard about a lobe piercing if you're a professional. I'm clearly not going to win this argument but we spend years learning about anatomy, placement, infection control, safe materials, blood borne pathogens amongst many other things. I don't just poke a needle through a lobe, there's a lot more thought, consideration and technical application than that involved.

I hope you have no healing issues but please don't be so dismissive of someone else's profession.

It may seem easy and simple to you and only take a second but I can assure you it wasn't done safely with minimal risks involved.

Totally agree with @TheBodyPiercer. People are ignorant about the risks of piercings and I reiterate my view that all gun piercings should be banned.

You can buy piercing needles online. They’re easy to use. You can slot the earring into the end of the needle and just pull it through into the ear. I’d not bother with a gun type system.

I have my ears pierced around 9 times and I think I did around 6 myself with an earring I just push through.

@TheBodyPiercer I don't think I've been dismissive of your profession, but I'm sorry that you do.
When someone chooses to pursue a profession, they will, of course become more knowledgeable than the average person in that field. But that doesn't give them the actual monopoly on that area.
A chef is probably far more skilled than I am at preparing food, but I still cook, every single day.

It's perfectly possible to give your professional thoughts without catastrophising or implying that others are being stupid.

I am a very experienced NHS nurse, and I don't think I've done anything particularly reckless.

Lots of people, globally, pierce their own ears (and other body parts!) daily, without incident, and have done since time began.

@Elnetthairnet that's interesting, I'll have a look 👍🏻

[quote opalescent]@TheBodyPiercer I don't think I've been dismissive of your profession, but I'm sorry that you do.
When someone chooses to pursue a profession, they will, of course become more knowledgeable than the average person in that field. But that doesn't give them the actual monopoly on that area.
A chef is probably far more skilled than I am at preparing food, but I still cook, every single day.

It's perfectly possible to give your professional thoughts without catastrophising or implying that others are being stupid.

I am a very experienced NHS nurse, and I don't think I've done anything particularly reckless.

Lots of people, globally, pierce their own ears (and other body parts!) daily, without incident, and have done since time began. [/quote]
Home cooking is unlikely to result in infection or embedded jewellery but hey.

If you are a nurse then you should be aware that a piercing gun can't be sterilised due to the fact that it would melt in the autoclave. I'm also assuming you wouldn't draw blood with something as blunt as an earring. You should also I assume be aware that you can't adequately prep skin with just an alcohol swap.

Hopefully you also trained your husband on cross contamination and how to don sterile gloves.

Like I say I hope you have no issues. But professional piercers who care are worth every penny of that £40.

I used to be a piercer. I have several myself nearly all done by someone learning (so they were free) no way would I do it to myself. You can't get things level or steady on yourself.

Also when training there were a good few goes on the dummy ear before letting them anywhere near real ones.

You can always ask around if any places have anyone new learning. They might do it for free or reduced but you do take a risk with that.

@TheBodyPiercer 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Learning to pierce body parts takes more than just a few goes. There was a surprising amount of theory when I learnt including some legal bits I was surprised about.

I would possibly consider getting a kit and doing my daughters ears BUT I am qualified and know what I'm doing. I likely won't though as by the time she's old enough to have it done it will be near 20 years since I last pierced anyone.

I've got 17 piercings and went to a professional for each...although when I say professional, for some I use that in very loose terms.

3 were done in this little shop in the green market in Newcastle, paid £2 for each of them and the woman just asked where you wanted it and did it there and then with the little gun. Didn't even sit you down or take you into the back of the shop or anything. I was only 16 at the time so didn't think much of it!

All 3 are wonky but fortunately that was the only thing wrong with them. All my others were done in tattoo/piercing studios or jewelers.

I know loads of people who have had infections from cheap or home piercings, but nothing too bad! I've known a few people who's piercings have split as they've been positioned wrong too.... It just doesn't seem worth the risk!

Home cooking is unlikely to result in infection or embedded jewellery but hey.

No but to be fair, it could result in food poisoning or severe burns. And chefs train for years.

There are inherent dangers in many things we do ourselves daily, that professionals can no doubt do better and more safely for a price.

Whoever said about contributing to antibiotic resistance - cool your jets.

@crayray

Home cooking is unlikely to result in infection or embedded jewellery but hey.

No but to be fair, it could result in food poisoning or severe burns. And chefs train for years.

There are inherent dangers in many things we do ourselves daily, that professionals can no doubt do better and more safely for a price.

Whoever said about contributing to antibiotic resistance - cool your jets.

Okay fair point. However eating is a necessity and most people can't afford a personal chef.

Ear piercings are not a necessity and OP could afford the £40 but thought it was crazy.

There will always be a spectrum of the risks that people are willing to take. I really do respect the work that professional piercers do, and wouldn't dream of attempting anything other than a lobe.

Personally I feel some of the responses here have been disproportionate and very dramatic , but I do accept we all see things differently 🤷🏻‍♀️

DIY is not a necessity and nor is gardening. All things that people do to improve the aesthetics around them and things that can be done at a cost by professionals. And things that can cause injury if not done by an expert (or even if done by an expert in some cases).

It's fine to argue against the OP's plan, but I do think there has been rather an overreaction on the thread.

@crayray

DIY is not a necessity and nor is gardening. All things that people do to improve the aesthetics around them and things that can be done at a cost by professionals. And things that can cause injury if not done by an expert (or even if done by an expert in some cases).

It's fine to argue against the OP's plan, but I do think there has been rather an overreaction on the thread.

It's only an overreaction if you don't see the severe issues caused by badly done piercings on a weekly basis.

I have several gun piercings healed on myself from when I was younger and knew no better. I've also seen some horrific infections, scarring, permanently misshapen ears from gun piercings.

I can get in my car and not wear a seatbelt and I might be fine, but I put it on anyway to minimise the risk.

The comment about septacemia and antibiotic resistance was definitely an overreaction.

Don't be a bloody idiot. These things work on blunt force trauma to pierce body parts.

I have no idea how or why this has become a thing so often repeated, by definition it isn't blunt force trauma, to do that you would need a pair of pliyers.

There's nothing big standard about a lobe piercing if you're a professional. I'm clearly not going to win this argument but we spend years learning about anatomy, placement, infection control, safe materials, blood borne pathogens amongst many other things. I don't just poke a needle through a lobe, there's a lot more thought, consideration and technical application than that involved.

But have you actually got a qualification?

I've had piercings both with guns and needle. One thing I have never seen is a piercer wearing sterile gloves or maintaining a sterile field. Piecing guns, like needles are sterile on arrival and single use so sterilising them is not a problem.

Holly Willoughby having her ears pierced 'properly', the piercer does put on sterile gloves but immediately desterilises by touching Holly.

Having said all that, OP are you insane?

@sashh

Don't be a bloody idiot. These things work on blunt force trauma to pierce body parts.

I have no idea how or why this has become a thing so often repeated, by definition it isn't blunt force trauma, to do that you would need a pair of pliyers.

There's nothing big standard about a lobe piercing if you're a professional. I'm clearly not going to win this argument but we spend years learning about anatomy, placement, infection control, safe materials, blood borne pathogens amongst many other things. I don't just poke a needle through a lobe, there's a lot more thought, consideration and technical application than that involved.

But have you actually got a qualification?

I've had piercings both with guns and needle. One thing I have never seen is a piercer wearing sterile gloves or maintaining a sterile field. Piecing guns, like needles are sterile on arrival and single use so sterilising them is not a problem.

Holly Willoughby having her ears pierced 'properly', the piercer does put on sterile gloves but immediately desterilises by touching Holly.

Having said all that, OP are you insane?

Piercers like any creative industry have various levels of expertise and experience.

Me personally yes I wear sterile gloves, I maintain a sterile aseptic field, everything is single use and sterile including the pen used for marking. I have never and will never use a gun, it is much safer and cleaner to not. Piercers that use guns do not have your best interests at the forefront of their mind.

This will not be the standard of every piercer, but it should be and thats why safe piercing organisations exist to help the general public make informed decisions.

The cartridge used in a gun is sterile, the gun itself is not and cannot be autoclaved.

@sashh

Don't be a bloody idiot. These things work on blunt force trauma to pierce body parts.

I have no idea how or why this has become a thing so often repeated, by definition it isn't blunt force trauma, to do that you would need a pair of pliyers.

There's nothing big standard about a lobe piercing if you're a professional. I'm clearly not going to win this argument but we spend years learning about anatomy, placement, infection control, safe materials, blood borne pathogens amongst many other things. I don't just poke a needle through a lobe, there's a lot more thought, consideration and technical application than that involved.

But have you actually got a qualification?

I've had piercings both with guns and needle. One thing I have never seen is a piercer wearing sterile gloves or maintaining a sterile field. Piecing guns, like needles are sterile on arrival and single use so sterilising them is not a problem.

Holly Willoughby having her ears pierced 'properly', the piercer does put on sterile gloves but immediately desterilises by touching Holly.

Having said all that, OP are you insane?

Also I can't tell if the piercer in the video is wearing sterile gloves or not, but you're correct, she should have prepped and sterilised the area before donning them; thus maintaining a sterile field.

Just because someones done it on TV doesn't mean it was done correctly.

I maintain a sterile aseptic field

Which one? they are different.

Also I can't tell if the piercer in the video is wearing sterile gloves or not

It's not completely clear but the way they are folded is the way sterile gloves are folded so I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

I have never and will never use a gun, it is much safer and cleaner to not.

The newer guns are sterile and single use, they don't have the power the old ones did. I can understand that someone who pierces many body parts and uses needles would not want a gun because they have expert control but it always seems to be 1) blunt force trauma, that isn't at all and 2) can't autoclave, but if it's single use and arrives sterile then that doesn't matter.

Also there are other methods of sterilisation.

Surgical spirit and a needle is all that is required. Keep it clean and it will be fine.

@sashh

I maintain a sterile aseptic field

Which one? they are different.

Also I can't tell if the piercer in the video is wearing sterile gloves or not

It's not completely clear but the way they are folded is the way sterile gloves are folded so I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

I have never and will never use a gun, it is much safer and cleaner to not.

The newer guns are sterile and single use, they don't have the power the old ones did. I can understand that someone who pierces many body parts and uses needles would not want a gun because they have expert control but it always seems to be 1) blunt force trauma, that isn't at all and 2) can't autoclave, but if it's single use and arrives sterile then that doesn't matter.

Also there are other methods of sterilisation.

Both. I'm aware of the difference. I'm not entirely sure why you're picking the argument with the person trying to argue the most safe method. Even if you beleive it's overkill surely it's better to be to clean.

They may be sterile but if she doesn't know how to use them then they're pointless.

Guns themselves are not single use and sterile, the cartridges might be but the device itself isn't. I'm not sure why there's even a discussion about how a blunt earring is better used than a needle which is actually designed for cutting the skin.

I'm not going to continue any further as it seems futile but I'd like to think my years of experience, involvement in health and safety organisations that have actually changed laws regarding piercings, qualifications etc makes me more qualified to answer than someone who watched Holly get her ears pierced on This Morning.

@TheBodyPiercer you don't need to be so lofty about it! How do you know OP doesn't know how to use the gun? Also there are kits available with guns that are for single use only!

[quote crayray]@TheBodyPiercer you don't need to be so lofty about it! How do you know OP doesn't know how to use the gun? Also there are kits available with guns that are for single use only![/quote]
If you'll read my previous posts you'll see why. Guns shouldn't be used at all for various reasons.

Also as mentioned the cartridges may be sterile and single use but the guns themselves aren't.

Sorry for appearing lofty but they're dangerous, misused and not fit for purpose, it's just big brand advertising and lack of education that makes people beleive they're acceptable.

Times change.

I remember doing my ears in the girls toilets and just pushing a stud through. Bloody hurt but I thought it was really cool.
Like a PP said it was the 90s and I was about 12 so thoughts of infection never entered my head. Never had any problems with the piercing but certainly wouldn't advocate either of my DD's doing the same when they are older!