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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Cartilage/helix piercing with a gun

82 replies

bigdecsions · 19/11/2019 11:10

Hi everyone,
I've decided I'm going to get my cartilage pierced this week. I've wanted it done since I was a teenager but never did, now I'm 33 I'm getting it done. I'm a big whuss really (even though I've pushed out 4dc it it's no pain relief ). I've read most people recommend a needle for piercing. I don't even know this. So I've now watched YouTube videos on this procedure and I'm scared lol. At the same time I've read a lot of people have used guns and been fine.
What does everyone think? Any recommendations? Ideally I'd love a gun as I know it's over in seconds.
Thanks

OP posts:

newnameforthis76 · 19/11/2019 11:41

Don't get it done with a gun. Don't get any piercing done with a gun, to be honest - needles are much safer and more hygienic. There's really no reason to get a gun piercing these days as proper piercing shops are everywhere now.

I had two cartilage piercings done with a gun when I was younger and one with a needle. The needle piercing as was a lot less painful - I barely felt it and it was over in a split second - and there was a lot less redness, swelling and soreness afterwards.

Healing time varies dramatically from person to person, regardless of the method. Healing is usually better with a needle but can still take a very long time. All my piercings have taken at least four months to fully heal and my navel took six, even with all the proper aftercare.

Sohololopopo · 19/11/2019 11:41

WTF NO it needs to be done with a needle or not at all!

KevinsCarter · 19/11/2019 11:45

Some won't but many do use numbing spray. The only piercing I had trouble with wasn't numbed, but that is probably my personal opinion. Shop around until you feel right then get it done. You'll be fine.

Out of interest are they using a ring or a bar?

Original poster

bigdecsions · 19/11/2019 11:49

@KevinsCarter I've been told again by the local piercer a bar is what they use initially and a ring caused to many problems. He's got a 5* rating and seems very professional

OP posts:

ActualHornist · 19/11/2019 11:52

I had my helix done with a gun when I was 16.

I also had it done with a needle last year.

Neither time healed and it always hurt. I took it out in the end. Yours might be better but defo go for needle!

My local piercer always uses bars as well for the same reason btw.

ActualHornist · 19/11/2019 11:53

Btw I kept it in for at least 8 months but it was always sore. By contrast my conch and tragus healed very quickly and hurt a lot less being done. Probably because it’s easier to sleep on (I’m restless) and also because harder to get hair wrapped round it.

LtJudyHopps · 19/11/2019 11:57

I had mine done with a gun at a jewellers years ago.
I actually don’t remember when I got it done, maybe at 18 (26 now) and I remember it hurting but not massively. Pretty sure I slept on it after the first night. Never had any problems with it!
If I wanted the other ear done I would get it done so it can’t have been that bad

GreenLeafTurnip · 19/11/2019 12:08

I'm useless with pain but when I had mine done (coming up to 15 years ago 😳) I don't recall it hurting at all that bad!! Definitely go for a needle. Not worth the possible side effect of shattering your cartilage just for a bit of reduced pain.

MulticolourMophead · 19/11/2019 12:20

I went to a piercer with years of experience and it didn't hurt much at all and was over in seconds. This was for a tragic piercing last year. He put a bar in, which I swapped for a ring when healed, in my case quite quickly.

Original poster

bigdecsions · 19/11/2019 12:26

Thank you everyone your are all making me feel a bit better. I'll definitely go for a needle.

OP posts:

Turt · 19/11/2019 12:48

Needle. Do not have it done with a gun under any circumstances!

TwattingDog · 19/11/2019 12:52

No rings, they will be more prone to bugs because they move so much more than bars.

Also, I've never known a piercer to use numbing products, same as tattooists. It can mask problems while they are doing the work - if you're prone to fainting for example, it may be harder for them to know if you're going to pass out. Or so I'm told.

ToTheRegimentIWishIWasThere · 19/11/2019 12:58

My tongue piercing hurt less and healed faster than cartilage. Had two in one ear, both times with a gun, would not recommend. The actual piercing was fine, it was the throbbing after that was the killer.

CoxwellHuge · 19/11/2019 12:59

I had a daith piercing for migraines last Wednesday, done with a needle in a piercing studio. She was amazing, told me to take a deep breath and was done in seconds, only hurt a little. Was a bit tender for the rest of the day. Slept on it the night after. I got the after care stuff from them to out on twice a day, was using it very gingerly initially but have got braver at getting my finger right in there and have moved the ring about yesterday and today. My ear is a bit more tender today but I think that's because I've agitated it a bit to get the gel in there. But I can't believe how well it seems to be healing so far and no general pain, only if I touch close to it. I'm aware it can take up to 12 months to heal but I think that's for it to be fully healed, I was told to wait at least 2 months before putting a motorbike helmet on but after that it should be fine.

Cherylshaw · 19/11/2019 13:00

guns are filthy and should be banned imo.
I have numerous cartilage piercings, it does not hurt that bad, the healing is more annoying than the actual piercing itself.
you can get numbing cream put on but it's over that quick tbh it takes longer waiting on the cream to work than just going for it

puds11 · 19/11/2019 13:04

I had mine done —whilst drunk so didn’t hurt— with a needle. It didn’t heal properly and bulged around the site so ended up having the piercing cut out. I found lying on that side painful until I took it out.

theemmadilemma · 19/11/2019 13:04

He's right, you want a bar in when it's first healing.

GOATmum · 19/11/2019 13:12

I had my daith pierced two years ago at 35 and it didn't hurt! At all!!
I had it done by needle in a piercing and tattoo studio in town, the woman doing it was great.
She told me all sorts of stories about it not being physically possible to sterilise those guns as they melt and fall to bits, they'd tried it to prove a point.
And it healed really well, I could lie on that side with no issues within a day or two.

camelandsushi · 19/11/2019 13:13

I've had these all under a year. All pierced with a needle and no numbing anything. The gun will shatter your cartridge and the numbing stuff only numbs the first 2 layers of skin or similar, as the needle goes through it's apparently pointless. I can honestly say it's so so fast you don't have time to think about it and over in seconds. My daith has healed so fast with no bother I couldn't quite believe it.

camelandsushi · 19/11/2019 13:18

And a travel pillow (the ones that go around your neck) to sleep on so your ear isn't touching a pillow to sleep on. That will hugely help your healing process.

pugparty · 19/11/2019 13:21

Never ever have anything pierced with a gun. Its a blunt force instrument at the best of times on fleshy body parts, on tougher cartilage its an absolute no no by any piercer worth their salt. It cannot be autoclaved, therefore sterilised properly.

Piercings generally hurt to get done. But it takes a matter of seconds then you just need to LIMA (leave it mostly alone) to heal.

Cartilage takes longer to heal and may need a bit more babying, do your research on warning signs of problems and troubleshoot accordingly.

sashh · 19/11/2019 13:42

I'm pro gun for ear lobes and will and have argued on here about them and what sterile means.

BUT do not have anything other than ear lobes (or nose with the new gun designed for noses) pierced with a gun.

She told me all sorts of stories about it not being physically possible to sterilise those guns as they melt and fall to bits, they'd tried it to prove a point.

I've yet to come across a piercer who has sterile hands, as soon as they pick the needle up it is no longer sterile.

Original poster

bigdecsions · 19/11/2019 13:47

@camelandsushi wow your piercings look gorgeous.
Thanks you everyone

OP posts:

camelandsushi · 19/11/2019 13:50

Thanks OP be sure to report back!

Original poster

bigdecsions · 19/11/2019 13:51

@camelandsushi will do plan to go on Thursday

OP posts:

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