Piercing Guns vs. Needles: Why Needle Piercing is the Best Choice
When it comes to getting a new ear piercing, the method used can make a significant difference in your healing process and overall piercing journey. The two primary methods are piercing guns and handheld needles. While both can get the job done, there are stark contrasts between the two, and understanding these differences can help you make an informed decision. Let's dive into why needle piercing, which is the ONLY form of piercing we do at LABRET, is the superior choice.
The Piercing Gun: Quick but Risky
Piercing guns are often found in mall kiosks and some jewelry stores (typically where piercing is an afterthought that is offered to sell more jewelry). They use a spring-loaded mechanism to force a stud through the earlobe. While this method is quick and may seem convenient, it comes with several drawbacks:
Blunt Force Trauma: Piercing guns use blunt force to push the jewelry through the ear, which can cause significant tissue damage. This can cause the tissue to be crushed or torn, leading to more significant trauma. The increased tissue damage can result in more pain, swelling, and a longer healing time. Additionally, given the piercing is being done with the jewelry itself, it's not as precise. The blunt force can cause micro-tears in the tissue, which can become entry points for bacteria, increasing the risk of infection.
Sterilization Issues: Many piercing guns are made of plastic and cannot be fully sterilized. This increases the risk of infection, as the gun may harbor bacteria from previous uses. Even if the stud itself is sterile, the gun's inability to be properly cleaned poses a significant health risk. Couple the above point of micro-tears in the tissue with a non-sterile piercing gun, you're just asking for trouble
Limited Jewelry Options: Piercing guns typically use pre-packaged studs with "starter jewelry", limiting your choice of jewelry. These studs are often not the best quality and may not be suitable for sensitive ears. The limited options can also mean that the jewelry may not be the right size or shape for your ear, leading to discomfort and potential complications.
Comfort: Given that the ear is being pierced with the actual jewelry that will be sitting in your ear throughout the healing process, it can be extremely uncomfortable to sleep on or if it's bumped. This sharp jewelry bumps into the back of your head every time you lay on your ear, causing irritation and prolonging the healing process.
The Handheld Needle: Precision and Safety
In contrast, at LABRET, our professional piercers use handheld needles, which offer a more precise and hygienic method for ear piercing. Here are a few reasons why needle piercing is the best way to go:
Sharp and Precise: Needles are incredibly sharp and create a clean hole with minimal tissue damage. This precision reduces pain, swelling, and promotes faster healing. The clean cut made by a needle minimizes tissue trauma, leading to less pain and swelling compared to the blunt force of a piercing gun.
Single-Use and Sterile: Our piercers use single-use, sterile needles for each piercing. This practice significantly reduces the risk of infection and ensures a safe piercing environment. Each needle is used only once and then properly disposed of, eliminating the risk of cross-contamination.
Versatile Jewelry Options: With needle piercing, you have a wider range of jewelry options. At LABRET, our piercing jewelry uses high-quality materials like implant-grade titanium (for the labret post) and solid 14k gold, all of which are the best metals to use for sensitive skin and promote healthier healing. This allows you to choose jewelry that suits your style and comfort needs. The LABRET flatback styles allow for more post-piercing comfort as well, given you don’t have a pointed stud in the back of your ear, you have comfortable flatbacks.
Experienced Professionals: Piercing with a needle is typically done by trained professionals who understand ear anatomy and proper piercing techniques. At LABRET, our piercing team will walk you through the entire process to ensure that the piercing is placed correctly and safely. Our piercers are knowledgeable and can provide personalized advice on aftercare and jewelry selection.
Better for Health and Recovery: Choosing needle piercing over a piercing gun is a decision that prioritizes your health and comfort. The clean cut made by a needle minimizes tissue trauma, leading to less pain and swelling compared to the blunt force of a piercing gun. This means a more comfortable healing process and less risk of complications. Proper sterilization practices ensure that each piercing is done in a clean and safe environment, and the use of sterile, single-use needles and the expertise of professional piercers greatly reduce the risk of infection. With less tissue damage, a more sterile environment, and high-quality jewelry, needle piercings tend to heal faster and with fewer complications.
Needle Piercing at LABRET Summarized
Better Piercing: Understanding the science behind needle piercing can further highlight why it’s the superior method. When a needle is used, it creates a clean, controlled puncture. This minimizes the trauma to the surrounding tissue, which is crucial for a smooth healing process. The sharpness of the needle allows it to glide through the skin with minimal resistance, reducing the likelihood of tearing or damaging the tissue.
Better Piercers: At LABRET, we pride ourselves on having a team of highly trained professional piercers. Our piercers undergo rigorous training to ensure they understand the anatomy of the ear and the best techniques for piercing. This expertise is crucial for ensuring that the piercing is placed correctly and safely. Professional piercers also have a deep understanding of aftercare. They can provide you with detailed instructions on how to care for your new piercing to ensure it heals properly. This includes advice on cleaning, avoiding irritation, and recognizing signs of infection. Proper aftercare is essential for preventing complications and ensuring a smooth healing process.
Better Jewelry: The type of jewelry used in a piercing can significantly impact the healing process. At LABRET, we use only the highest quality materials for our piercing jewelry. This includes implant-grade titanium and solid 14k gold. These materials are hypoallergenic and biocompatible, meaning they are less likely to cause an allergic reaction or irritation. Using high-quality jewelry also reduces the risk of complications such as infections or allergic reactions. Cheap, low-quality jewelry can contain nickel or other metals that can cause irritation or allergic reactions. By choosing high-quality jewelry, you can ensure that your piercing heals smoothly and without complications.
The LABRET Experience
When you choose to get pierced at LABRET, you’re choosing a superior piercing experience. From the moment you walk into our studio, you’ll be greeted by our friendly and knowledgeable staff. Our piercers will take the time to discuss your piercing options with you and answer any questions you may have. The actual piercing process is quick and relatively painless, thanks to the quality of our process, and the expertise of our piercers. Our experience doesn’t end at the piercing though, it just begins. After your piercing, our piercers will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to ensure your piercing heals properly, and we will also be available to answer any questions you may have during the healing process with unlimited free post-piercing checkups, downsizing assistance, and jewelry change outs
While piercing guns may seem like a quick, easy, and cheap option, you end up getting what you pay for. The benefits of needle piercing far outweigh the convenience, and by choosing to get pierced at LABRET, our professional piercers with their handheld single-use needles will help to ensure a safer, more comfortable, and ultimately more satisfying piercing experience. So next time you’re considering a new ear piercing, remember: needles are the way to go! Book now here), or feel free to pop into your nearest LABRET studio today!
