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Where are good places to go and what do I need to know, and how much should it cost?
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Comments
Lots of Choices...
There are a LOT of choices... And the price varies a LOT.
Some Doctors will do it. (Rare though, from what I understand.)
Any mall will have several places you can get it done. I had mine done in mid July at "Claires" (A chain)... (At the recommendation of my wife/daughters as they said they've observed folks getting it done at several of them - in different malls, and in every case, the person doing the piercing was VERY careful. They use new / sterile components, provide good directions on care, etc.) At Claires, you pick your starter posts, and the cost depends on what kind of post you pick... Wide variety of cost there - so ask them. They provide you with a bottle of solution that you apply to your ears (with posts in) at least three times a day (you also are supposed to spin - both ways and move around the posts regularly during the day) for six weeks. After six weeks, you can take the posts out and put another pair in... and theoretically stop the solution to ear thing. You don't go without earrings for six months (according to the care instructions they provide).
I've seen people getting piercings at kiosks in the mall as well. MOST of them appear to use similar procedures.
Many places (including Claires) provide "free" piercing with the purchase of your starter posts.
The Starter posts have a "sharp" point, and are actually what "pokes" the hole (at least at Claires).
Good Luck.
Annette (who is very happy with her pierced ears and variety of earrings she can now wear)
Where you live?
Most places will do the piercing free with the cost of starter eartings, usually about $10. This includes an earcare kit. I work at Wal-mart and we do lots of piercings. There are Claires in most malls in the US. Any Department store with a jewelry counter usually does it. You feel a little sting and it might be irritated for a couple days but it is worth it.
gahanna
I haven't mentioned this 2 my parents yet gonna bring it up soon.
hugs :)
Michelle SidheElf Amaianna
I went to Claire's
They were awesome about the transition thing, and not only gave me the actual piercing for the cost of the studs, but threw in both some antiseptic and instructions for a earring newbie like me.
Lots of Kids have pierced ears.
Depending upon where you live, it should not be an issue.
Ear piercings
My two cents worth, ask how long the petson has been doing it. If they are new come back later. Its not that it will hurt any less, but they are usually much more proficient, faster even. ;)
Elsbeth
Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.
Broken Irish is better than clever English.
Treatment
What should I use to treat my ears after piercings.
I have heard that Isopropal Alcohol causes slow healing but no infections.
Peroxide prevents infections but slows things down too.
A Sea Salt saline solution might work.
Silverdine is also suggested.
What is the answer??
Zip
Not peroxide
peroxide is excellent for first time use as it kills any harmful bacteria but continued use means it actually impedes the healing process. Any sterile solution is fine as long as it's done at least daily. Healing time is more dependent on your own system than what you use to keep the area clean.
PS: when I got mine done I was a novice and had them pierced in the center of the lobe rather than near the bottom which was a mistake as it made post earrings uncomfortable to wear (well, more than usual) and some hoop earring impossible to wear.
Commentator
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Treatment
Peroxide is fine at first, then afterwards use Alcohol but end with Neosporin. It will fight any infection and help heal the wound.
-Elsbeth
Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla clíste.
Broken Irish is better than clever English.
If the earring are real gold
If the earring are real gold of silver that helps gold and silver cut down on bacteria which is why most communion cups in churches use gold and silver in them.
If you...
If you have your ears done at Claire's, they'll give you a big bottle of solution to use... And, you're supposed to use it at least 3 times a day. My wife looked at the ingredients, and it's basically the same as what's been suggested elsewhere. As long as you keep things clean, you should NOT need an anti-bacterial ointment (alcohol or peroxide will do a fine job killing any bacteria).
Peroxide is good. Accept slower healing as a fair tradeoff for healing without complications.
Annette
One place not to go...
Is Walmart.
Absolutely do not get it done at Walmart.
I had mine done at Walmart and it never healed quite right, I ended up having to just remove the earrings and let my ears heal over... When I get them redone I'll try to find an inexpensive set of starters at an at least slightly more upscale place. We've got a Claire's, maybe I'll try them. One of the girls in my cos class offered to redo them for me after I told her about my negative experience, but I'm not too sure I wanna try that.
Abigail Drew.
I've heard..
I've heard of folks doing friends and such... It can work. I can even describe how it was done. That said, I'd rather have someone who's done it a lot of times.
One difference between experienced and new piercers - how "straight" they make the pierce. If it's straight through the lobe (shortest distance) good... If it's on a little angle, it's a little harder to change earrings and your chance of scratching inside increases (if you scratch, I've been told - go back to starter posts & peroxide/solution.
Annette
If its a comfort issue
Ask the person who does your hair (unless you go to a barber shop!). If you have it styled and are comfortable with the person who does it, ask them if they do piercing. They'll have better training than the girl in the kiosk, it's normally part of what they have to learn before getting their state cosmetologist license. Plus, assuming your hair is long enough they can help you pick a style/cut that better allows you to go stealth if need be.
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
Tat Shops
Most tattoo shops do piercings and they have allot more expierce as well as training.
just find a booth/store front where
where you can find a pair of 'studs' you like.
They all use the same method... a gun that fires the stud through your earlobe and into the back.
When I had mine done I was sitting there looking silly... I was waiting for them to finish.
They already had.
Dayna.
If you are a youngster you may wish to get multiples done at the same time. If you have even the remote desire for multiples... make sure the one you get done is going to be in line with those you may want in the future.
Ear Piercings
Some girls get it done by a family member, or friend.
May Your Light Forever Shine
Ear cleaning solution
Many have said where to go, one has described the downside of the exercise.
A reputable place, such as a pharmacy, will have two assistants doing both ears at the same time.
Don't get too confused by what solution to use on your ears. After the deed is done, use the cleaning solution provided. It will most likely be a water-based chlorhexidine solution. Use as directed. Being diligent in your care and applying patience to the healing will produce a good result.
Something to decide before you go in, is whether you want to have more than one piercing in each ear. Judicious placement of the first piercings will open opportunities for further piercings in the future should you choose to do so.
Robyn B
Sydney
Robyn B
Sydney
Potato, needle, and flame.
Potato, needle, and flame. Saw that either in a movie or TV show. I don't think I can recommend it though.
Not in"real life"
My daughter's seen it done - in real life, yes, there was a potato and a needle... But, no flame...
1) Sterilize Needle.
2) mark spot for piercing
3) Clean ear lobes (alcohol swab)
4) Place potato behind lobe
5) Apply Ice Cube to ear lobe (about 30 - 60 seconds)... This numbs it.
6) Holding earlobe stretched flat against potato - Pierce lobe with needle - into potato.
7) Pull needle THROUGH hole (with potato) (You don't want to get potato into the ear)
8) Sterilize post and insert into hole and put back on post.
9) Swab entire area with alcohol and/or peroxide again.
10) Repeat with other ear.
Care as with any other piercing.
Yes, it works. No, I'd NOT do it this way. I suspect that the flame was used to sterilize the needle in the movie, but I don't know. What I do know is that heating a needle (or any metal) affects it's temper, and can result in dulling.
A needle is used rather than a pin with a head - so it can be pulled through.
If you have real starter posts available - they have a sharp tip designed to poke through the lobe. You CAN use the post, instead of a Needle and avoid some potential issues, but it's even more important to clean the back of the ear/post of potato "juice".
Still - Not something I'd want to do or have done to me.
Annette
Very unlikely that ...
... heating a needle in a flame to sterilise it would affect the temper. It needs to be hot enough to be glowing straw-coloured for that and then it would burn its way through - uncomfortable and a roast pork smell :)
Am I the only person who feels squeamish when seeing piercings of any kind? I look at woman wearing earrings hanging from a hole in the ear and I can't help a mental shudder. And as for nose, lip, eyebrow etc etc ugh! Feel much the same way about tattoos.
Robi
I don't know...
I don't have any issues with one (or maybe even two) ear piercings (in the usual place)... Most of the rest... I don't get. Some do make me uncomfortable (that's my problem)... Some make me cringe (nose piercing, for example... I wonder how it would impact blowing one's nose and I do that a LOT).
As to sterilization via flame... Probably works... And, if that hot when the piercing does, it might 'cauterize' the would to some extent. *shrugs* I dunno. I'm not an expert, nor do I play an expert on TV...
As to tattoos. I don't "understand" why most folks get "most" of them. That said, I've seen quite a few that are quite attractive. (I do understand some groups/societies have tattooing as an important aspect of their life.) I do wonder how that tattoo - on a 20 something - will look when they're 60 something. :-) No, tattoos are also not in my future, though, I've started considering one special type. See, I have vitiligo. There's no cure for it, but it is possible for a cosmetic tattoo artist to apply pigment to match the surrounding skin. (Yes, some of my vitiligo is on my face.) It gets tiring explaining to people why I have "white" patches of skin (and it adds a challenge to makeup).
Annette
P.S. I know of at least one GCS/SRS surgeon whose office provides the option of tattoo to enhance the appearance following surgery. I also know of at least one FFS surgeon whose office provides the option of cosmetic tattoo - including specifically for vitiligo.
care
Go to Claire's or some jewellers and some salon's do it. Salons can be cheap and expensive, some jewellers do the piercing free if you buy earings above a certain value or some will give you a voucher for free piercing nearby when you buy the earings. The best things about the professional gun instead of needle is it get it straight through, a needle sometimes leaves a hole in the front skin not quite in-line with the hole in the back skin and can make it awkward putting rings in for years after n don't let anyone sell you a big bottle of lotion for megabucks, any regular sterilant will do like TCP, I think studs are best for first time as they are easy to spin a few times a day to help the holes heel, rings sometimes stick a bit with a little pain when you turn them in the holes first few days, I always go with gold for a new piercing as it is the least reactive of all the metals so minimises infection risk n maximises healin' speed I even know one girl wo can't use silver coz her skin reacts, 9ct gols is enough but if using studs make sure the posts have goldplate too as some studs have gold on the showy bit but not the posts or the butterfly clip on the back n I know cases where infection has been caused by a cheap clip or post attached to an expensive stud (not that I've ever bin attached to anexpensive stud mind you) they say keep originals in for six weeks to ensure holes are heeled before changing out but it all depends on the individual and whether you are a quick or slow healer and also whether you get an infection or are infection prone as changing out increases the risk of infection as all the fingerwork next to the holes n on the earings introduces loads a bugs to the wound but if you heal quick and are not infection prone a couple of weeks is usually enough to change out but its a good idea to use the sterilant liberally when you do the change n you should also wear them pretty much full time for at least the first year to ensure they don't close over k-jo
I was lying down minding my own business when life came by and drove right over me