Different Methods of Piercing & Why They Matter?

Have you wondered about how the different methods of piercing affect your body and ultimately, how it heals?

We have put together this easy-to-understand guide to educate more people on the different methods of piercing available and why some might do your body more harm than good. 

What Are the Different Methods of Piercing?

All of us should be familiar with piercing guns - I mean, most of us got our ears pierced at the mall anyway. With plenty of jewellery stores offering easy and fuss-free piercing services, you can get your ears pierced literally anywhere and at a very low cost. The piercing guns are also fairly easy to use, even a week-old sales staff can do it! It really is the most widely available option. 

If you visit any professional piercer, you will definitely get your piercings done with a needle.  This is actually the safest option for any type of piercings.

Let me share with you the differences between these two methods of piercing. 

Gun Piercing 

If you have been pierced with a gun before, you might realise that guns can be reused over and over again. It is impossible to autoclave and reprocess a piercing gun correctly, which the carries a risk of infection and spreading of blood borne pathogens.

Needle Piercing 

Unlike a piercing gun, every client gets a fresh needle for each of their piercings. The needle is sharp and hollow, creating a clean hole and space for the jewellery to rest in. 

Why Does the Method of Piercing Matter?

You may be wondering at this point what real difference does the method of piercing make? At the end of the day, you still end up with a fresh new piercing. Unfortunately, the differences between a piercing gun and needle go far beyond availability and convenience. 

While there are many of us who have been pierced with a gun and have not encountered any problems, a piercing gun puts you at risk of tissue trauma. With a piercing gun, you are using the earring itself and forcing it through the tissue to create the piercing. The blunt force impact tears up the tissue and shatters the cartilage to make room for the jewellery. 

Piercing guns also make use of butterfly backs which introduce several problems. The shape and design of a butterfly back makes it easier to harbour bacteria and dirt which could infect your new piercing. They also do not leave room for any swelling which may occur during the healing process. This can cause your piercing to swell even more which will be an undoubtedly uncomfortable experience. 

While no part of the gun comes into contact with your skin, the impact of the piercing can cause a splatter of blood and tissue particles. It is impossible to autoclave and reprocess a piercing gun correctly, so this can result in an increased risk of infection. 

None of these issues apply to needle piercings. The hollow needle creates a clean incision which makes space for your jewellery. Additionally, a longer flat back is used to accommodate any swelling. This gives your fresh piercing the space it needs to heal. With new needles being used for each client, there is no risk of coming into contact with blood or tissue residue. 

Which Piercing Method is Better?

If you’ve been paying attention, you will realise that while gun piercings might seem like the easiest option, it’s actually doing more harm than good. While the thought of getting pierced with a needle might seem more daunting, most people find that they hurt less than getting pierced with a gun. 

Why Are Piercings Done With a Needle More Expensive?

Now that you understand why getting pierced with a needle is the smartest option, let us address the elephant in the room - why are needle piercings more expensive?

The most obvious reason is that every client will be pierced with a new, sterilised needle for each of their piercings. The type of jewellery used in needle piercings are also generally higher quality than that used with piercing guns. 

Professional piercers go through rigorous training and obtain certificates to ensure that not only do they understand the proper methods of piercing, but also the required standards of sanitation. 

Conclusion

We understand that it might be tempting to visit the nearest mall and get a piercing done conveniently. However, we hope that this guide has helped you understand the reasons behind why needle piercings are generally preferred by professional piercers. 

Piercing guns compromise the factors that your fresh piercing needs to heal well. If money is a concern, wait until you have enough to get it done professionally. Spending a little more now could save you from seeking medical attention in the future.