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My granddaughter just had her ear cartilage pierced, but is...

<< Back to: rec.arts.bodyart: Piercing FAQ 7--Healed Piercings

Answer by Jen
Submitted on 4/10/2004
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Okay, to everyone here. I have my cartilidge pierced and I am turning 13. I got it when I was 12. I went to Claire's and they wouldn't let me get it but they gave another place to go to. My mother and I went to a tatoo parlor. i was afraid, like most of you, but I was so excited. The guy that pierced it took a needle and just shoved it through the ear. Then he took out the needle and put the earring in. Although I though it would hurt I barely felt it. It didn't get infected, turn green or fall off. It was all worth it, so if you're thinking about getting it pierced use a needle, not a gun and it doesn't really hurt so go for it! Oh yeah, if they use a gun they can hit an atery or something bad and screw it up.

Answer by katie
Submitted on 4/27/2004
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here is an answer to everyones questions: go to BMEzine.com and click on ears. read the experiences posted there. there are hundreds upon hundreds of them and they will answer all your questions and there are also tons of pictures to look at. but i do have to say- DON'T get a cartilage (or any) piercing done with a gun. it shatters your tissue, the jewelry is horrible, and it hurts A LOT more. both during the actual piercing, and afterward when you are trying to heal it. take it from me. i have 4 cartilage piercings. 1 done with a gun and 3 with a needle. the whole experience with the gun piercing was just horrible. oh and they dont bleed much if at all because cartilage has very little blood supply. hope this helps.

Answer by Goonka
Submitted on 5/5/2004
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Hmm.. pretty sure that most of the posts I have read here do NOT have responsible parents. WHO allows an 11-16 yr old to get any type of piercing OTHER than an ear lobe piercing? My son last year when he turned 18 couldn't wait and ran out to get to his eyebrow pierced.. it is STILL disfigured one year later and he had to use bolt cutters to remove it! Within the first month, his eye blackened THEN began to swell shut. That is when I convinced him to take it out. The piercing place they use advised him to 'deal with it' since he already had it in and had scar tissue build up. That is yet another problem. His eye will never return to normal. THEN he went to get his tongue pierced. Thank GOD nothing has happened with that and it has been a couple of months so far.. BUT then he decided to go and get his cartilage pierced this previous Monday afternoon. He woke up this AM with blood everywhere, ear swollen, head hurts, tongue hurts and his throat hurts. Called our Dr who flat out said 'rush him in to the ER because he probably has a severe infection that will cause him to be hospitalized". Well.. MOM is home. He will inpatient for at least 3 days if not longer! Sorry. .I dont care how 'cool' ya'llthink piercings look.. they are NOT worth the potential for health problems. And there are more health problems that arise from cartilage piercings than any other. While I know that the place that did his piercings may be well known, I have to conclude they do not know what they are doing for two piercings of his to have gone wrong. I guess I am happy that the owner of the place is the one that did his tongue. Perhaps he needs to examine his 'help' better. And the hospital will be contacting the health department to investigate. IF the cultures come back with the bacteria that they believe caused this to happen.. they will be shut down and we will bring forth a lawsuit. Dont try and tell me that is why you sign a waiver, cuz those waivers don't mean crap once someone is hurt OR becomes ill.

Answer by Katie
Submitted on 7/3/2004
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Hey, I just pierced my cartilage about a month ago? It really didn't hurt. I jumped a little when she pierced it (BAD idea- it can rip your ear) because i wasn't expecting it yet, but it really doesn't hurt. Because there's hardly any blood in your cartilage area, getting your ear pierced up there hurts less and bleeds less than getting your lobes done. So if you've had THEM done- don't worry about pain in your cartilage. You can pierce your left or right cartilage, it really doesn't matter; people have both. They recommend doing the side that you DON'T sleep on though- so that when you sleep it won't bother your piercing. That is really important. Most places you have to be either 12 or 13 with a parent to sign forms, or 18 to do it alone. I'm 18 and they made me show ID and everything, so don't try to pretend your eighteen; it doesn't work and they wont pierce it. Hope this helps! Ummm ps: needles and guns are the same thing... there's a needle in the gun- it just goes through automatically so it hurts less because it's faster. Guns are usually more sterile too. I would never get it done with a needle- too much risk of infection, pain, and deformities.

Answer by Jacki
Submitted on 7/11/2004
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Wow... you guys are all so lucky! I'm 18 and got my cartilage pierced last night. I got my nose pierced over spring break, and it didnt hurt at all. I went to the same place, but a girl that i never saw doing piercings before did it. eek. I wasnt't nervous at all - i was expecting the no pain i had with my nose. So I'm sitting there and she asks if I'm ready. I'm all relaxed and say yeah. holy hell... what pain when that needle went through. then shes trying to put the ring in and i jumped cuz it hurt so bad. She goes over to get a taper (a needle without the point, to put in the hole so it doesnt close) I feel something hit my chest. It was a drop of blood, all the sudden, I swear a river of blood was dripping all over my ear down my neck and down my chest. it was horrible!!! my friend who just got her belly button pierced 10 minutes prior was shocked to see how much blood there was. I was under the impression there wasnt't a lot of blood up there, too... but there sure is! So the owner comes in and put the ring in lickity split! no pain! So i think you should KNOW who is doing your piercing, i think it made all the difference! My ear was really swollen, i was scared it would get infected quick... but it didnt't! I don't know about guns or needles but the guy who pierced my nose and ultimately my cartilage told me needles were safer. I was told to not sleep on my pierced ear and to elevate my head with a few pillows. The elevation prevents over night swelling. Anyway... its fine today! It doesnt't hurt, cleaning was easy and i can move it around (when i clean it). Sea salt is a good idea for any piercing, it helps it heal so much faster! I love it though.. but I'm too scared to get it done again. But everyone IS different. So asking people how much it will hurt is useless - know the health and aftercare questions, not the pain rate. Hope my story helped!

Answer by Zea
Submitted on 7/12/2004
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take a straw from a broom stick soak it in alchol make sures its clean by rinsing it after let it air dry burn the ends with fire make sure its thin enuff to put into ur ear and there u go im in JROTC so i know the feelin of them wantin to to not wear it on uniform days and cartilage don't hurt dispite what everyone thinks of it its like a pinch its over as soon as it starts thats all u have to think of 1 2 3 its over in and very cute or take a friend or bf 4 support but really its not that bad i have 4 cartilage would have 6 but let those close went back to get the other 4 at the same time what helps me make it through pain period tho its not painful is it won't kill u hope u conquer ur fear Zea~

Answer by molly
Submitted on 7/16/2004
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first of all, i just got my cartilage done yesterday, and it stopped hurting after 5 minutes. i haven't had any problems. my advice, get it done somewhere sterile like a tattoo parlor where professionals are doing it, not someone at Claire'swho's trying to run the register at the same time she's piercing your tender ear. also, the needle works best, you barely feel it. and yes, it does bleed, obviously, it's a part of body! but not long, as soon as it stops up, it's fine. lastly, wait till your older!! 11 and 12 year olds should NOT be getting cartilage pierced! I'm15, and responsible enough to take care of it myself. the best places to go don't even allow people under 13 inside, which is good. that's my opinion, as someone who's had it done and knows how it feels. don't be scared, and don't rush into it. p.s.i wouldn't take advice from someone who can't even spell, if i were you!!

Answer by Summoneryuna
Submitted on 7/16/2004
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I got my cartilage pierced June 1st, i got it done at walmart by my friend who use to do them in a parlor but she used the gun, the only time that it hurts is when I lay on it, since then I have had it swell up once, and that was after I was playing around with the guys and it got pulled and all that (from headlocks) since then I have had a small pocket of clear liquid but I can still twist it and move it and it doesn't hurt, went to a Dr and they said to just use hydrogen peroxide and neosporan, which is helping but I am looking for any other ideas to deal with this, I really do not want to take it out. And another thing, a reg earring was used, I am almost thinking that the barbell earring they used is irritating it, should I try to change it to a ball (plain and simple) earring? Let me know thx

Answer by AJ
Submitted on 7/16/2004
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hey i luv piercings i got many!cartilage piercingz r mad kewl but yea they hurt..1 tyme i was brushin ma hair & by mistake the brush got stuck on the earring and that hurt lyke hell..u jus gotta b careful and if u take care of it well u shudn't hav a problem...out of all the 1's i hav which iz kinda a lot lol...the cartilage piercing hurt the mos..but datz jus me evry1 iz different so 2 u sumthin else mite hurt mo..but yea i'm gettin mo done and i'll let u kno bout it.p.s belly ringz r was up..i got all 4 sides done it looks gud...if u got n e questions or concerns jus holla 001 p.s.s molly no 1 iz perfect so ppl obviously gon hav mistakes including u but evry1 shud consider a lil bit bout wut evry1 iz sayin cuz they xpiernced iight i'm gon bounce fo real 001

Answer by FhNcheerchik05
Submitted on 7/19/2004
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I'm 16 and I got my cartilages pierced in March of this year. I got mine done with a gun and I was terrified!!! It wasn't near as bad as i thought it would be. It stung afterwards for about a day. My ears are still extremely sensitve i have to cup my ear to lay on it when i sleep because it hurts to let it touch the pillow. I'm now having problems with them. They started bleeding and are REALLY sore, i think they might be infected but i dont know how they could be because I clean my ears and earrings almost everyday.I've heard a lot of horror stories about cartilage piercings I honestly wouldn't suggest getting them to anyone. They might be cute but there are a lot of risks, your cartilage can collapse, and you can get really bad infections, these are things my parents warned me about and i wish i would have thought about them more. Also if you are in sports where you can't have piercings DON'T get them til after the season is over, I made that mistake, they try to make you take them out before they are ready to come out and it's extremely hard to get them back in. I'm thinking about taking mine out b/c I don't want to get a bad infection.

Answer by Aragorn's Gal
Submitted on 7/20/2004
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Hey everyone. Okay, so there seems to be tons of concerns/questions about ear piercings on here. Let me just share my experience quickyly... Before I went to get my ears done, I did some research on cartilage piercings, and I ended up at this site somehow. Anyway, after reading a lot of the stuff on here, I was a little nervous about getting it done, but I finally did. I got it done with a gun at a beauty salon (not Claires or Ardenes, a place where they are trained to do piercings). YES, it was with a GUN, and it did not hurt at all. It's been three weeks since I got mine done, and I've been lucky cos it doesn't really hurt and I can now sleep on that side of my head. I have had NO problems with it, and I simply love it. I've been wanting to get it done for like 4 years and I am so happy I finally went out on a limb and did it. It looks and feels great! But that brings me to my main point here: It all depends on the individual, so just because it did not hurt for me, does not mean it will not hurt for you. Here are the answers to some of your questions: 1. Do cartilage piercings hurt? It all depends on the person, but from my experience it was only a pinch. 2. What side to get it on, right or left? Again, that all depends on you. Usually, people put their hair to one side, so try to do it on the ear where it is going to be more noticable. As well, whatever ear you think it would look better in, it's all up to personal taste. 3. How much does it cost? Obviously, different places will have different prices. Check around, but don't go with the cheapest place cos that usually means they will not do a great job. 4. Gun or needle? I got mine done with the gun, but honestly, the needle is much safer and it is guaranteed to heal quicker. And besides that, everyone thinks it is so expensive at a tattoo parlour, but it isn't. You can get one done for like $30-40. 5. How long does it take to heal? From the reseacrh I have done, it's 4-6 months, but that is ONLY if you take care of it properly EVERY DAY. That means, cleaning it properly and not touching it. And so, I hope that helps some of you out there. Good luck with it and do your reseacrh before you get it done!

Answer by jodi
Submitted on 7/21/2004
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i got my first cartilage piercing when i was 12 and it didn't realy hurt that much.Im getting 2 more cartilage piercings in a few dayz and i can't wait. My cartilage piercing was done with a gun but i did have my worries about this as ive heard some really bad things about having it done with a gun but i was ok.Ive had a few infections in the 3 1/2 years ive had it done but nothing serious and the infections were from wearing cheap jewelry as i have very sensitive skin.About 2 years ago at school i was on the football pitch and a football hit my ear and the piercing went into my ear and got stuck and i had to go hospital to have it removed and it bleed for a few days but a week or 2 later i could put my jewelry back in but it hurt real bad.But other then getting ya hair caught in it and ocassionaly catching it its a great piercing to have.And i advise that if you have long hair try and keep it tied back till its healed. But i love having it pierced and can't wait till i get it done again.

Answer by Haley
Submitted on 8/2/2004
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hey guys, this isn't an answer but a question....im 11 and im getting my cartilage pierced tomorrow..im going to this really clean place where all of my cousin's piercings done. i'm getting it done with a needle ( dont wanna get an infection or mess friend's go to get their tattoos and up my ear ). i just wanted to know, and be honest, from a rating 1-10, does cartilage piercing hurt? i've read it really depends how u can take pain, but i just wanna know from someone close to my age and whose gotten one. I've been watching this ashlee simpson show and i've seen all the episodes..especially the one where she got her cartilage pierced...so if u can just answer my question..email me at Hidden Shad0w25@aol.com thanks...holla

Answer by Lynzi
Submitted on 8/3/2004
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I just got my cartilage pierced for my 13th birthday. That was 5 days ago. Yea i got it with a gun, but it really didn't hurt, jus a little pinch, but i do prefer the gun because it is faster. But i won't lie, it was sore afterwords, but only when i cleaned it or accidentally touched it. I already have 3 lobe piercings on each ear, along with numerous body piercings (it helps that my dad is a piercer) and it hurt about jus as much as my 2nd lobe piercing. But it is really important that u have very good quality jewelery, or you could have bad reactions to them. But i was scared because sum of my friends said it hurt alot, for a long time, and i had heard alot of stories of people ending up with deformities. I do think that is important to think about, but if u are sure u really want it, go 4 it. And about the kids who's parents won't let them get it done, ask for a lobe piercing, then when u get there see what they think about a cartilage piercing. But i really don't suggest getting it if ur in any sports, or if ur school has strict dress code policies. And if ur parents don't want u to do it, don't do it urself, they will make u take it out, and it's not worth the pain. So if ne of yall want to talk or have ne questions u can IM me on Loztinmyownmind. And oh yea, jus cuz i'veonly had my done for a short while doesn't mean i don't kno anything about it, i did research, and my dad is a piercer, so he's told me alot about it. So, later, Lynzi

Answer by andora5012
Submitted on 8/7/2004
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To ALL concerned about a cartliage piercing: I work at Claire's and i have been doing piercings for 3 yrs. 1.The reason we dont do cartliages on anyone under 13 is because of the risk of deformities. OSHA has a policy and we stick by it. 2.As far as the gun not being sanitary.We clean them with germicide cleaner.We dont sterlize.But the gun doesnt touch your ear. In fact the only thing that touches it, is the earring, which is set in a pre-sterlized cartridge. I have my cartliage peirced twice, the first time it got infected, not the fault of the employee, but because i didnt take as good of care of it as i should. The second on is fine, after 8 weeks i was able to put a hoop in it and i love it. The gun is not dangerous...You cant hit a major artery. If there were any dangers other than possible infection, Claire's wouldn't do it...If you are really concerned about the infection ask questions where you go to get it done...watch them clean the gun or needle.

Answer by Ally.xo
Submitted on 8/10/2004
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Hey guys i was researching cartilage piercings because i am going to get a barbell that goes in one side of the cartilage and out the other. And somehow i ended up here...anyway when i got my cartilage pierced it was mortifying, i went to a place were i didn't have to bring my birth certificate so that my moms friend would bring me. And i found a place in the mall...there was a Chinese lady at the counter that bairly spoke English. and i asked her the price and so on. i finally decided i would get it done there and i did... guess who was the piercer go ahead guess... yes the Chinese lady. she asked me were i wanted it, i said the right side. and i asked her to make sure she wasn't going to hit that artery or a vain and she said "there are veins in there?" i wanted to run away! but i didn't! i replied yes , had my moms friend show her were to pierce it and she pierced it with a piercing gun...it did hurt. i am not going to lie to you. but it was worth it...needless to say she didn't hit the vein or artery. today it is healed and as you read at the top of my message i am looking to get another one!! :) don't worry it is painful but worth every penny! P.S. mine was only $20

Answer by Jesserama
Submitted on 8/10/2004
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hey guys...first of all. i got my cartilage pierced july 2003, when i was 12. for all of you people who think that piercing with a gun is just as safe as piercing with a needle, you are WRONG. Needles are so much better for your piercings, and i am sure of that. i first got mine done with a piercing gun, and it was 6 months (the regulation healing time) before i decided to take it out because it simply was not healing properly. i am now getting it re-done tomorrow at a specialized tattoo/piercing place. i also hope you gun-agreeers are aware that guns are illegal for piercing purposes in Oregon and other various places. i am sorry if i offended anybody, but you have to know the truth. also, i think people who have piercings other than their ears who are under the age of twelve are too young, but their parents are DAMN cool! love ya, peace, god bless and happy piercing! ~jess~

Answer by annonymous
Submitted on 8/11/2004
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fack u ppl, just get it facking done, its doesn't facking hurt.... lol... k, sorry. I have 3 piercings. my first piercing was my left lobe, got it done with a needle. didn't hurt. then i went to visage and just wanted to get my right lobe done, but they told me it was cheaper if i get the pair. So i decided to get my left cartilage and my right lobe done. The lady said i should get the cartilage out of the way first. so she got those done, didn't hurt one bit, but when she did the right lobe, it hurt a little, but not really. both of them were done with a gun, but it was all good, they seem to be fine, no swelling. its only hurts when i touch them

Answer by blueorbital
Submitted on 8/18/2004
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I had my cartilage pierced 5 days ago. The place I went do didn't steralize the needle infront of me which I should have noticed right away, but I had a terrible ear infection 2 days later. My ear got swollen, red, shiny, and it was throbbing, felt warm, tingly, and hurt like hell when I touched it. It was all bad the only part that looked normal was my ear lobe..well because the ear lobe isn't cartilage and gets more blood supply. Anyway, I had a pretty ugly infection..one ear bigger then the other. I went to the doctor's office and he gave me some Ciprofloxin, which I've been taking and my ear isn't as bad now but is still swollen. The main problem with Cartilage piercings is that since there really isn't any blood supply going to the cartliage there isn't enough white blood cells (fight infection) that can get to the infection right away. Therefore, it takes a while for the infection to heal. And in some cases I've heard if the infection gets really bad doctors are actually having to go in and chop off parts of people ears around the cartilage area..sad but definately true..I have 2 cartliage piercings. My first one was done with a gun and that healed in like 6 months, it was at SUB Q in Sacramento, CA. Never go to WICKED, in Berkeley CA..thats where my infected one was done. Oh yea, and sea salt doesn't work..it's BS. Anyone can email me any comments or other questions, that would be great. blueorbital83@yahoo.com

Answer by muse
Submitted on 8/18/2004
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I was desperate to get my cartallidge done but my 18 year old sister had it done with a gun and she was in agony. Its fine now but she has a lump where the cartallidge has been pushed to one side. I decided to have it done but I had it done with a needle. the guy who did mine sprayed numbing spray and then jammed a needle through and it was only a tiny prick but it began to bleed. It only bled for about 15 mins and it did the same about a week after. It didnt hurt one bit after but it was swollen and red. After a week or so it went down and now it is fine. I am ready to take it out now but i cant! I have tried twisting the ball on the ring loads but nothing happens and i really want to change it. so thats the only bad thing that happened to me but if u ask me GO FOR IT it looks really cool and no pain involved but i say get it with a needle.

Answer by Eileen
Submitted on 8/23/2004
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ok this is a question...i got my cartilage pierced 1 day before i turned 12 which wus april 10th... and since then its been hurtin 2 months afta i got it pierced i changed the earrings ALOT (I WANTED TO TRY NEW THINGS) then like 2 months later i got this big red ball on tha back of my ear but i put some ahlcohole and it crusted up and fell off... but since april 9th it been killing me and i want advice on weather this infection is serious or minor PLEASE SOMEONE HAVE MERCY AND HELP ME!!! lol p.s i got it done with a gun and look wut happened to me so think twice on weather u want it with a gun or needle and to give me the answer PLEASE! email me at xxnybabygrl69xx@aol/msn.com email me on msn or aol i dont care jus please help me

Answer by Vanessa
Submitted on 8/25/2004
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Well, I'm confused. Let's see, I have a friend who had recently pierced her cartilage with a GUN. And she said it didn't really hurt. I dunno, that was her opinion. I have read that experts said that the safe ones are needles and the NEW TYPE OF GUNS. Guns that were made to pierce earlobes are NOT MEANT to be used for a cartilage piercing! It would ruin your ear! Best places, please go to tattoo shops. Do not go to cheap jewelry kiosks, etc. I think some of you think differently because you all have different threshold of pain. Whatever it is, it will still hurt a bit no matter what. Needles are a bit more painful as, well, the guy have to push it in right? Ouch! As for guns, they just "snap" together. So, maybe there's a slight diff. If I'm wrong, please correct me.

Answer by AGK
Submitted on 8/26/2004
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I went and got my cartilage pieced today It look so cool It didnt hurt all that bad I had it done with a gun and it didnt take put a minute and it was over with. If you truely wont to get it done you will dont let the worry of a needle stop you it only last a second and when its done its done and it looks good. Make sure You keep it clean and I would use 24 k gold earring that way it would not be likely to get irriated. I hope Ive help anyone that has any question now go for it. Remember you arent the first to get your pierced if they can stand it you can. The best place to go to get it done is walmart if you take a friend you can split the price of the earrings cause they sell them as a pair all you have to pay for is the earrings the piercing is free i paid 17.00 for me and my aunt and we used 24k earrings. and they give you stuff to clean it with. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer by ileana8
Submitted on 8/27/2004
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On my 16th birthday (about a month ago), I was finally allowed to have my cartilage pierced. Great experience for me! I got it done with a needle, in a tattoo parlor, with trained professionals because I was extremely cautious about infections. Warning: If you are going to have this sort of piercing done, don't go to a Claire's, etc. Please go to a location where the people actually have a clue about what they're doing. Oh yeah, I have NO idea why 11-13 year olds are being allowed to have something like this being done. Granted, it's not as serious as a tattoo, but the children (because that's what they are) need to be responsible enough to care and clean the ear everyday or an infection and deformity could occur. Good luck!

Answer by Petit.
Submitted on 9/5/2004
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Hey, I just got my cartilage done about 4 weeks ago in TN. I got it done with a gun. Surprisingly, it hurt ALOT less than my lobes and was only sore if I touched it. I take very good care of it, and it is wonderful. I considered using a needle to do it, but price was the ultimate deciding factor. Gun for $11, needle for $45. I went to the same place that my sister went to for hers, because she loved it. I got a barbell put into it with a crystal on the front. The healing time is rapid. They healed faster than my lobes. However, I do have a question. Just this past week, I have noticed a grey substance (powdery) to the piercing (around the front of the barbell),and it's easily scraped away. I was wondering if either the metal is wearing off in my ear, or if it is dead tissue because I clean it so often (2times a day with piercing cleanser and 1 time a day with a coat of Neosporin). I have never had problems with Surgical Stainless Steel before, but I do have a lot of dead skin behind my 2nd holes ( done about 4 years ago.)Does anyone have this problem, or have any suggestions on what to do? Thanks!

Answer by Eva
Submitted on 9/6/2004
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Okay well this is for everyone pretty much... Well, I was only 13 when I had my cartilage pierced on August 23, 2004 (it was 3 days before my 14th birthday). I got it done at Claire's (they made an age exception) with a gun and it didn't hurt as much as I expected it to AT ALL. I got it done on my left ear. It's a lot less painful than the lobe piercings. It only felt like a pinch to me. Also, the gun WAS sterilized and it was wrapped in an individual wrapper as well, so it was completely safe. It only hurt for about a day after I got it done. After that it would only hurt when I touched it or if I hit it on something. It's hard to tell how much it cost because I also got another lobe piercing on each ear that day, but I'd say it was about $15-30. Healing is about 12 weeks and you can change it after 6 weeks I think it was (don't remember off the top of my head). So, if you really want to get it done, it's completely worth it. BUT make sure you read the after care extremely carefully because it can get infected really easily - mine almost did because I missed a day of cleaning it. There's honestly nothing to be scared of.. I was terrified when the woman did it but afterward I wanted to get another one!

Answer by nottelling
Submitted on 9/7/2004
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In response to Goonka. Hi there. I'm only 14 but I know that your being irrational. I'm not a stupid teenager who doesn't know anything until I grow up blah blah blah. I've had my cartilage and my nose done, and neither one of them gave me much trouble. Perhaps if you hadn't been so strict with letting him get a piercing done in the first place, he wouldn't have been so eager to get it done at the nearest place possible--in the shortest amount of time--armed with no background knowledge of the piercing and/or piercer, and more confused than a lobster who had a magnet waved in front of his head (lobsters use the natural magnetic force of the earth to distinguish their sense of direction) So basically, lighten up, and maybe the story wouldn't have ended in the emergency room. Its the same with alcohol, drugs, etc. Reverse Psychology! But then what do I know, I'm just a kid, right? Peace.

Answer by Taste_of_a_Poison_Paradise
Submitted on 10/6/2004
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Okay, I just got mine pierced. I'm 16 and I went w/ my mom to Claire's. I was a little nervous b/c of the needle, but not scared. The girl who did it had a tongue piercing (which is my next task after my ears heal), so I knew she probably knew her stuff. She took a gun. I knew it was definitely clean b/c she took out a clean one...brand new and never been used. I got both of my ears pierced. That was a week ago. They're sore, but that is to be expected. It cost 45 dollars all together. No, it doesn't hurt and it will be well worth it. Clean it twice a day w/ the antibiotic medicine. Keep turning them. OH...AND MAKE SURE U KEEP YOUR HAIR FROM GETTING WRAPPED AROUND THEM because IT COULD CAUSE THEM TO GET INFECTED!

Answer by Jess
Submitted on 10/7/2004
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I have quite a few piercings; Labret, Eyebrow, Navel (top and bottom) nipple, and an ear cartilage piercing. Out of all of these I found that the ear cartilage was the most painful when it came to healing. The actual piercing isn't all that bad (I had it done with a needle, no piercings other than lobes should be done with a gun as they can cause the cartilage to break and/or nerve damage.) But after I had it done any slight bump to my ear was pretty damn painful. After a few weeks it will stop hurting as much, but I wouldn't suggest touching it until it fully heals as it can cause infection. Use an ear care product for the first two weeks, but after that it's useless. Switch to sea salt (make sure it's sea salt) mixed with some warm water.. don't use too much salt, it isn't a good thing if it burns! Also make sure they pierce it with a ring. Bars can act as a plug for bacteria. Ok all that said, it's an awesome piercing and very cute too. I recommend it to anyone who is considering getting one done.

Answer by sweet_kisses
Submitted on 10/17/2004
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hey! I got my cartilage pierced last night..and they did it with a gun..it did not hurt AT ALL (it was just a little uncomfortable)! i was soo scared it would hurt..but after about a minute i couldnt feel anything..but my ear was really red. it looks soo cool so if you want to get it done DO IT! as long as you clean it three times a day with the proper stuff and turn the ring three times a day then it wont get infected..if you dont you could get califlower ear which is really painful and looks really bad..but if you take care of it you dont have anything to worry about. it only cost me 11 dollars to get it done (including ring and solution). I hope this helps! if you have any questions just email me at Wildmonkey00@aol.com!

Answer by carmidy
Submitted on 11/1/2004
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Can someone help me? I've had my cartilage pierced for about 2 years now... it wont heal! They used a gun on my ear but i never knew they could use a needle... the person that pierced it made the hole crooked so i didnt want to wear the stud they put in it so i switched it to a silver hoop and it felt like it healed for a long time but i'd have to take it out for cheerleading about 3 months after that and it would start hurting again and its been doing it forever... i cant wear studs because it looks weird and i dont know how to make it heal... i try cleaning it once and a while but it seems when i do that it just starts to hurt worse. i REALLY dont want to let it close!!!!! can someone just give me some tips on how to make it heal?

Answer by susie
Submitted on 11/8/2004
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heya everyone i am twelve now and i got my cartilage pierced when i was 11 and i know you are all probably thinking that's a young age but i really wanted to at the time and my cousin is 10 and she got it done when she saw mine. Anyway, i was really scared about it so i took my best friend Sabina with me and as i entered Claire'sshop i started to feel really hot and scared. I sat in the big scary chair as my mum asked the assistant to please pierce my cartilage. I picked out a beautiful blue stud and my mum/the lady filled in all of the details on a sheet. Then they marked it with a black dot and let me look in the mirror. I nodded and the lady put the gun in place. I was really scared so i was holding my best friend and my mums hand and shut my eyes tightly. Then said they would count down and all the waiting around was scary, they counted 3.....2.......1....and then i still had my eyes shut and then the lady said there and i said " WHAT?!" and she said it's done and i was like omg because it didn't hurt!!!!! i was so shocked and i swear to god it didn't hurt ONE BIT!!!!!!!!1 I WAS SOOOOOO HAPPY!!!! since then i got my second holes done in may and my last piercing will be my belly button when I'm 13 or 14-wish me luck:P anyone who wants to talk to me bout 1st lobes,2nd lobes or cartilage then email me or add me to your msn on susielawlor@hotmail.com thanks peeps and i swear all of that is 100% true! xXx

Answer by Goonka
Submitted on 11/10/2004
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response to Erica : I never said that my son was smart.. in fact, the fact that he did it ONCE was proof enough for me that he is not thinking straight. And as far as the business goes, they are 'supposed' to be good, however, I noticed that they are being reported more frequently to the BBB .. so maybe its the way they run their business. My son took care of the sites ( he lives with me.. he didn't have a choice to be lazy about it.. either take care of it OR I would have pulled it out myself ). His infection came on quick in both the eyebrow and the industrial he had done.. his tongue (much to my chagrin) has been pierced YET again,and <knock> on wood, it is doing okay. HOWEVER - he has been quite ill, and doesnt seem to shake things as quickly since he did it. So to those of you that have it done.. great.. wonderful. AGAIN my point is WHY are parents allowing THOSE too young to do it. My say ended when he turned 18 - he sees my 'wisdom' now (and a VERY large MD/hospital bill helped him see my point!) and wishes he had not done them.. but again.. the tongue DID get pierced again.. so I don't know how much he grasped NOT a good idea. I am not knocking anyones 'self expression' .. if your old enough.. and TAKING care of your OWN MD/hospital bills .. fine.. pierce yourself silly. My point - one last time - is that YOUNG children should not be doing it. And parents should not be allowing it.

Answer by Nicole
Submitted on 11/11/2004
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I have 10 total ear piercings... I actually got the last 2 done a few days ago, and they were 2 cartilage piercings to match the two I have on my other ear. I just went to Claire's with my sister because we were in the mall and feeling spontaneous. My first cartilage was done in high school before they were so ultra popular, and I don't remember that one hurting too much. (I also got the second and third lobe pierced at the same time, and the third one, which is on the border of my lobe and cartilage, hurt the most.) I got the second cartilage done a few years later when I turned 18, and again, it wasn't that big of a deal. (I think I did get a little faint when that was done, but after sitting down for a few minutes I felt fine.) The most recent ones hardly hurt at all. I felt a very brief sting, and then my ear got a little warm, and the pain went away. The second cartilage piercing that I did afterwards that was below the first one hurt more. And now, two days later, it doesn't hurt at all. The only time I remember that it's pierced is when I push my hair back behind my ear or when I sleep on that side. Since I got it done at Claire's, it was done with a gun, like all my other ear piercings. Anyway, I have a pretty low tolerance to pain, and I don't think getting ear piercings is such a big deal. I'm sure it's different for each person, but most the people I've talked to have felt the same way. Do go to a reputable place, and if you're under 18, get permission from a parent or guardian and bring them with you. Make sure you take care of it. Don't get it pierced with tiny little piercing studs. I've done that before, and if the stud is too small, it can get into the piercing and aggravate it more. Also, as soon as my ear is healed enough to change the earring, I usually change it to a hoop, because there's no backing that rubs against the still-healing ear. I'm also very lucky that my ears aren't sensitive to any type of metal, so make sure you take precautions if that happens to you. Anyway, I can't really think of any more advice. Good luck if you decide to get it pierced!

Answer by Nikki
Submitted on 11/15/2004
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I got my cartilage pierced like almost a month ago on both ears and they are great. I got them pierced with needles. It's just a pinch. But the second ear it hurts alittle bit more because of the anticipation of the piercing. I clean them every single day, when I wake up in the morning, and before I go to bed,and I have no problems. For those of you who are debating on getting your cartilage pierced, I strongly suggest that you go to a tattoo parlor, because they are professionals and they will pierce it correctly. Also, for the ones that are 15 and younger, I strongly suggest that you wait until, your older to understand, and to know properly how to care and clean your piercings, no matter where the piercing is. I rate the pain out of 1- 10, a 3. Basically it hurts for like 3 seconds. But if you want to get it done, go for it. I waited two years and I am 19. It's very cute though, so go for it!! - For those of you who don't know what side to put it on, I suggest the side that looks the best on you! (The side you take pictures on! lol) -But don't worry like I said there is hardly any pain, it's really minor pain! -I Strongly suggest using a needle, not the gun because with the gun you are more prone to infections, and the needle is more safer and sterile! Thanx!

Answer by lil ash
Submitted on 11/16/2004
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hey in getting mine done in a few days alot of people r trying to get there parents to let them well the easiest time to ask is for ur birthday or christmas trust me my parents hate pierceings but i talked them in to leting me get it done for christmas im jus wondering wuts beter a gun or a needle cause see i always go to claires to get piceings i got 3 ear lobe piercings on each side there but now im sacred to get a cartledge done thereim not scared of nedles ive pierced my nose myself 10 times so i dont really mind either way bt id like ur guyses addvice and possibley some proffesional advice o and will they do cartledge piercings on 12 yera olds if ur parents sign for u plez write me bak i dont have an email adress but u can instant message me with aim at xosk8erchick14xo answer me asap thanx luv ya all for ya great advice peace

Answer by Emi
Submitted on 11/22/2004
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Ok, I got my cartilage pierced w/ a gun and although getting it pierced didnt hurt, it got a little crusty and was sore for a while. I've never had it done w/ the needle, so I'm not sure which is better. Also, any of you on this board who are younger than 13: Claire's doesn't do cartilage piercing for anyone younger than 13 and neither will most tattoo parlors. I was 16 when I got mine done, and I hated my mom for making me wait that long, but in the end, I'm kind of happy she made me wait. Enjoy your childhood--if you are 11 and wanting to get piercings like this; you have no idea how much responsibility it is making sure you clean your cartilage every day. I didn't and now my cartilage piercing still hurts. Grow up before you get piercings like this, I have no idea why you guys are allowed to do that at such a young age!

Answer by Lo
Submitted on 11/26/2004
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Okay well i was doing some research on cartilage peircings on google and happened to stumble onto this website. it helped alot but every response contradicted another. how do you guys no if a needle or gun is better? i mean obviously at claire'sthere going to tell you a gun is-because thats what they use. and at most tattoo parlors there going to tell u a needle is- because thats what THEY use, adn they want ur money to get it done at there store. im thinking of going to claires to get mine done becuase i realy dont feel comfortable letting some old tattooed man in some dark dump put a needle through my ear. im not scared of the piercing itself- but i am of afterwards. i DO NOT want my ear to be deformed and have to go to the hospital and get it cut off!! lol and i want to be able to sleep with out ripping it out of my ear! please help! NEEDLE or GUN?

Answer by pinkie
Submitted on 11/27/2004
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i've had my cartilage pierced since March...i got i pierced with a gun and it didnt hurt...ofcoarse the fallowing days it hurt but nothing that wasn't exspected...it wasnt so bad...i always took care of it and i cleaned it just the way that they told me too...i developed a lil' bump or iritation...i dont know how it got there or how to get rid of it...all my ear rings r sterile and brand new...plz help me...for my birthday i wanna get 4 new piercings(2 for each ear)...the new piercing that im trying to describe is 2 seprate piercings conectted with 1 bellbar...im not sure if my parents will let me get it though...i think that this time i'll try a needle to see how that works for me...my firend tells me that they tissuse doesnt get torn and it is a lot faster to heal...well let me know what u think

Answer by blondiegrlforever
Submitted on 11/30/2004
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Its not really an answer but a question i really wont my cartalige done but my parents won't let me i won't it pierced because ive had one of my ears pierced 3 times and the other 2 what happens is i have it pierced and then it starts to fall not rip fall so it gets so close to the bottom of the lobe that we are scared it will rip so we close it and try again (I have really relly little lopes) now one of my ears finally worked but not the other so i had to close it and i pirced it again and now its starting to fall so my mom said i have to close it and so i was thinking that i would try my cartilage but my mom searched it medically and she saw all the infections that could happen so she and my dad talked and they decided no and know i don't know what to do so if any of you know why thats happening to my ears or have herd of it please let me now i would be more than greetful and also some ways to talk my parents into letting me get it pierced thankyou thankyou thankyou.

Answer by Justin
Submitted on 12/14/2004
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I just got my left earlobe pierced at Claire's, I guess with a gun I just like kept looking at my friend he's the best he was right there the entire time keeping me sane during it. I guess It was a gun, maybe a gun with a needle? Do those exist? I know she pulled out one of those sterile bags and did the deed But I didn't even feel it, then afterwards my left ear went numb, I couldn't hear out of it, I was light-headed, and I look to my friend "Dude get me a drink please ima bout to throw up" and hes running threw the mall runs back with a drink and I drink it I feel perfectly fine... then i took my hoodie off lol. Anyways, It didn't hurt, and hurts now (the day after) because I RECKLESSLY took off my shirt and the back of the stud fell off and I found it but it got e curious... how do you take the back off? I just want to know and lol try too...

Answer by hey
Submitted on 12/18/2004
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hey everyone....i 15 and i just got my upper cartilage pierced on my left ear with a gun this morning at Claire's. I decided to go home and research about it like how to care for it and stuff. Then I found lots of websites with stories (like this website). It seems like everyone is saying that they have gotten infections and their ears are sore. I am afraid that something bad will happen to my ear (like getting deformed or swelling, etc.). Also, lots of people are saying that it is better to get it done at a place trained for piercing ears. I was just wondering if someone could tell me if something will happen to my ear b/c it seems like a lot of people's stories are about bad things that happened :( thanks!!!

Answer by Kurea
Submitted on 12/28/2004
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God, there's a lot of misinformation on here....and we won't even touch upon the stupidity. YES, there is a risk of infection or serious complication with ANY procedure altering the body. needle or gun, you're still forcing a foreign body into your flesh and asking the flesh to heal in a certain way and not reject the entity. Piercings are RELATIVELY safe if done by trained professionals, however even with proper care one may become inflamed or infected, depending on the individual's immune system and other factors. I, myself, have been pierced six times with a gun and have only experienced minor inflammation. The majority of my pain was due to my skin being sensitive to silver, and titanium posts have alleviated this problem. Pain-wise, the experience was incredibly mild and ached only slightly....as I have no experience with a needle I cannot comment, but the gun hasn't caused any aggravation to my cartilage, though it does carry this risk. The most important thing I can stress is BE RESPONSIBLE WITH YOUR PIERCINGS! They carry the potential to cause great amounts of pain if not dealt with properly, so consider this if you feel you won't be responsible with cleaning and upkeep. Sterilize OFTEN! Using Neosporin can increase healing time and also aid in preventing infections, but there is no substitute for PROPER CARE! Parents - consider the risks and maintenance when authorizing your children for piercings and go to a trained professional. I did not and have been lucky to not have any complications, but this was an acknowledged, calculated risk. These piercing procedures are serious work, despite their simple wrap, and children may not be prepared to take care of the site or allow for proper healing time, and consider that their sports and schools may not allow for this sort of jewelry as well. These are all things to account for when taking your children to get pierced and need to be carefully considered by both of you. I am an advocate of body jewelry and enjoy it myself, but I am also a responsible 18 year old and work my butt off to protect my body from any sort of harm these may cause - and I acknowledge that even proper care may not be enough to stave off infection. This isn't something to make light of, and doing so is the reason for so much of the swelling, injury, and cosmetic damage mentioned in the above posts. If I could do it all over again I'd go to a tattoo parlor and have it done by a professional with a needle, but not knowing any better at the time I ad it done at a mall kiosk. Had I known the potential risks I wouldn't have had it done there. Period. Good luck and happy piercings everyone. Despite the doom-and-gloom message above, I love my piercings and support the art as another form of self-expression. Just be smart about it and the whole experience will be easier on everyone involved!

Answer by WolfGirl
Submitted on 1/1/2005
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I got my cartilage pierced in November of 2003 at a tattoo parlor.The lady who pierced my ear used the needle and cork method and put a captive bead ring through it. At 1st it was fine, I cleaned it every morning and evening. After about a month it became really swollen and there was a lot of puss. Later the swelling came down a little bit and the lump hardened. Its still like that, I can't even take my earring out without bending it. When I was at the doctors for a different reason she took a look at my ear and said that its a cauliflower ear and it might not me able to be fixed at all. She also said the lump won't go away on it's own and to take the earring out. It looks really bad without the earring at least when I have it in it just looks infected, so I left the earring in. It seemed pointless to take it out. I'm going to see a plastic surgeon next summer but I don't know how much they will be able to do. I not saying its a bad idea to get you cartilage just be aware of what might happen.

Answer by Nikki_mouse2006
Submitted on 1/5/2005
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hey, i got my catiledge(?) pierced like a year ago with a gun and a little while ago with a needle. Personally i think that the needle hurt a LOT more. and im having more problems with it. It might just be me but i think that a gun is quicker and less painful. so i would advise to use a gun and dont skimp on cheap jewelry, my cousin (who pierced the same time as me) did and hers got infected and now she has a real ugly scar. so spend a little more it will pay off and you can get somthin that you really like, so that your happy with it when its healing, Oh and wait at least 1 month more than they tell you to then you dont have to rush to put the earring back in. have fun and dont forget to clean then A LOT!

Answer by nicole died of ennui
Submitted on 1/19/2005
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i got my cartilidge peirced in november along with my second earlobe holes. the cartalidge hurt only a bit more then the earlobes, but not nearly as bad as i was exepting. it was a bit of pressure, but no more. nothing to flinch over. but i have kind of a high toerance for pain, and my friend said that it hurt her. everyone is different. compared to, say, getting a shot at the docters it hurt less was faster and didnt sting. however i got it done at claires w/ a gun and it didnt stop hurting for about a month. i had SO much more trouble with my first pair of earlobe peircings, which i had done w/ a gun in a hair salon by an adult friend who worked there when i was about ten. the peircing turned out crooked, and where constantly infected and painful for god knows how long. i havnt had ANY trouble with my new earlobe peircings, and my cartilege is doing fine. however i am now 15 and mu MUCH more responsible and able to take care of myself. next time i get my catilege done ( i probably will) i will get it at done with a needle in a place trained to do it. i dont mind paying more for a lot less healing time.

Answer by Kristin
Submitted on 1/25/2005
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I got my left cartilage done about 3 and a half months ago, and it still hurts to this day. I have a small bump where the hole is because the woman put the earing in crooked, and it sticks out on the top. She put it in very close to the lip at the top ouside edge of my ear, so it gets caught under the lip and is almost hidden. I think its infected, and it stings. I cleaned it and everything, but I have very sensitive ears. I got it pierced with a gun. My question is HOW do you know if it is infected, and what CAN you do to save it so that you dont have to take it out forever? Does the amount of pain you experience vary timewise from person to person? WHAT DO I DO!!!!!! HELP!

Answer by Kona
Submitted on 2/18/2005
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i dont hav many piercings (only 5) but i've gotten them done in a variety of ways. once with a gun, once with a needle, and three times ive just done it myself. a lot of my friends have even had me do theirs. so, in answer to some of the questions that have been asked: piercings done by a gun run a higher risk of deformity and infection, as piercing guns in chain stores like claires are made of plastic and cannot be properly sterilized. also, the abrupt insertion of a blunt metal object tears the flesh and can also split the cartilage (takes a year to heal). needles, which are hollow and extremely sharp, are gentler on the flesh and hallelujah! are completely sterile. as for self piercings, as long as youre just doing it on your earlobe, a safety pin -burned first, to kill bacteria- is just dandy. make sure you have a sterile earring to insert right afterwards.

Answer by Brittany
Submitted on 2/23/2005
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hey guys.I JUST got my cartilage pierced today.I was so nervous I cried.I have my cartilage done and 2 holes on my earlobes but i got it done with a gun.Is there really a difference?B/c i dont wanna take it out.i spent 20 mins. in there driving the lady who pierced it crazy.I was SO nervous.It doesnt hurt.The only thing is it burns for about half an hour - an hour.And i think it would hurt to take it out.So does it really damage it?i'dthink if it did it would hurt but mine doesnt.i got it done 3 hours ago and its not even red.Do u think its okay even though it was done with a gun?O i forgot.My ears get REALLY bad infected EVERY TIME i get them pierced.Do u think im okay?

Answer by Brittany
Submitted on 2/23/2005
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hey guys.I JUST got my cartilage pierced today.I was so nervous I cried.I have my cartilage done and 2 holes on my earlobes but i got it done with a gun.Is there really a difference?B/c i dont wanna take it out.i spent 20 mins. in there driving the lady who pierced it crazy.I was SO nervous.It doesnt hurt.The only thing is it burns for about half an hour - an hour.And i think it would hurt to take it out.So does it really damage it?i'dthink if it did it would hurt but mine doesnt.i got it done 3 hours ago and its not even red.Do u think its okay even though it was done with a gun?O i forgot.My ears get REALLY bad infected EVERY TIME i get them pierced.Do u think im okay?

Answer by a
Submitted on 2/26/2005
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I just got my cartilage pierced two days ago; went to a tattoo parlor and got it done with a needle. Everyone had been telling me that it was going to hurt so bad, but honestly it wasn't bad at all. I got a hoop put in and it usually bleeds when I sleep maybe because I lie on it by accident. Other than not being able to sleep so great, its really cute and not that painful, so I would suggest getting it done. In reference to the question of gun/needle, I would say it really doesn't matter. If you go somewhere professional and clean the piercing properly (usually 2-3 times a day in the beginning), it should be okay. Both my cousins got it done with a gun and they are fine,but I would suggest the needle probably because it heals faster. Good luck for anyone who is going to get it done!

Answer by meghan_doran04
Submitted on 3/3/2005
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Hey Im 13 And I Have 5 piercing two on my lobes both sides and one on my left cartilage and my friend did my first two on my lobe and on cartilage but i let the cartilage heal over i recently got it pierced at wal-mart snicker snicker and its a myth the guns don't crack your cartilage it dose make a "cracking" almost "snapping" sound but it never really cracks it but ive also had my ears pierced by a needle and the gun is fast and less painful. this month im going it to get 9 more piercings on from cartilage down to lobes on both sides.. oh and don't be scared if u fallow all the aftercare instructions and pick a good place thats very sterile good to watch them pierce someone else's ear first to see it they were gloves, earings come in sterile packages and that they clean the ear thourghly you'll be fine

Answer by cat
Submitted on 3/7/2005
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Are you people STUPID? Piercing guns are a huge NO!!! Piercing guns are NOT suitable for cartilage! It's called research... do it! There's a wealth of information out there. My advice? Don't ask other 11-year-olds for advice about piercings! A great source: www.bmezine.com will teach you anything you ever need to know about piercing/body modification. After 2 failed cartilage piercings done with a gun, I am living proof of why piercing guns suck. At first, I thought the piercings were. The actual piercing didn't hurt at all, and they didn't swell or anything. Well over 6 months after I got them done, they still weren't healed. They began to get swollen, and the earring backs constricted them even further. This brings me to point #1. Piercing earrings are of an unsuitable length for cartilage piercing. Their posts are far too short to accommodate the swelling that occurs with cartilage piercings, or any other body piercing. Yes, body piercing. In many states, piercings other than lobes are considered body piercings. Anyway, back on topic. Piercing earrings have butterfly backs. Anyone who owns a pair of earrings knows what these look like. These completely cover the back of the piercing and trap bacteria and germs inside!!! So, when inevitable swelling of the piercing occurs, the post is far too short and the earring back will only constrict the swelling, further irritating it! This was the main problem with my piercings. They could never heal because the earring back kept the area irritated. Point #2. Piercing earrings can cause horrible damage to the cartilage. Piercing earrings aren't all that sharp, as they have to be worn for long periods of time. (You don't want anything constantly stabbing you, do you? No. That's why they aren't so sharp.) Piercing guns force this dull earring through the ear cartilage. The force of this can cause great trauma to the ear, which causes SERIOUS problems further down the road. Such damage to the cartilage can result in extreme deformation. Any scars left over from cartilage piercings are far worse than those done by needles for that reason. I have 1 lump of scar tissue on each ear, resulting from the piercings I had to take out. Point #3: Piercing guns are dirty!!! So many people on this little, dinky site seem to think that piercing guns are cleaner than needles. WRONG. These people haven't done their research. Piercing guns are just an infection waiting to happen. If you think that they are clean just because the employee wiped it off with a wipe, think again. The proper method for sterilization is by an autoclave. An autoclave, used in medical facilities, is used to sterilize metal. It is a hollow metal vessel and uses very hot steam in combination with high pressure to clean objects. In piercing and tattoo studios, the needles and every other apparatus that comes in contact with human skin/blood/anything else is sterilized by an autoclave. Piercing guns are made of plastic, and cannot be sterilized that way(plastic obviously can't withstand high heat and presure.. it melts and/or collapses). Antiseptic wipes used to "sterilize" these piercing guns do not eliminate blood-borne pathogens such as HIV and Hepatitis B or C. Say the gun gets stuck during piercing and the employee must manually fix it (this happens frequently, by the way)... he/she will have to touch the gun and your ear to do so. Any germs that were on the gun and her hands are now in your new piercing. Great. Do you see the dangers in piercing guns yet? No? Good, because I have more to tell you. Because of the factors discussed above (the short post and constricting earring back that exacerbates irritation... the high risk for spreading bacteria), piercings done with piercing guns are more likely to become infected than those done with needles. Infections can spread in a period as short as one day. Most kids will be reluctant to do anything about it because "it will probably go away tomorrow". Wrong again. Infections spread quickly throughout the cartilage, destroying the tissue. Once the tissue is destroyed, it is dead and it collapses. The docs will have to amputate the infected, collapsed portion of your ear. If caught early, infections can be treated and healed, but the process is difficult. If you ask me, this is way too much of a hassle just for one little hole. Get it done right. Do your research, THINK about this, and go to a piercing studio once you're old enough. Piercing guns are not sanitary, nor are they safe. I just wrote a social action paper about the dangers of piercing cartilage with piercing guns (I'm in college), so I'm not just being a smarty-pants trying to prove everyone wrong... everything I know has come from research (and a bit from personal experience). The info is out there. Use it.

Answer by Aly
Submitted on 3/7/2005
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I just got my cartilage peirced like three days ago. I got it done with a needle and it really WASN'T that bad. I went to a place called like La Belle Vie and they just took me right back to the back room and I had to sit down in like a hospital chair and he just unwrapped all the stuff, marked it with a pen, and then asked me if it was in the right spot and then put the needle through. Unless you have a REALLY REALLY low pain tolerance, then it might hurt. It doesn't feel good, but it doesn't hurt that bad either. I was really nervous..the only thing now is that its sore right now and you just shouldn't let anyone touch it. Be careful when you're changing your clothes because you could get it snagged on your shirt or something and that hurts.