Frequently Asked Questions
Do you pierce with a needle or a gun?
Neither. Ear piercings are performed using a gentle hand-pressured medical piercing device that uses a pre-sterilized, single-use stud and clasp piercing system.
How is that different from a piercing gun?
Unlike traditional piercing guns, a hand-pressured device is not spring-loaded or trigger-activated. This allows complete control over the amount of pressure applied to the tissue and allows for precise placement of the earring, which is especially important for long-term aesthetics.
I was told it is safest to get ears pierced with a needle. Is that true?
There are many opinions regarding ear piercing methods. In medicine, recommendations are based on evidence-based research and literature review.
According to Wijk, Kummer, & Kon (2008), studies found no significant difference in tissue injury when comparing piercings performed with a piercing gun, hand-pressured device, or piercing needle.
For earlobe piercings, a hand-pressured device provides a gentle and controlled alternative to both needles and spring-loaded guns and is particularly well suited for children and first-time piercings.
Why are cartilage piercings different?
Cartilage piercings carry higher risk because cartilage is avascular (lacks blood supply), which means healing takes longer and infections are more difficult to treat.
Cartilage infections can spread quickly and sometimes cause serious complications or permanent deformity. If excessive pressure is applied during piercing, cartilage can also fracture or shatter.
For these reasons, cartilage piercings are typically recommended to be performed with a needle by an experienced professional in a licensed body art facility.
What piercings are currently offered?
At this time, piercings are offered on the external earlobe only.
Cartilage, helix, and nose piercings are not currently available. Nebraska state law requires these piercings to be performed in a licensed body art facility. They are unable to be performed in a mobile setting.
Needle piercings may be offered in the future once the appropriate facility requirements are met.
How long does it take for an earlobe piercing to heal?
Earlobe piercings typically take approximately 6 weeks to heal.
How long should swimming be avoided?
Swimming should be avoided for the first two weeks after piercing to reduce infection risk.
If swimming in a chlorinated pool cannot be avoided, clean the piercing with the recommended aftercare solution immediately afterward.
Swimming in lakes, rivers, or other open water should be avoided during this time due to higher bacterial exposure.
What ages can be pierced?
Ear piercing is available for infants through adults.
Infants must have received their first dose of the DTaP vaccine prior to piercing. A copy of the immunization record will be requested for infants under 12 months of age.
The oldest client pierced so far was 90 years old.
What gauge are the earrings used for piercing?
The piercing earrings have a 0.030 inch diameter post, which corresponds to approximately 20–21 gauge.
Will it hurt?
Pain tolerance varies from person to person. The piercing may cause brief discomfort, but topical numbing cream or spray (lidocaine) can be applied prior to the piercing to help minimize discomfort for individuals over the age of 1 year.
What type of jewelry is used?
Jewelry options currently include:
Titanium
14k gold (yellow or white)
All piercing earrings meet strict international standards for nickel release under the European Union Nickel Release Directive (No. 1907/2006, REACH Annex XVII).
The medical-grade titanium earrings are 100% nickel-free, making them an excellent option for individuals with known nickel allergies.
Are both ears pierced at the same time?
Simultaneous piercing of both ears is not available at this time, but this option may be offered in the future.