Body piercing has become an increasingly popular form of self-expression over the years, with many individuals choosing to adorn their bodies with various types of jewellery. However, when it comes to getting a piercing, there are two main methods used: piercing guns and needles. While both methods can be used to create a hole in the skin, there are significant differences between piercing guns vs needles in terms of safety, effectiveness, and healing time.
Piercing Guns
Piercing guns are handheld devices that use a spring-loaded mechanism to push a blunt earring stud through the skin. The process involves the earring stud being loaded into the gun, which is then placed against the skin, and a trigger is pulled to force the stud through the skin. The gun’s design is such that it allows the jewellery to be placed into the piercing immediately after the skin is punctured.
Advantages
One of the main advantages of using a piercing gun is that the process is relatively quick and straightforward. It only takes a few seconds to create a hole in the skin, and the jewellery can be inserted immediately after the piercing. Additionally, piercing guns are readily available and can be found in many retail stores, making them easily accessible to the general public.
Disadvantages
However, piercing guns have several significant disadvantages that make them a less ideal choice for piercing compared to piercing needles. One of the main concerns is that piercing guns use a blunt stud that can damage the surrounding tissue during the piercing process, which can cause excessive bleeding and trauma. Moreover, piercing guns cannot be sterilized in an autoclave, which is the gold standard for sterilization in the piercing industry. This means that the risk of infection is higher when using a piercing gun. Piercing guns also do not allow the piercer to control the depth or angle of the piercing, which can lead to uneven or incorrect placement of the jewellery.
Additionally, piercing guns create a lot of noise and can be intimidating, especially for individuals who are getting their first piercing. The sudden noise and force used by the gun can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, which can make the entire experience more traumatic for the individual. Furthermore, the earring stud that is used with an ear piercing gun is typically made of lower-quality metals, which can cause irritation, infection, or allergic reactions in some individuals.
Piercing Needles
Piercing needles, on the other hand, are a much safer and more effective method for creating a piercing. Piercing needles are typically hollow and come in various sizes, depending on the thickness of the jewellery being inserted. The needle is sterilized in an autoclave before use, which eliminates any risk of infection. Unlike piercing guns, piercing needles allow the piercer to control the depth and angle of the piercing, which results in a more precise and accurate placement of the jewellery.
Advantages
One of the main advantages of using a piercing needle is that it causes less trauma to the surrounding tissue, which results in less bleeding and pain. The needle is sharp, which allows it to cut through the skin more cleanly and precisely than a blunt stud. Piercing needles are also less intimidating than piercing guns, which makes them a more comfortable option for individuals who are getting their first piercing. Additionally, piercing needles are made from high-quality metals, which reduces the risk of infection, irritation, or allergic reactions.
Disadvantages
One of the main disadvantages of using a piercing needle is that the process takes longer than using a piercing gun. The piercer needs to take more time to ensure that the piercing is done correctly, which can be frustrating for individuals who are in a rush. Additionally, the piercing site may bleed more than with a piercing gun, which can be alarming for some individuals. However, this is a normal part of the healing process and is not a cause of the healing process.
Another disadvantage of using a piercing needle is that it requires a skilled and experienced piercer to perform the piercing. Unlike a piercing gun, which can be used by anyone, piercing needles require a certain level of expertise and training to use safely and effectively. This means that individuals may need to seek out a professional piercer who is knowledgeable and experienced in using piercing needles.
Finally, the healing time for piercings done with a piercing needle may be slightly longer than with a piercing gun. This is because the piercing is done with a sharp needle, which can create a clean, precise hole but can also cause more trauma to the surrounding tissue. However, this is usually only a minor inconvenience and is offset by the increased safety and effectiveness of using a piercing needle.
Here are ten disadvantages of getting pierced with a piercing gun:
- Increased risk of tissue damage: Piercing guns use a blunt stud that can damage the surrounding tissue during the piercing process, which can cause excessive bleeding and trauma.
- Higher risk of infection: Piercing guns cannot be sterilized in an autoclave, which is the gold standard for sterilization in the piercing industry. This means that the risk of infection is higher when using a piercing gun.
- No control over depth or angle: Piercing guns do not allow the piercer to control the depth or angle of the piercing, which can lead to uneven or incorrect placement of the jewellery.
- Intimidating noise: Piercing guns vs needles. Guns create a lot of noise and can be intimidating, especially for individuals who are getting their first piercing.
- More painful: The sudden noise and force used by the gun can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, which can make the entire experience more traumatic for the individual.
- Low-quality jewellery: The earring stud that is used with a piercing gun is typically made of lower-quality metals, which can cause irritation, infection, or allergic reactions in some individuals.
- Risk of scarring: The tissue damage caused by the piercing gun can increase the risk of scarring at the piercing site.
- Difficulty in changing jewellery: Piercing guns create a smaller hole in the skin than piercing needles, which can make it difficult to change the jewellery later on.
- Risk of jewellery getting stuck: Piercing guns use a locking mechanism to secure the jewellery in place, which can make it difficult to remove the jewellery if it gets stuck.
- Limited options: Piercing guns are only suitable for certain types of piercings, which limits the options available to individuals who want to get pierced.
Here are ten advantages of getting pierced with a piercing needle:
- More precise piercing: Piercing needles create a clean, precise hole in the skin, which allows for more accurate placement of the jewellery and reduces the risk of complications.
- Lower risk of tissue damage: Piercing needles are sharp and create a clean incision in the skin, which reduces the risk of tissue damage and excessive bleeding.
- Lower risk of infection: Piercing needles can be sterilized in an autoclave, which is the gold standard for sterilization in the piercing industry. This means that the risk of infection is lower when using a piercing needle.
- More control over depth and angle: Piercing needles allow the piercer to have more control over the depth and angle of the piercing, which ensures that the jewellery is placed correctly and evenly.
- Less painful: Piercing needles are typically less painful than piercing guns because they create a sharp, quick incision that causes minimal trauma to the skin.
- High-quality jewellery: Piercing needles are typically used with higher-quality jewellery, which reduces the risk of irritation, infection, or allergic reactions in some individuals.
- Lower risk of scarring: Piercing needles create a cleaner, more precise hole in the skin, which reduces the risk of scarring at the piercing site.
- Easier to change jewellery: Piercing needles create a larger hole in the skin than piercing guns, which makes it easier to change the jewellery later on.
- Lower risk of jewellery getting stuck: Piercing needles do not use a locking mechanism to secure the jewellery in place, which reduces the risk of the jewellery getting stuck.
- Suitable for a wider range of piercings: Piercing needles are suitable for a wider range of piercings, which gives individuals more options when it comes to getting pierced.
Piercing Guns vs Needles – a Conclusion
In summary, there are significant differences between piercing guns vs needles when it comes to safety, effectiveness, and healing time. While piercing guns are readily available and easy to use, they can cause more trauma to the surrounding tissue, have a higher risk of infection, and may result in uneven or incorrect placement of the jewellery. Piercing needles, on the other hand, are a safer and more precise option for creating a piercing, but they require a skilled and experienced piercer to use effectively. Ultimately, the choice between using a piercing gun or a piercing needle will depend on the individual’s preferences and the specific circumstances of the piercing. However, it is important to remember that the safety and health of the individual should always be the top priority when getting a piercing.