Piercing guns have been used for years in malls and department stores for piercing people of all ages. Today, though, professional body piercers want to see the gun banned. Why?
The first concern when it comes to piercing is sterilization. Any kind of procedure which involves contact with blood or bodily fluids requires strict adherence to cross-contamination prevention. Piercing guns are usually made of plastic and cannot be sterilized in an autoclave. A quick wipe with a sterile pad is not effective in removing disease-carrying blood.
Some will argue that the piercing gun never comes in contact directly with the customer's skin. This might be true, but the piercers' hands do – if they touch the customers' skin and then touch the gun, the gun is now contaminated. And when the gun drives the stud through the flesh, if the skin starts to bleed there is no way of knowing whether or not tiny particles of blood could have been dispersed into the air.
But Doesn't The Gun Hurt Less?
Sterility is just one of the possible problems with gun piercing. Tissue trauma is another. The gun forces a blunt stud through the skin, causing it to literally rip in order to make room for the jewelry. Then, it pinches the back of the jewelry in place snugly against the skin, allowing no way for the new wound to breathe and heal properly.
Why the Needle is So Much Better
In comparison to the two-week training of the mall piercer, a professional body piercer goes through extensive training that can last as long as two or three years. They learn about the human body and how piercings affect the circulatory system, how to avoid hitting nerves, and — most importantly — cross-contamination prevention and proper sterilization. Workstations are fully disinfected before and after every piercing procedure.
The piercing process itself is also much safer and less painful than having a blunt stud forced through your skin. A piercing needle is hollow and extremely sharp. It slices through the skin, safely pushing the tissue aside to make room for the jewelry to be inserted.
The jewelry that is used in professional piercing shops is also much better for you. High-grade Surgical Stainless Steel and even Titanium (which is virtually nickel-free) give you the best chances of infection- and reaction-free piercing.
Although professional piercing prices indeed run higher than those performed in mall stores, why put a price on your safety and well-being? The quality and personalized service you receive by going to a professional is certainly worth a few extra dollars.