cartilage piercing advice?

I only have my left side but its really just a personal preferance BUT make sure you go to a professional piercer. A gun is more likely to cause problems such as shattering your cartilage, hypertrophic scarring and infections because they dont clean the guns, they just change the jewelry. Going to a professional that uses hollow needles is much better than a gun that forces a pointed earring through your skin. When I had mine done, It was nothing! All I felt was an uncomfortable pinch, but it really depends on your pain tolerance. But really the pain was a quick second and it was over. If it matters, they used an 18g and a captive bead ring (not a stud) It will really take a full year to completely heal. The minimum is about 4 months. For the cleaning, DO NOT use any solution such as the stuff they sell at claires, it is waay to harsh for your new piercing. Only use something if it is a professional piercer. Also, you should never use Hydrogen Peroxide, Rubbing Alcohol, Betadine, Iodine, Chlorhexadine Gluconate (Hibiclens) or other surgical scrubs, Hand washing soap containing Triclosan NEVER EVER. My piercer suggested to me to use wound wash saline or Satin Soap. Another alternative is to do sea salt soaks. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt to 1 cup (8oz.) of distilled or sterile water. I just take some tap water and boil it for at least ten min. Just make that, warm it up a bit (not too hot) put it in a little cup and put your ear in it, or dip a clean cotton ball in it and soak your ear with it for about 5 min, twice a day. Make sure you only clean your piercing 1-2 times a day. More than that will over dry and irritate your piercing. For the first few weeks or so, dont be surprised if its red, feels like its hot or throbbing. This is all perfectly normal. Also, you are going to have some crusties. All of this is part of the healing process. Also, unlike what mall piercers tell you, NEVER touch, play with, or move your piercing. You should not touch it unless you are cleaning it. I guarantee that your skin will not stick to the earring. Touching it, as well as sleeping on it, will irritate your piercing and could lead to hypertrophic scarring. Good luck with your piercing and sorry for saying so much xD I just want to make sure that you have a hassle free piercing and that you do everything right.

Please don't go to the mall/piercing pagoda to get anything pierced, ever! Ahhh that's so bad, using a gun ruptures the cartilage in your ears, and can cause a nasty infection. I went there the first time I got my ears pierced, and not only were they crooked and uneven, but my ears got infection. Definitely get your cartilage pierced by someone who's LICENCED (that's right, you don't need a license to pierce ears at a piercing pagoda >:[ )

The pain when getting it isn't TOO bad, but it takes a long time to heal. It'll be tricky trying not to get it caught on your clothes, or sleeping at night will be a little painful. But the better that you take care of it, the more quickly it'll heal. Good luck :)

Piercing with a gun isn't safe. There are parts of the gun that cannot be properly sterilized, so you're more prone to infection. Needles are easier for the piercer to control, so there's less chance of having them miss the target when piercing.

Cartilage piercings hurt, but the pain isn't unbearable, and as soon as they're through and the jewelry is in, the pain stops.

It looks like Piercing Pagoda uses guns. Their website says they used sterile jewelry which is stored in capsules, but doesn't say anything about sterilizing the guns. I would avoid this and find a tattoo/piercing shop that uses needles. The room where they pierce you should feel almost like a dr's office.

I had my cartilage pierced at Piercing Pagoda several years ago, and it was actually the least painful and least work to take care of out of all my piercings (I had 3 holes not including the cartilage in my ear, plus I have my nose pierced). Everyone is different though, I've heard people say it's very painful and some people do get infections even though others won't. All I can say is I got it done there with a gun and it wasn't painful and never got infected.

It is very likely to shatter your cartilage.

In high school, I had my cartilage pierced twice with a gun, and it cracked my ear both times.

It is the most painful thing I've ever been though.

The piercings too forever to heal, they're STILL not even fully healed (4 years later)...

It's just a terrible thing to do to your body.

Go to a REAL shop and get it done properly with a needle.

Your chance of infection goes wayyyy down, too.

Piercing guns were designed for the earlobes only. If you want to be safe about it you should go somewhere where they will pierce it with a needle.

Both Mine Didn't Hurt At All And The Heal Pretty Fast.

get it done a a tattoo/piercing place get it done with a halo needle any place will tell you its better! it can get infected and wont heal good. I have my Industrial done and it hurt alittle but didnt kill me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikomarugt/2627175723...

call a place and see what they say!

i got mine done at a place where they use a gun. it didnt hurt at all and it healed really quick. it doesnt even hurt anymore. but i think as long as you take care of it and dont sleep on it( cus that really hurts) then you should be finee, i hope this helpedd :)