?~?Piercing my own cartilage?~?

Question

I'm 13 and I'm have this guy, who I'm pretty sure likes me, pierce my cartilage. He is going to use a needle. What else does he need, like supplies to make sure it goes all right and to prevent infection? And also, what are some good ways to numb my ear so it doesn't hurt that much? It would be more helpful if you've actually pierced your own ear. And what are good websites to instruct how to do it correctly?

I'm actually trying to plan to pierce this weekend or the next. And just to let you know, the cartilage is the very top of the ear...the thin part.

OH! And can I just use regular earings you can put on the ear lobe or not?

Answer 1

Don't let the guy do it. Get it done professionaly. They pierce with a gun or hollow needle which is extremely sharp. You'll probably be using a regular sewing needle which isn't as sharp...meaning more pain! Remember, the top of the ear is much harded to pierce than the soft part. You REALLY need that hollow needle. Something tells me you're not gona take that advice and you'll have the guy do it anyway. So make sure the needle is strerilized with vodka or something and whipe the area ur gona pierce with the same stuff. Hold an ice cube there for a few minutes to get it a little numb. Good luck. Think it through first.

Answer 2

ok I'm going to answer your question instead of lecturing you...
"He is going to use a needle. What else does he need, like supplies to make sure it goes all right and to prevent infection?"
He needs an autoclave they run about $600 to properly sterilize the needle to make sure it is free of the bacteria that causes the staph infection wich if untreated can land you in the hospitol and in some extreme cases can land you in the morgue...no joke look it up (http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/releases/1998/staph.htm). He will also need gloves (latex or non depending on if you have allergies), 18, 16, or 14 gauge jewelry made of 316 LVM surgical stainless steel, or titanium implant grade (this also needs to be put in the autoclave because the people that make the jewelry don't wear gloves, and when was the last time you knew a guy to wash his hands after using the bathroom? gross but true!)
A cork or a receiving tube to catch the needle on the other side so the needle doesn't stab him in the finger or you in the side of the head. Sterile gauze, you can buy that pre-packaged at a drug store just in case there is any blood. Alcohol and iodine prep pads to clean the ear before piercing it, since it's only for your ear you could use the gauze pads and a new bottle of iodine and alcohol.
Oh yes and an actual piercing needle, as sewing needles and things of that sort (including piercing earings from a gun) are not actually sharp enough to properly and safely pierce the cartalidge, if you do not use a propper piercing needle you can shatter the cartalidge permanently damaging the ear.
I think that is it for supplies.
"And also, what are some good ways to numb my ear so it doesn't hurt that much?"
Many companies make an over the counter numbing cream that has to be wiped off before piercing but I hear it doesn't reallt work so well.

"And what are good websites to instruct how to do it correctly?"
www.bmezine.com

Now I have a serious question, if this guy likes you so much why is he putting your health at risk instead of paying for you to have it done by a professional?

Answer 3

I pierced my own ears 40 years ago...but not the cartlidge. I had that done professionally and I tell you, it took a long time to heal up and eventually it got inflammed and closed. OH WELL...but now my lobes, I put ice cubes on them until I couldn't feel anything and passed a large sewing needle through them. Then used peroxide. I would suggest you put in gold or silver (silver is a natural anti-inflammatory anyway) or surgical stainless steel earring and possible a hoop, not a stud. Just wash with soap/water every day and watch for signs and symptoms of infection like reddness and swelling or drainage. No peroxide after the first day because it kills the new cells. Rotate the earring once or twice a day but do not remove it. If you can't find a good earring, you can use "cat gut", like strong fishing thread. Wish you alot of success. Godloveya.

Answer 4

I got my cartilage pierced (both ears) when I was 10. Im 15 now and still have the piercings. I recommend that you go to get a professional to do it. It costs about $30 but its worth it. The cartilage takes a while to heal and its best if you pay somebody that knows what they are doing. It does not hurt getting it pierced, but for a few weeks after it hurts pretty bad. You just have to be careful and make sure you clean it 2 or 3 times a day with rubbing alcohol or peroxide and turn the earrings as often as possible. This helps the ear to heal faster. Do not get hoops, wait at least a couple of months before you put hoops in, or it will hurt pretty bad.

Answer 5

I've been piercing mine myself for the past few years. All you need is a piercing stud and an ice cube. If you do it with a needle and then try to put an earing through it, chances are it'll close up and you'll end up with an infection from irritation of the cartilage.

Answer 6

I did mine years ago. Totally froze with ice and actually just pushed the earring through. Warning after the first day or two and I tried to sleep on it it HURT LIKE HELL !!!!!!!!!!!! For a long time and to this day I can't sleep with it in only because it pokes your head. The smart thing to do would be to is get done professionally. Go to the Internet and type in ear piercing "cartilage" and go from there. ...

Answer 7

Use ice to numb it off. A brand new needle, alcohol. A cleaned and disinfected earring. And afterward use soap and water. It won't get infected. If you do it yourself you could end up with one piercing either too high or too low. You need an extra pair of eyes.

Answer 8

Please get it done by a reputable piercer (and by that, I DO NOT mean at your local hair salon, where they do it with that unsterile gun).

I've seen so many horrible results from DIY piercing and don't mean to scare you, there is a huge chance of infection when you do it with a needle at home (even if you "disinfect" it by burning, alcohol, etc). I've seen inflammation of the ear, paralysis, keloiding.
Not to mention a sewing needle is the wrong gauge to pierce a helix at, and it'll be very painful and the heeling process will be much longer than usual.

So please get it done professionally, it'll be less painful, look better, and heel quicker, it's worth it!

Good luck!

Answer 9

if your planning on getting that part of your ear done ,get it done by a professional.if your dont you could end up with major infection.and if you dont listen to my advice make sure the needle is brand new and is sterilised in a spirit such as whiskey .please dont do it yourself