Ear Piercing
- We use the Blomdahl Ear Piercing system, a medical grade system available ONLY through medical professionals.
- Blomdahl earrings are not regular earrings. The earrings are specially designed for optimal healing. The piercings
- are housed in single use sterile cassettes, reducing the risk of infection and transmission of disease between patients.
- And all materials are made of medical grade plastics and titanium. This allows those with nickel and other contact
- allergies to comfortably wear earrings. Everything is completely sterile and nothing that touches the ear is ever
- reused.
Are there age restrictions?
We will do ear piercing for infants age 2 months to 12 months and for children 5 years of age and older. This ensures that infants have received their first set of vaccines, including the DTaP, and allows the ear to grow big enough for more accurate placement of the earring. After 12 months of age, children are more active making the actual piercing experience more difficult and less safe. After this age, they are also more prone to picking at the earrings making them more susceptible to infection. Infants are held in their parent’s arms during the procedure and the worst part for them is when their head must be held still, and most babies cry only briefly.
For children over 5 years of age, it is important that the child has requested to have their ears pierced and the Parent/ Guardian has agreed. The child needs to be able to sit still during the procedure and has to allow or participate in responsible after-care to ensure a good outcome.
We will not hold an older child down for this procedure as it is an elective cosmetic procedure. The staff reserves the right to cancel a procedure if they feel for any reason that the situation may become unsafe due to the child’s inability to cooperate.
How much does it cost?
We charge $100 for the entire procedure. This price includes the piercing studs, the prescription strength numbing cream, ear piercing procedure, and all the after-care supplies. Since this is a cosmetic procedure, it will not be filed to your insurance. Full payment is due when you check in for your ear piercing appointment.
Do I need an appointment?
Ear piercing is done only during an appointment dedicated solely to ear piercing. We do not pierce ears as an add-on during other appointments. This allows adequate time to answer all questions, discuss after care and perform the procedure. You may set up an appointment by clicking here.
Where do we pierce?
We only pierce earlobes. We do not pierce ear cartilage, noses or belly buttons. As medical professionals we often see patients with complications from piercings to the cartilage of the ear or the nose. These tissues have poor blood supply which increases the risk of infection.
What are the risks?
There is a risk of infection anytime the skin is broken. We reduce this risk significantly by using sterile technique, using sterile, single use piercing cassettes, and providing specific aftercare instructions. • The pain is brief and similar to a vaccine. Ask us about using numbing cream.
Keloids are large, raised scars. Keloids tend to run in families and are more likely to occur in patients with dark skin pigmentation. Keloids can often be seen at the site of ear piercing are three times more likely to occur when the piercing occurs after the age of 10.
What's the best way to care for earlobes after piercing?
You’ll have everything you need when you walk out of the office. We will provide instructions and swabs for cleansing. Always wash hands before touching earlobes, as initially the hole is essentially an open wound. You will have sterile swabs to use on the piercings for the first few weeks after placement.
When is swimming okay?
We recommend avoiding swimming as long as possible after piercing. Chlorine from pools and bacteria in non-chlorinated waters may irritate or contaminate the wound and delay healing.
How long should we wait before changing out the earrings?
It's ideal to leave in piercing studs for 6 weeks because piercing studs are a bit thicker, and over time the holes contract. If an earring happens to fall out, replace it with any gold, sterling silver or titanium earring available to keep the hole open. Do NOT replace with costume jewelry.
It’s best to avoid hanging or heavy earrings for at least 6 months after a new piercing, as it can pull on the hole and create a larger or elongated hole. The Blomdahl ear piercings studs we use are little thicker (1.3 mm) than the standard earring post (1.0 mm). This creates a larger piercing hole which makes it easier to switch to normal earrings after the healing period and reduces the risk of repeatedly re-injuring the ear piercing site when replacing earrings, which should therefore reduce the risk of piercing site infection.
Learn More About The Ear Piercing Process
