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Parents opt to pierce their babies’ ears for a few reasons. It can be a cultural or aesthetic choice for their little one. For some, it’s a way to celebrate an important milestone in the child’s life or honor spiritual beliefs.
Whatever the reason to pierce your child’s ears, the more difficult decision is where and how to do it. Many parents end up at a nearby jewelry store or a piercing shop. But did you know there are other options for receiving professional piercing services?
Baby piercings in pediatric clinics are a safe alternative to non-medical piercing procedures. However, not all pediatric clinics offer this type of service.
What is Medical Ear Piercing?
A medical ear piercing is carried out in a sterile surgical setting by a medical professional. Unlike piercings performed in jewelry stores and malls, medical ear piercings typically involve single-use disposable cartridges.
Medical piercing offers a more comfortable and secure piercing experience for children, with a lower risk of health complications, infections, and allergic reactions.
Medical vs. Jewelry Store Piercings: Their Differences
Jewelry stores use commercial equipment called a “piercing gun” that automatically pierces the earlobe and lodges a stud once the trigger is pulled. This particular piece of equipment causes blunt trauma due to the force of the earring backing into the skin.
According to the National Environmental Health Association, the use of piercing guns causes ear cartilage damage and, for some, a serious infection. Worse, most people who operate commercial piercing guns have only undergone basic training.
With a medical ear piercing in pediatric clinics, you and your kid can relax knowing that all equipment used is sterile and safe and that surgical standards are followed to eliminate contamination. Piercing guns can only be disinfected; they can’t be sterilized.
In medical clinics, trained health professionals use single-use disposable cartridges to pierce and insert the earring posts simultaneously. In this procedure, there’s less or minimized hand contact, thus less risk of infection.
The Blomdahl Medical Ear Piercing System is an example that uses single-use cassettes to minimize the chance of infection at the piercing site and medical-grade plastic posts to reduce the risk of allergic reactions.
Pediatricians Perform Baby Ear Piercing, Too!
Many pediatricians provide baby ear piercing services. The charges are generally low, even though health insurance doesn’t cover them. The piercing fee may or may not include the earrings.
However, not all pediatricians offer professional ear piercing services for children. It’s best to confirm with your pediatrician if they offer this service before booking an appointment for piercing services.
If you’re looking for a pediatrician who does ear piercing in Georgia, Omega Pediatrics can and will help you and your child have a safe and positive piercing experience.
How are Medical Ear Piercings Performed?
Medical ear piercing is a relatively simple procedure that guarantees the best possible outcome for your child. The preparation involves assessing the child’s skin condition.
First, your child’s pediatrician determines the exact location of the earring holes and marks them with a surgical marker pen. The skin is then cleaned and disinfected with alcohol swabs.
The piercing will then be done with a device designed specifically for the procedure. This device eliminates the possibility of cross-contamination and infection.
The piercing takes only a few seconds, and the pain is like that of an injection needle. After the piercing, babies and young children may cry shortly. Older children would frequently say their ears felt warm or flushed.
After the piercing procedure, your child’s pediatrician will give you detailed instructions on aftercare and maintenance of your pierced ears.
Why Choose Medical Ear Piercing for Your Child?
If your child’s safety and avoiding infection are your top priorities, medical piercing is probably a better option. Here are eight reasons your child should have a medical piercing instead of a retail jewelry store piercing.
1. Pediatricians are Professionally-Trained
Ear piercing may appear to be a minor procedure, but it may result in serious complications if not done under medical supervision. Such infections include allergic reactions, keloid formation, and skin irritations.
Having a pediatrician perform on your child’s ears significantly reduces the likelihood of complications. And importantly, a pediatrician has a medical viewpoint, This should be given more significance than aesthetic value.
2. Use of Medical-Grade Equipment
Traditional piercing guns, such as those found in “tween” stores, jewelry kiosks, and malls, can result in serious complications such as blood-borne viruses that can be easily transmitted among customers. Also, it may result in serious tissue damage.
In medical ear piercing, a pediatrician performs the procedure using medical-grade equipment. Safe and medical standards of care and hygiene are practiced in a sterile environment.
In the Blomdahl piercing method, the system uses specialized instruments designed to be less painful and involve minimal touching, thereby reducing the risk of contamination and the transmission of bacteria.
3. Hygienic Piercing Procedure
Medical piercing methods employ procedures and protocols designed to prevent infection spread. The procedure will not expose the patient’s tissue to blood or bodily fluids from previous patients, non-sterile equipment, or non-medically accepted jewelry.
Medical piercing is both sanitary and risk-free.
4. Earrings have Thicker Stud Posts
Medical-grade piercing studs used in medical piercing have thicker posts, which are typically around 1.3mm. Standard-sized earring posts, usually around 1.0mm in thickness, are those offered in jewelry stores and used in piercing guns.
Additionally, thicker stud posts are safer for children since there are fewer chances of breakage or bending.
5. Maximum Care Instructions
Your child’s pediatrician will not let you and your child leave their clinic without providing you with detailed aftercare instructions. What more? You will have access to your child’s physician for any questions or concerns following the procedure.
In a jewelry shop setting, you and your baby may be considered just like any other customer. Aftercare instructions are given haphazardly, if there are any. There’s no degree of accountability if problems arise after leaving the store.
6. Aftercare Support
Every child is routinely exposed to a plethora of germs. Piercing a baby’s ears in a jewelry shop doesn’t provide aftercare instructions. Generally, the staff at a jewelry shop doesn’t take responsibility if your baby gets an infection after the procedure.
Inadequate wound care throughout recovery can result in an infection. Poor maintenance after the procedure increases the risk of infection and even permanent skin disorders like chronic skin irritations and allergies.
7. Better Protection Against Ear Infections
With any piercing, the risk of infection can’t be ruled out, despite the precautions taken. Such risk is increased when the piercing method doesn’t allow for medically authorized equipment sanitization, such as piercing guns that can’t be sterilized.
Infants and children with weak or underdeveloped immune systems are more likely to contract infections from contaminated equipment. A minor ear infection is treated with antibiotics, and the earring hole is preserved.
However, a serious infection can cause the hole to close completely, leaving a scar. Such infections occur if the piercing site isn’t thoroughly cleaned or your child frequently touches the hole, introducing dirt and bacteria to the open wound.
Ear infections are less likely when a pediatrician conducts the piercing on your toddler’s ears. Also, aftercare procedures are provided. Symptoms that may cause health complications can be avoided, such as:
Fever (temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Formation of pus and discharge from near or on the pierced area
- General discomfort
- Swelling or redness
- Swelling and redness that have spread to other parts of the ear or face
- Very itchy ears
8. Relatively Safe and Worry-Free Procedure
Although ear piercing isn’t medically required, it can be a significant choice for you and your little one if you opt to have it done by a pediatrician. It reflects that you prioritize your child’s safety. For you, as the parent, it affords you peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ear Piercing
Are medical ear piercings more expensive than jewelry store piercings?
The cost of medical piercings varies depending on factors such as the choice of earrings used. But it is still a less expensive option than going to a jewelry store. Contact your pediatrician’s clinic to know the estimated costs.
What type of infant ear piercing do pediatric clinics offer?
Pediatricians use earrings made of hypoallergenic materials to reduce the likelihood of an allergic reaction. Most doctors use titanium, surgical steel, or precious metal studs for your child.
These studs are manufactured without the use of nickel, and preferably without the use of any metal other than pure titanium. A medical plastic piercing earring is usually used for babies for complete allergy protection.
Are medical ear piercings less painful than retail store piercings?
In a pediatric clinic, a topical or injectable lidocaine anesthetic solution may be applied to make the piercing procedure much less painful for your child.
Medical ear piercings are expected to be less painful since you will be given step-by-step aftercare instructions by your healthcare provider. Potential infection, inflammation, or trauma may be contained with proper cleaning and care.
What happens when my baby’s ears are pierced at a jewelry store?
Health complications may or may not develop depending on your baby’s health condition, habits, mannerisms, and aftercare. If done at a jewelry store, ensure that you thoroughly practice aftercare maintenance to lessen the chances of an infection.
Choose a Pediatrician for Medical Ear Piercing for Your Child
If you want to pierce your child’s ears, we strongly recommend doing so with a pediatrician. This is because the risks are reduced and the cosmetic outcome is improved. Be at peace when the chances of ear infections are minimal.
At Omega Pediatrics, we strive to provide the best pediatric care for you and your child. This includes ensuring that ear piercing for children is done safely and hygienically.
Omega Pediatrics provides baby ear piercings, so rest assured that your little one is in a clean and sterile environment with a qualified professional using the proper equipment.
FAQ
Are medical ear piercings more expensive than jewelry store piercings?
The cost of medical piercings varies, but they are generally less expensive than those done at jewelry stores. Contact your pediatrician’s clinic for estimated costs, which may depend on factors like the choice of earrings used.
What type of infant ear piercing do pediatric clinics offer?
Pediatricians typically use earrings made of hypoallergenic materials like titanium, surgical steel, or precious metals to reduce the risk of allergic reactions. Medical plastic piercing earrings are often used for babies to provide complete allergy protection.
Are medical ear piercings less painful than retail store piercings?
In pediatric clinics, a topical or injectable lidocaine anesthetic solution may be applied to reduce pain during the piercing procedure. Medical ear piercings are expected to be less painful, and detailed aftercare instructions are provided to minimize the risk of infection or inflammation.
What happens when my baby’s ears are pierced at a jewelry store?
Health complications may or may not develop depending on various factors such as your baby’s health condition, habits, mannerisms, and aftercare. If done at a jewelry store, thorough aftercare maintenance is essential to reduce the chances of infection.
Why choose medical ear piercing for your child?
Medical ear piercing done by pediatricians offers several advantages, including professionally-trained staff, the use of medical-grade equipment in a hygienic environment, thicker stud posts for safety, detailed aftercare instructions, better protection against infections, and a relatively worry-free procedure for parents.
