Proper piercing of any body part requires a thorough knowledge of sterilization techniques and cross-contamination procedure. It is important to remember that sterilization means removing all viable microorganisms on an object, whereas disinfection means reducing the number of viable microorganisms. The only way to sterilize needles or jewelry is with an autoclave, a machine that uses pressurized steam. Alcohol, peroxide and boiling do not sterilize. Piercing guns cannot be autoclaved, and as such are not sterile. People are advised to visit a piercer certified by the Association of Professional Piercers.
Step 1
Open a dental bib onto a disinfected surface, and lay out all tools on top of it, including the unused marker. Pull the ends of the autoclaved needle bags open so that the needles are not completely out of the package but can be picked up when you need them. Pull open the autoclaved bag containing the forceps, and leave them lying on the open surface of the bag. Squirt water-based lubricant onto the bib.
Step 2
Clean the ears to be pierced with iodine. Allow the iodine to dry before you continue. Do not wash it off.
Step 3
Put on fresh latex gloves. From the time you put on the gloves, touch nothing else other than the earlobes and the objects on the dental bib. Touching any other surface will contaminate it and your sterile field.
Step 4
Open the autoclave bag containing your captive bead rings. Remove the beads and slide the open ends of the rings onto the disinfected earlobes. Slide the rings into the position you want them to be. Make sure they look even.
Step 5
Use the marker to draw a cross shape around the point where the ring touches the front of the lobe. Imagine that you are creating a bull's-eye in the center of the cross; this is where the needle will go through.
Step 6
Remove the rings from the lobes, and place them back on the sterile field.
Step 7
Remove one needle from the package, and dip the sharp end into the water-based lubricant. Pick up the forceps and clamp them onto the lobe, around the cross you drew.
Step 8
Hold the clamps in one hand and the needle in the other. Use the clamps to hold the lobe steady.
Step 9
Place the point of the lubricated needle against the bull's-eye with the bevel facing up. Hold the needle at a 90-degree angle to the lobe, and visualize pushing it straight through.
Step 10
Ask the piercee to take a deep breath, and on the exhale, push the needle through. Leave the needle in the ear.
Step 11
Open the forceps and slide them off the ear. The slot at the top will allow the needle to slide out of the forceps as you draw them downward.
Step 12
Hook one end of the captive bead ring into the cannula, or the hole in the needle. Keep one finger on the ring and push the needle all the way through the lobe, pulling the jewelry through the lobe as you pull the needle out. Deposit the used needle in the sharps container.
Step 13
Pick up the bead and locate the two indentations. Set one indentation onto the back end of the opening of the ring. Taking care to grip the bead firmly with one hand and the ring with the other, gently push the bead into place. You will feel the top indentation snap into place against the top prong of the ring. Repeat the procedure on the other lobe, using the other needle.
Step 14
Wrap all tools, including the forceps and marker, into the dental bib and dispose of it immediately. Take the closed sharps container to a medical facility that can dispose of it properly.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are unable to order pre-sterilized captive bead rings, soak them in a cold-soak sterilant solution according to the directions on the bottle. Use a disposable cup for soaking, drain excess liquid into a sink, and dump the jewelry directly out of the cup onto your sterile field.
- Only pierce yourself or a friend if you are unable to locate a properly trained piercer in your area, and follow strict cross-contamination procedure. Just because you can't see microbes doesn't mean they're not there.
Things You'll Need
- 2 autoclave-sterilized beveled cannula needles,18 gauge
- 2 autoclave-sterilized captive bead rings, 18 gauge
- Sterilized disposable slotted Pennington forceps
- Latex gloves
- Sterile gauze
- Dental bib
- Unused fine point permanent marker
- Iodine
- Water-based lubricant
- Sharps container
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