If you have an ear piercing that is less than six weeks old and the jewelry falls out, you may be able to reinsert it yourself. Jewelry that has been out long enough that the hole has begun to close may need to be reinserted by a professional piercer using a taper. A taper looks like a long needle with a blunt end. It may be possible to reopen your piercing painlessly rather than re-piercing the ear.
Ear Piercing Procedure
All piercings, including earlobes, should be done by a professional body piercer using single-use sterile needles. Needles, unlike piercing guns, are sterilized in a machine called an autoclave, which uses high-pressure steam to kill infectious microorganisms. Because plastic piercing guns cannot be autoclaved, they can transmit infection from one client to the next, even if they are cleaned with alcohol. Piercings done with sterile needles make a small, clean cut through the lobe, whereas guns use blunt force trauma to shoot a stud through, causing unnecessary tissue trauma.
Ear Piercing Aftercare
The Association of Professional Piercers recommends using a saline solution made of 1/4 tsp. of non-iodized sea salt and one cup of warm bottled water to soak new piercings. After soaking, wash the lobes with an antimicrobial soap. Don't touch your jewelry if you are not cleaning it, and change your pillowcases frequently. With proper aftercare, pierced ears will heal in four to six weeks. You may also choose to take zinc or vitamin C supplements to promote healing.
Appropriate Jewelry
The best jewelry for initial earlobe piercings is a surgical stainless-steel captive bead ring. Rings are comfortable to sleep in and move freely through the earlobe, making them easier to clean than piercing studs. The most common gauges for piercing ears are 18 or 20; 20 gauge is slightly smaller. The backs on piercing studs can trap bacteria, shampoo and styling products, keeping them in contact with your healing earlobes.
Inserting Jewelry
Jewelry that has fallen out can often be reinserted if it hasn't been out for very long. Wash the jewelry for three full minutes in warm water and antimicrobial soap. Do the same with the piercing, massaging the earlobe to help relax the tissue. Dip the end of the jewelry in a drop of soap, pull down slightly on your earlobe to stretch the piercing and push the earring straight through. If you meet resistance, go to a professional piercer and ask him to reopen your piercing with a taper. This can prevent excess tissue trauma that can prolong healing.
Possible Complications
An earlobe piercing performed by a professional piercer trained in anatomy and sterile procedure should heal quickly and easily. If you follow the aftercare as directed, infection is unlikely. The most common cause of infection is touching the piercing without washing your hands, or allowing someone else to touch it. Some redness, tenderness and swelling is normal with new piercings. Infections cause the piercing to ooze yellow or green pus and become hot to the touch. If you think you have an infection, contact your physician for antibiotics.
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