ear piercing / ear repair for pierced ears

ear piercing

Ear Piercing | Ear Repair | Manhattan | New York City (NYC)Most women and some men will eventually have their ears pierced. Some people have this done in a piercing or tattoo studio, where they usually get specific instructions on how to care for the piercings. Others have their ears pierced at the mall, and may not get such detailed instructions. As common as ear piercings are, poor technique and poor after-care can lead to infections that may have permanent effects on your health and how your ear looks.

The most important part of caring for newly pierced ears is keeping the new piercing clean. The pierced ears will become infected if the area is exposed to bacteria. The easiest way to keep them clean is to soak a cotton swab in hydrogen peroxide and swab both sides of the ears at least twice a day, generally in the morning and in the evening. If the pierced area starts looking red or begins to itch, an antibiotic ointment may be needed to keep the piercing from developing an infection. If the redness and/or itching persists for more than a couple of days, or it gets worse and you are experiencing a lot of drainage, you should see your doctor.

getting a piercing

The best way to ensure that your ear piercing experience is a safe and effective one is to go to a doctor with experience in piercing ears. Dr. Victor uses a sterile new needle in a piercing gun with a stainless steel starter earring which is attached to the end, allowing the piercing to be done in one operation. You may request that he use a needle without the gun should you prefer. However, the piercing gun is often considered quicker and less messy as long as the person using it is properly trained and licensed. Using an earring made of stainless steel is much safer and ensures that you will not have a reaction to the earring.

piercing maintenance

Another important factor in keeping new piercing infection-free and helping it heal faster is turning the earring in your ear a few times a day. This will allow the piercing to heal completely and correctly. The stud should be turned about five times in each direction, two to three times a day.

The starter earring should not be taken out for at least three weeks after the piercing. After that, you can remove the earrings and should clean them thoroughly in hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol. A cotton swab or a toothpick should be used to completely remove any residue from the earrings and the backs. After that, the pierced ears need to be cleaned with peroxide before antibiotic ointment is applied to both sides of the earlobe. The earring posts should also be coated in the ointment before they are replaced in the ears.

When the earrings are replaced, they should be left in for another three weeks, following the same cleaning and turning regimen as before. Once the six weeks are up, you can usually replace the starter studs with earrings of your choice. However, it is a good idea to wear the starter studs at night for several more weeks. You should also continue to keep the newly-pierced ears and earrings clean, and use antibiotic ointment at the first sign of redness, drainage or itching. When a strict cleaning regimen is followed, most people have no trouble with their newly-pierced ears. But if problems arise it is important to treat the affected area immediately and call Dr. Victor’s office should the problem persist.

ear repair for pierced ears


Dr. Victor repairs torn earlobes with a quick in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia. He first freshens the endges of the torn lobe by removing a smal amount fo skin. Then, using ultra-fine sutures, the earlobe is meticulously repaired to reconstruct a normal, rounded earlobe that matches you natural ear shape.


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