Ear Piercing
 

Okay, well I have my ears pierced when I was younger but i have let then grown back in and now i want to re pierce them. I was told by my dermatologist that I should get my ear fixed before re piercing them (meaning removing that ball of cartlidge on my ear lope) but I really dont want to go through all the hassle because it will take forever to recover from -- has anyone just re pierced their ears and not had a problem?

I've never heard of that. I know people who've gotten their ears pierced multiple times without doing what your doctor said. I second PM Mama's advice--go to a reputable tattoo parlor and talk to the person who does the piercings. They'll shoot straight with you.

One of my friends was really sensitive to her ear piercings. They got infected (even with proper care and hypo-allergenic earrings) and she had to take the earrings out and let them close up. When she went to get them pierced again, they just pierced a little above the scars from the previous hole, so she didn't need to have her ears fixed. Unfortunately, she once again got infections and has since given up on having pierced ears.

I'd be more inclined to see another doctor for a second opinion before proceeding with either option...

And I think you should consider the opinion of an MD above the consult from a tattoo/piercing artist...

Yeah...it's sad, but I think I'd trust the opinion of a piercing artist over a doctor when it came to a situation like this. Seriously. Piercers will tell it to you straight. One of my friends in college wanted to get his tongue pierced, but when he got to the tattoo parlor, the guy told my friend he wouldn't do it because of the positioning of a certain vein in his tongue that, if ruptured by piercing, could cause serious problems. I had never heard of that happening, but the piercing artist sounded pretty serious and told my friend that any other reputable place wouldn't do the piercing for him, either. My friend was really mad at first, but then he thought it was really cool that the guy wasn't just concerned about getting his money. My family's doctor, on the other hand, would've let my stepdad have a heart attack if it hadn't been for an internist he went to see.

Her dermatologist based her opinion on what she saw on dzfan. I agree with adicuf.

Doctors have to pay something called medical liability insurance. Many doctors are leaving their profession in droves because it's not finanically feasible to for them to practice. In some cases they are actually losing money because the insurance companies are calling the shots as to what is or not covered. They don't want to get sued anymore than anyone else.

I can tell you stories about the number of deadbeats who've failed to pay their doctors after they've been treated. These were people who can afford to pay for their homes, expensive cars, and vacations.In it for the money indeed. Somehow your opinion doesn't surprise me.

Doctors are forced to tell you to do things that are precautionary because they get sued by people. It is the avoidance of legal trouble that causes this.

I know a lot of doctors, including my husband, and from my experience, the ones that are in it for the money don't make it through medical school. Are we starving? No. Did we sacrifice big time for 8 years while my husband got his training (and that doesn't include his 5 years of undergrad)? Yes. There are easier ways to get rich.

[quote]I'd go for the one avoiding legal trouble.[QUOTE]

I don't understand the need for this comment.... or this comment at all. Please explain why you are not surprised.


irishpipes.... you make good points. My point was that while doctors DO have to give you every viewpoint and possibility, unfortunately there are some who will give advice or a suggestion to someone just so that they can pay the extra to have something done that's not necessary. For example, a dermatologist could say "wow you have really whatever skin. you really need to have a chemical peel/fill in blank for whatever". It's not necessary but a doctor could make you think you need it and then woop they get more money.

Reputable piercers.... in this case.... would be honest and outright. Just like doctors, they have reputations and liablity to worry about. Just like the tongue piercing story, if they think it's necessary to have the ears fixed before piercing, they'll say it. If it's not big deal then they'll do it.

PS... I know TONS of people who've had their piercings close and then repierce in the same area. My 2nd holes are like that. Every person is different but I've never heard of anything happening. Besides... if it's gona get pierced in the same area, it's going to come out anyways.


ETA: For those who like to assume.... I was NOT generalizing that ALL doctors are money grubbing. Just like in any profession, there ARE people out there for the money. But there are also MANY doctors who truly care more about their patients than the money they make.

Yes. That was exactly the point I was trying to make. In this case, which concerns a piercing, I would be more inclined to go to a piercing artist for an opinion because that's what they do. Good ones, and we're not talking about the ones in the mall here, know what they're doing and they will tell you if what you want to do is safe or not.

Now, if I had an issue with, say, my colon or whatever, I'd go to a doctor. Maybe I came off a little bitter about doctors earlier because I've had bad experiences with at least four of them lately, but no, not all of them are out for money. It's just that the ones I have come into contact with tend to try and convince you, like PM Mama said, that you need certain procedures when in reality you do not.

PM_Mama00 a pm has been sent to you.

Back to topic.

AchtungBaby makes a good point about going to someone reputable.

I've had ear piercings close up and repierced with no problem but dzfan I didn't have that ball of cartilage you did.

I had my ears pierced when I was 12. The holes closed, so I had them re-pierced. My parents would not give consent unless I went to a plastic surgeon - I went to the same one for both visits. The doc didn't say anything to me about having to do an extra procedure before the re-piercing... he just did the same thing he'd done the first time.

dzfan, I'd get another opinion from another doctor if I were you. I don't have any experience with tattoo/piercing artists, so I can't make a recommendation in that regard.

I got my ears repierced in the same place and didn't have any trouble. I never even considered asking my doctor's opinion.

I do the same thing, lol

I am not trying to get on your case, but I have to point out that it actually was you assuming that the doctor in question was money-grubbing when your advice to the OP indicated as much.

Yes, there are some money-grubbing doctors. The ones that come to mind are elective procedure plastic surgeons.

I will say, that in a million years I would not have thought of going to a doctor about getting my ears pierced or re-pierced.

I had to have my ears repierced since I let my holes close...I never had any problems with it at all. It has been mentioned that a lot of generalizations have been made in this thread, which I think is true. If it were me...I'd probably talk to a second doctor. It's not that tattoo piercers don't know what their doing, but it's not like doctors went through med school for nothing! If you're still concerned about it after that, then I'd probably go see a tattoo piercing artist...I like getting a lot of opinions.

Hmmm let me see. Whose opinion do I want? Guy who went to medical school for 4 years or Tiny from "Tough Guys Tattoo Parlor" with a Nude female that has a dragon covering her breast tatooed on his bicep.



Hmmm let me see. Whose opinion do I want. A practicing lawyer who went to law school for 3 years or GC?

Yeah fuck the lawyer. They just want your money! GC always gives sound honest advice!

As an internist, I can honestly say that body piercing has come up only once in the 10 years I've been practicing. The one particular case I am remembering was a person who had her tongue pierced and she developed an odontogenic infection resulting in my recommendation to remove the metal piece and put her on antibiotics.

I think what can be safely established is that there are reputable physicians just as there are reputable body art......uh.....technicians/specialists/artists? I seriously doubt, however, that their "liability" is as costly or as ethically significant in a medicolegal sense as my responsibility to give the best advice possible to my patients. I would also point out that the judgment of the innate "goodness" of advice given by a physician is due in large part to the personal agenda of the patient. For example, if a patient seeks advice on how to lose weight and, instead of receiving the diet pill he wanted, he gets a detailed discussion of the thermodynamics of caloric intake and practical solutions on how to diet and exercise - he might go home and tell his friends that that stupid doctor gave "bad" advice, simply because he the only "good" advice he recognizes is what he wants to hear.

P.S. At no time has anyone sought my opinion on ear piercings, and for that I am extremely grateful....

Thanks guys for the advice! I think that I am goign to get a second opinion -- I had never heard of it either and I wanted to make sure I was not the only one. I am soooooooooo ready to have my ears pierced again :)