Piercings

This year alone, i have had to cut butterfly backs out of the ears of 5 little girls, with two this week alone. Seeing as it’s only mid February, i know i’m in for another long year of removing these awful things from children’s ear lobes!

But people have been having their ears pierced with piercing guns for donkeys years! I hear you cry. They have! But continued education in piercing, and the constant stream of issues that doctors and piercers alike see on a weekly basis, mean that we know these ‘piercing guns’ are not fit for the purpose of piercing ears, nose, or any part of the body.

While they may seem quick and convenient, they cause unnecessary trauma to your skin, and lead to longer healing times, a higher risk of infection, and as i’m seeing on a worryingly increasing frequency, embedding of jewellery.

Piercing guns are more often than not performed by unskilled, untrained staff. and these ‘guns’ simply force jewellery through your skin using blunt force pressure, which can cause tissue damage and scarring. And the butterfly backs used in these contraptions can trap bacteria and restrict airflow, increasing the risk of irritation and complications.

When performing a piercing, a reputable body piercer will check your anatomy, and decide on which length of post you will need for your piercing, taking into account a rate of swelling while your body heals. Piercing guns do not allow for any swelling. The back of the earring is close to the back of the ear, meaning if that piercing decides to swell (due to the huge amount of blunt force trauma its just received!), that butterfly back or pretty jewelled front has nowhere to go other than inside of your fresh piercing.

Piercing can be a powerful form of gender affirming care. It allows individuals to express and embody their gender identity in ways that feel authentic and personal. For many trans and nonbinary people, body modifications like piercings can serve as an almost ritualistic reclamation of autonomy, and a visible marker of self-definition. A quiet but powerful statement, “This is who I am”. Whether it’s a septum ring, navel piercing, or nipple piercings, these choices can help people align their outer appearance with their inner sense of self. Especially in a world that often tries to impose rigid gender norms.

Beyond aesthetics, the piercing process itself can also be healing. In the hands of a skilled, affirming piercer, the experience becomes more than just physical – it’s emotional, validating, and even ceremonial.

But beyond its significance in the gender journey, piercing can be empowering for anyone. Regardless of gender, people can use piercings to celebrate their individuality, mark life transitions, and feel more at home in their bodies. Whether it’s a bold statement or a quiet act of self-love, piercing can be a form of care, confidence, and self-expression for all.

At Last Horizon Tattoo we are proudly part of the @togethertattoonetwork fostering inclusivity, kindness and integrity to all members of our community.

One of the most common questions I get as a piercer is: “Why is the bar so long?” The answer is simple — your body needs room to heal! I use longer bars in fresh piercings to allow space for natural swelling and movement. Swelling is your body’s normal response to a new piercing, and giving it room ensures comfort and reduces the risk of the jewellery embedding into the skin or causing unnecessary irritation. A little extra length helps your piercing heal safely and minimises complications in those early stages.