What is a Reinsertion?
A reinsertion is when jewelry is put back into a previously healed piercing that has not worn jewelry for a while. Most people are familiar with this with lobe piercings, but it’s possible with almost all ear and body piercings! When properly healed it is possible for a piercing channel to be with you for life, even if you haven’t worn jewelry in it for years. It is most likely that your piercing channel is still there if:
You had healed the piercing for at least a period of a year and a half to two years (or about one year for lobes).
The piercing was happy, healthy, and fully healed when the jewelry was removed.
The jewelry was removed purposefully and gently, not traumatically.
You were wearing quality jewelry in your piercing through the healing process and after.
You have not made multiple or aggressive attempts to reinsert the jewelry yourself, causing damage to the piercing channel.
Nothing external has damaged the piercing site, such as a surgery or piercing the same area again.
It is extremely common for a piercing site that has not had jewelry in it for a while to shrink up or shift over time. If you are trying at home, it can seem impossible, or like the piercing has closed entirely. While it is true that piercings can close, we’ve got the tools and experience to help give you the best chances with as little hassle and harm as possible.
If we are able to get jewelry back in, it is good practice to leave it in 24/7 for somewhere between one and three months, depending on the piercing reinserted and how difficult it was to get back in. This gives the piercing channel time to settle, both reestablishing the channel as open and lined up, and allowing time for any damage or irritation to heal completely. It is possible in some cases that if it was a difficult reinsertion, removing jewelry too soon can cause the piercing to actually close, as it was irritated when jewelry came out.
Aftercare for Reinsertions
It is normal after a reinsertion to have some sensation in the area of the piercing channel. We did just stretch it back open, after all! Your body needs some time to get used to having jewelry back in. For the first week or two, it is perfectly normal to experience tenderness, itching, redness, gentle swelling, a couple of crusties. The most common sensation is itchiness.
The good news about reinsertion is that no skin is broken. This means that aftercare is generally very simple, and finishes up much more quickly. Rinsing your piercing channel under warm running water daily for the first week or two is usually sufficient. A warm water rinse is also what we would recommend if any crusties develop. Gently dab up any moisture with a clean paper towel or Q-tip after rinsing, and you’re good to go!
If you are experiencing swelling or tenderness, using ice can be helpful. Wet some Q-tips or cotton cosmetic rounds, gently shake them out so they are not sopping wet, and store them in the freezer in a single layer. Snap off a few frozen Q-tips to ice the area and throw them away after they have melted. If you are medically able to take Ibuprofen (Advil), feel free to do so according to package directions.
At-Home Reinsertion
If you cannot come in to a professional for your reinsertion, this is something that you can generally (gently!) try at home at least once, if you believe your piercing site should be open. Be careful though, trying to reinsert at home multiple times or even just once too aggressively can cause an otherwise open piercing channel to actually close. Please be gentle! At home attempts at reinsertion is one of the most common causes for a piercing site that should be open to close entirely. If you’re unsure if your piercing site is open, or if you don’t think you’ll be able to get it reinserted quite easily, it’s best to wait until you can get some professional help.
Best practice for an at-home reinsertion includes:
Use clean, high quality jewelry that is preferably new. If you only have previously worn jewelry, clean it up as best you can using cotton swabs, disposable paper products, and 70% isopropyl alcohol. Ensure all visible debris is removed.
Take a warm shower beforehand to soften skin.
Use a drop of water based lubricant on both the jewelry and the piercing site.
Put a finger behind the piercing site to apply back pressure.
Use small circular or swirling motions to attempt to get jewelry to slide through the piercing channel. Only use gentle pressure!
If you are able to get jewelry in, congratulations! Please leave your jewelry in place for at least a month to allow your piercing site to settle. If you are unable to get your jewelry in, bring it in to a professional for further assistance.