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Piercing Issues

MissLenore

18:34 / 05.05.02

Okay, I start a job tomorrow that requires me to remove my lip piercing (it's a hoop on the side of my bottom lip). Although I don't particularly want to remove it, I agreed that I would. My problem is that I have NEVER had to take my lip piercing out before, and I can't get it out! It's one of the ones where the ball is not screwed in, but rather wedged in. I've been tugging and pulling on the damn ball, tried using tweezers, and it won't budge. I'm starting to think I might end up having to resort to sterilized pliers which I really don't want to have to do since I can see myself tearing my entire ring out. Does ANYone know how to remove such a piercing? Is there a technique I should know? This is very important, since as I said, I start this job tomorrow afternoon.

We're The Great Old Ones Now

18:37 / 05.05.02

I'd go to a piercing shop and ask them to get it out for you. Failing that, an experienced friend. Sounds like a two-person job.

The Knowledge

21:42 / 05.05.02

Just keep trying. The first time I tried removing mine it took me all fucking night.

MissLenore

02:10 / 06.05.02

Well, with the help of my mom and a pair of pliers we managed to get it out. The next problem came with putting it back in. I got the ring through no problem but had issues with the ball again. I'm NOT looking forward to going through this routine every night, but the manager said, the lipring has to go if I want a job. Ick. I don't understand why so many companies are still not allowing employees to have facial piercings, in moderation. One thing I noticed when I went to university was the huge amount of people there that had them. And I thought, you know, these are the most educated people, yet they're discriminated against because of a small hole in their face. Do any of you see the discrimination against facial piercings in the working world disappearing? Or will it continue to be a pain in our asses forever?

bio k9

03:14 / 06.05.02

I wouldn't recommend putting the same hoop back in. When I got my piercings the guy told me to come back if I wanted them removed. If you scratch them with the pliers you create little grooves for bacteria and such and the hoop isn't likely to be sterile anymore.

Mystery Gypt

03:55 / 06.05.02

maybe -- and i'm saying this as someone who had one and removed it -- your employrer doesn't want people working there with these things because they look fucking lame and therefore this "discrimination" is a fairly understandable asthetic one. i don't want to hire people with vomit on their shirt, if you know what i mean.

w1rebaby

08:57 / 06.05.02

Bio K9's right, I'd get a new one. Apart from the hygiene thing, you should get one that's easier to remove next time.

I had an eyebrow ring with a ball that was very easy to just click in and out, so they do exist; it sounds like it was just very tight, unless there's some reason why lip rings should get compressed.

It's possible that employers might maybe think "these things look lame" but let's face it, in the vast majority it's going to be because they think "these things look unconventional and scary". Which is increasingly bullshit. There might be a case to ban them in service jobs where you deal with the general public, some of whom might have the same prejudices, but in places with a younger demographic there's no excuse, nor is there one in an office job really. You might as well object to bad haircuts, shitty goatees or crap shirts.

Actually, if I owned a business, I'd ban Durstoid "no-tache" goatees because I hate them.

bitchiekittie

11:32 / 06.05.02

Ive had mine for fast approaching a decade and I had to resort to the pliers thing when I first had to take out mine as well

sure, its got to be sterile when they put it in (they are, after all, inserting it into a fresh wound), but after munching 3 squares a day for a few months or years that little ball holds some mighty fine crud. you need to get something that you can take out regularly and clean yourself. I like peroxide, but thats not really good because it eats away at your jewlery and can cause pits for harboring bacteria. but I like it nonetheless and have always used it, I just buy new jewlery occasionally

but defintely get something you can easily change yourself. I use a tiny little barbell, flat on the back, and either end screws out.

grant

17:21 / 06.05.02

I helped my fiancee take her belly bar out. It had a screw-type ball. I still needed pliers.

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