How to Reopen Your Old Piercing and Achieve Piercing Comeback

You've taken out your piercing jewellery for a bit, and now you are struggling to get it back in. Whether it was for a medical procedure, a cleaning session, or just a change of heart after deciding to retire the piercing, don't worry. This situation is more common and happens more often than you might think.

Do not think that your piercing is lost forever. Let's take a look into how you can reopen your piercing and get back to rocking your old favourite jewellery for piercing.

Know the Difference of Shrunk vs. Closed

First let's understand what is piercing shrinking and what is piercing closing. Both may seem or look alike but there is a difference.

A piercing that has shrunk means the hole is still there, just smaller. A closed piercing, on the other hand, has healed over entirely. This distinction is crucial because it determines your next steps.

Shrunken Piercings: When you remove your jewellery, the hole might shrink, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's closed. This happens with all piercings, especially if they're still relatively new or not fully healed.

For example, if you've stretched your earlobes and then taken the plugs out, you'll notice the holes begin to shrink. Leave them out too long, and they might not accommodate the same size ear plugs and expanders anymore.

Closed Piercings: A piercing that's closed has completely healed over, and this is more likely to occur with newer piercings. Fresh piercings are more prone to closing because the cells inside are still in the healing process and can easily grow together. Piercings that are irritated or were done with poor-quality jewellery are also more likely to close up.

Timing is Everything

If you've taken out your jewellery and can't get it back in, timing is crucial. For most piercings, you have a window of about 24 to 48 hours to get the jewellery back in before it starts to close. Some piercings, like oral or nostril piercings, can close even faster due to the nature of the tissue.

The Reopening Process

An insertion taper looks like the tapers used for stretching earlobes but is made of metal and is hollow. The piercer will slide this into the shrunken hole, gently stretching the fistula and pulling the jewellery through like a pro. It might feel a bit uncomfortable, maybe even more than getting the piercing in the first place, but don't worry, it's over in a flash.

Once your piercing is back in place, the piercing should heal up pretty quickly, usually within 2 to 4 weeks. During this time, keep the area squeaky clean and follow any aftercare instructions to ensure smooth sailing.

Why You Shouldn't DIY

It might be tempting but not a good idea. Using force to stretch can lead to infections or even blowouts. This is why it's super important to let a trained pro handle the process.

Tips for the Future

You can easily avoid the hassle of reopening a shrunken piercing by investing in your piercing health. First, keep your jewellery in as much as possible, especially if the piercing is new or still healing. If you have to take it out, make it quick.

When you need to remove your jewellery for work, sports, or medical reasons, use retainers. These clear or flesh-coloured pieces keep the hole open without being noticeable.

Regular cleaning is your main focus point that keeps piercings fresh and infection-free. It can keep them open for longer.

And remember to always go for high quality piercing jewellery made from materials like premium surgical steel, grade quality titanium, or pure gold. Cheap jewellery can lead to more problems.

Reopening a shrunken piercing doesn't have to be a stressful experience. Understanding the difference between a shrunk and a closed piercing, acting quickly, and seeking professional help are key steps to getting your favourite jewellery back where it belongs.