Piercing pliers

Piercing clamps hold the tissue and keep it in position while the needle passes through. They give the channel a defined direction and limit movement – that is the difference between a piercing that sits cleanly and one that ends up crooked.

Read more: designs, selection and reprocessing

The designs

  • Oval clamp (Pennington) – the classic clamp for lip, navel and eyebrow. The oval opening leaves the piercing site free.
  • Slotted clamp – open slot on the side, so the clamp can be removed after piercing without passing it over the jewellery.
  • Triangle clamp – for the septum and areas where the clamp has to lie flat.
  • Straight and curved versions – the curve determines how much of the site stays in view.

What matters

  • Ratchet lock – the lock must engage securely and release with one hand.
  • Jaw surfaces – they should hold without crushing. Heavy serration leaves marks.
  • Stainless steel – the prerequisite for reprocessing in the autoclave.

Reprocessing

Clamps and forceps are reusable and go through the full reprocessing cycle after every use: clean, disinfect, dry, sterilise. Let the joints dry completely – residual moisture in the joint is the most common cause of rust spots.

Related categories: Tweezers, Scalpels and blades, Technical and special tweezers