Is titanium better than surgical steel for piercings?
Titanium is Ideal for Hypersensitive Users
Those with hypersensitivity issues should use Titanium instead of Surgical Steel. Titanium is a preferred material for initial piercings because it's an elemental metal – it doesn't contain nickel. Titanium is as strong as steel, but as light as aluminum.
Surgical steel is a popular choice for piercings because it's affordable, durable, and safe for most. It does contain some nickel, but thanks to a low rate of transfer, your skin is unlikely to notice. Just remember that not all steel jewelry is of the same quality.
One of the most common metals used in body jewellery, surgical stainless steel Jewellery is ideal for first piercings, as it's particularly durable and doesn't tend to react with bodily fluids - which is what causes infections.
Safest Piercings
Along with the nostrils and belly button, the earlobes are the safest and most common body part to be pierced. The flesh of the earlobe heals well when the area is cleaned regularly and the piercing is done at the proper angle.
Stainless steel or surgical steel belly rings are a great choice if you've shown some sensitivity to other metal jewelry. Surgical steel navel rings are made from a particular type of stainless steel which is resistant to scratches and rust.
Body piercings, jewelry, and any other metal objects on your body will have to be removed before your MRI exam.
While surgical steel is a type of stainless steel, all stainless steels are not surgical steels. Surgical steels are those with the greatest amount of corrosion resistance and are designated for biomedical applications. When compared to other steel types, stainless steel is typically the most expensive.
Metal that is well secured to the bone, such as hip and knee joint replacements, will not be affected by an MRI. The metal won't heat up or move in response to the machine. But if the metal is near an organ, such as the prostate, distortion could be a problem.
Can You Shower With Stainless Steel Jewelry? This is one of the most often asked questions. And the answer is yes. Stainless steel shower resistance is very high and you can easily wear it while showering.
If you have sensitive skin, steel, titanium and BioFlex are your best bets, with titanium being the best of the two metal options. Titanium belly button rings are made of the most inert metal, so they're the least likely to trigger an allergic reaction.
Can you be allergic to surgical steel?
A review of the literature indicates that an allergic response to stainless steel is rare, although nickel is a common allergen and is encountered continually in daily life. An allergic reaction could occur at a most inopportune time.
“The most dangerous piercings are the ones that involve cartilage, like higher ear piercings,” says Tracy Burton, a pediatric nurse practitioner in Ontario. “These piercings are associated with poor healing because of the limited blood supply to the area.
What piercings reject the most? Surface piercings have the highest rejection rate. Surface piercings such as microdermals as well as eyebrow piercings and navel piercings reject the most because they are closest to the surface of the skin.
Medical-grade stainless steel is the least likely to cause an allergic reaction. Other safe choices include gold (14 karat or higher), titanium, and niobium. The ring or stud you choose should have a shiny finish and be free of nicks, scratches, or rough edges.
Implant-Grade Stainless Steel: “[Implant-grade] stainless steel is usually the safest type of metal for a piercing due to its low irritant or allergic sensitizing potential,” says Dozier.
Surgical stainless steel and titanium are the two most common (and recommended) metals for a starter belly button ring. Titanium is an extremely “inert” material, meaning that it's the least unlikely to cause a bad reaction.
Surgical Steel Navel Jewellery
Perfect for most skin types and suitable for piercings that are healing, in fact your body piercer will most like use surgical steel to implant your first belly bar! Surgical steel belly rings are affordable and come in a HUGE variety of styles.
Yes, you can. You can safely shower with your stainless steel jewelry and wash your hands with a stainless steel ring without the ornaments getting any major damage. While water might not cause any damage, harsh chemicals can.
Depending on which part of your body is being scanned, you may need to wear a hospital gown during the procedure. If you don't need to wear a gown, you should wear clothes without metal zips, fasteners, buttons, underwire (bras), belts or buckles.
What happens if you can't get your ring off for an MRI? No worries. Gold or platinum aren't affected by magnets. If you really need to get that ring off, spray a little Windex on your finger, or use soapy water.
Can you wear surgical steel all the time?
Surgical steel is hard-wearing which is perfect for everyday wear and regular wear because although it 'can' scratch, it will not scratch or break as easily as Sterling Silver. Steel does not oxidise which means it does not tarnish or discolour and it does not require regular cleaning.
For the same reason stainless steel is a hypoallergenic metal it will not oxidize and turn your wrist, neck, or finger green. Generally the green is caused by the acids in your body reacting with copper, brass or nickel.
Does Surgical Steel Rust? No – the oxide bond produced by the chromium coats the surgical steel like a film. This means that even if you damage the steel's exterior, the film will heal itself, making it impossible for rust to take hold.
Not all studies have found that surgical hardware in the body sets off metal detectors. In fact, with recent medical advances, many implants contain metals less likely to set off metal detector alarms.
X-rays are extremely good at detecting dense foreign bodies, especially ferrous and non-ferrous metals, stainless steel, glass and mineral stone.
For women, if possible, do not wear an underwire bra (the metal can throw off the magnetic field). Sports bras are usually good and we have hospital gowns to change into if necessary. The clasps on the back of a regular bra are not a problem, but avoid wearing bras that have metal parts on the straps.
Is stainless steel jewelry waterproof? Yes! Stainless steel jewelry will not only resist tap water; it can also withstand rain and many types of liquids. So, if you accidentally get it wet, wipe it off.
Avoid baths, hot tubs, swimming pools, saunas, lakes, etc. for the first three weeks after being pierced as they contain bacteria which can increase the risk of infection.
In the shower:
(Salt water soaking your piercing immediately before your shower will loosen up crusted matter, making removal easy).
With this in mind, there isn't a certain belly button type that can or can't have a piercing. As long as you have skin above your belly button (and we're pretty sure you do), an experienced piercer should be able to pierce the belly button.
Is stainless steel OK for belly bars?
The best materials for a successful belly piercing are non-corrosive and non-allergenic metals. 3. Opt for surgical stainless steel as it is the safest choice for body jewelry. You will not get any kind of deterioration or any allergic reaction since these metals are safe unless you already suffer from metal allergy.
A belly button piercing was originally meant to signify sexual attraction, or to draw sexual advances to the woman wearing it. These days, most girls just like them because they are cute, but when women first started piercing their belly buttons, it was for a sign of sexuality!
Patients can present with localized dermatitis or rashes but also with systemic eczematous dermatitis. Swelling, pain, draining sinuses, and inflammation at the implant site may mimic infection. The presentation may include dermatitis and skin reactions, joint pain, joint effusions, and decreased wound healing.
Hypersensitivity can occur when the body starts to view the metal implant as a foreign body and the immune system attacks it. It differs from allergic reactions, as cells released as part of an allergic reaction are not involved in implant rejection.
Nickel is one of the most frequent allergens, causing significant local contact dermatitis (skin reddening and itching). Cobalt, copper, and chromium are also common culprits. These metals can be found in consumer items such as jewellery, cell phones, and clothing items.
Stainless Steel (surgical)
Low-carbon surgical stainless steel is ideal for body piercing as, even though they contain alloys, these are trapped in the metal through a special process and aren't released. 316L and 316LVM are the only types that are body-friendly.
Stainless steel implants have equal or superior biomechanical properties when compared with titanium implants. However, there is clinical evidence that titanium plates have a lower rate of failure and fewer complications than similar stainless steel implants in some situations.
The best earrings for sensitive ears are generally made with gold, platinum, or silver. Make sure you buy earrings that are 14k gold or above or sterling silver 925 to avoid the possibility of nickel being mixed in.
Titanium is often seen as the absolute best material for piercing, since it is hypoallergenic, incredibly shiny, and basically never mixed with other metals. Regardless, it does tend to be more expensive than stainless steel, since it's a rarer metal to procure.
Implant-Grade Stainless Steel: “[Implant-grade] stainless steel is usually the safest type of metal for a piercing due to its low irritant or allergic sensitizing potential,” says Dozier.
What are the long term effects of titanium in the body?
Titanium has the ability to affect lung function causing lung diseases such as pleural disease, it can cause chest pain with tightness, breathing difficulties, coughing, irritation of the skin or eyes. It is carcinogenic and may also cause cancer.
Surgical steel is easier to shape and mold than titanium. Titanium is more resistant to corrosion than surgical steel. Surgical steel is non-magnetic, while titanium is magnetic. Titanium is lighter in weight than surgical steel.
Austenitic 304 and 316 stainless steels are considered surgical or medical-grade stainless steels, they are the most commons stainless steels.
"Surgical stainless steel (SSS) is very commonly used for [piercings] because it is both hypoallergenic and affordable," says Dr. Rabach.
Rhodium jewelry is usually sterling silver plated in rhodium. Rhodium is a lustrous, high-quality metal that contains no nickel. Any metal can be rhodium-plated, but nickel-free sterling silver is the best hypoallergenic option. No matter the base metal, rhodium-plating will protect against a reaction to nickel.
Purchase jewelry that's made of materials that aren't likely to cause allergic reactions. Look for jewelry made from such metals as nickel-free stainless steel, surgical-grade stainless steel, titanium, 18-karat yellow gold, or nickel-free yellow gold and sterling silver.