Screwy nose jewelry (threadless labret)

[Sibylla]

I have an 18g Neometal threadless labret - I'm pretty sure that's what it is - in my 3 1/2 month old nostril piercing and it seems to have become partially undone.

I can't post pictures, but if you Google Image Search "neometal threadless labret" and look at the bottom left picture, the silver labret with the light blue jewel, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Part of the skinny part where the jewel piece is supposed to fit into the post is sticking out and I can't seem to fit it back into the post. I don't want to leave it like this in case the piercing shrinks up around the skinny part of the post, and I don't really have time to go see my piercer (45 min away) for a couple days. It looks a little bit bent, maybe?

I do have an 18g CBR at home that I could swap it with - I've been meaning to go get the jewelry changed sometime soon, anyway - but try as I may I can't get the jewel out of the post, either!

Any advice as to either fit it back in or get it out?

[kuku]

Hmm it should be push fit like you say but if its gotten bent then maybe its not too happy about going back in, rings can be fussy to try and get in but if you think its going to close up smaller then id change it though to be honest if its only sticking out a bit its doubtful its going to make that much different as nostril piercings tend to close up on the inside first :P!

As for suggestions... well latex gloves might help you get a better grip but other than that i think its going to be a trip to your piercers if you cant budge it either way!

[insideout]

They can be pretty awkward to put in if you've never used one before. It actually hurts my thumb to put mine in because I have the pins quite bent to make them more secure, haha. I tend to pinch the two ends together between thumb and finger, but it can take quite a bit of effort sometimes. I imagine latex gloves would stop it sliding around so much while you're doing that but I've always managed without.

If it looks obviously bent then I'm guessing it may have got bent after it'd already come out a bit. You bend them to make them more or less secure, but even though mines pretty secure I don't think the bend is that obvious when it's only a little bit out. So if it has been bent after coming out a little, getting it out will probably be easier than trying to get it back in, heh.

You might need to wiggle it around quite a bit to get it out, they're held in by pressure and are surprisingly secure - I have to pull pretty hard to get mine undone. Keep on trying! If you really can't, are there any closer piercings you could go to just for a jewellery change?

[Sibylla]

YAY, I got it back in!

I followed your advice, katexx, and put on a pair of gloves and tried it again...after pushing really hard it popped back in! Problem solved!

[kuku]

Hurrah glad to hear it sorted itself out congrats!