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The Truth About Butterfly Backs
Butterfly backs are everywhere at the mall — and they cause more bumps in my chair than almost any other jewelry choice.
— Katelyn Cole, master piercer, Work of Art Las Vegas
Why I avoid them on fresh work
- They trap hair, dead skin, and bacteria against the entry.
- They are hard to clean — you cannot see the post threading inside.
- Tightening them embeds the back into swelling — a common emergency visit.
What I use instead
- Flat-back labret posts — clean profile, easy saline access, secure threadless or internal thread.
- Long enough for swell, then downsized on schedule.
When butterfly backs appear
- Healed lobe piercings with occasional short-term wear — still not my favorite.
- Never on fresh cartilage, nostril, or conch work in my studio.
