Piercing Retainers: How to Hide Your Holes Without Them Closing Up

Think of a retainer as invisible jewellery.

It's clear, skin-toned, or so low profile you’d hardly notice it. And when you’re wondering how to hide a piercing without it closing up? Retainers do exactly what they say on the tin.

To be clear (pun intended), there’s no aesthetic at play. It’s purely a matter of using piercing retainers to place hold until you can pop your usual pieces back in.

In terms of variety, you'll find piercing retainers for the most popular piercings. Alternatively, a similar style might work if there's nothing for your specific placement.

There are three very specific occasions when a retainer can save the day:

The dress code dodge

Many community members we speak to use piercing retainers for work or school, to comply without agonising about how to keep a piercing open.

The medical MO

It’s highly likely you’ll need a piercing retainer for MRI scans, X-rays and some surgical procedures. This is because the equipment and metal don’t mix. So, a bioflex, PTFE or glass piercing retainer might be allowed to stop your piercing or stretch closing while you're being scanned or operated on.

The sporty situation

High-energy contact sports like football, gymnastics, martial arts, netball and rugby don’t go hand-in-hand with protruding jewellery. The good news is flexible retainers are kinder to your body if you take a knock, so you don't have to sacrifice your hobby or your piercings.

In any event, the materials piercing retainers are made of make a gigantic difference.

Not all retainers are created equal, and this largely depends on what they’re made of. Here’s why:

Glass piercing retainer -

In its favour, glass is smooth, non-porous and body-safe, because bacteria have nowhere to hide. It's also non-conductive and non-magnetic, making it a potential option for scans and procedures. But there’s just one small catch. It's glass. And glass breaks if it takes a bump or gets dropped.

PTFE piercing retainer -

This flexible, medical-grade plastic bends with you. It's body-safe and suitable for long-term wear. But it slowly degrades over time, so you’ll need to replace it every six to twelve months.

Silicone skin-tone ear retainers -

They’re soft, comfy and ideal for sleeping or sport, with the added bonus of skin-toned camouflage. For all these reasons, they’re a winner among ear stretchers who need a discreet plug.

Bioflex retainer -

It’s light, flexible and metal-free = nickel-free and MRI-friendly. Better still, it’s often clear, so it’s great for hiding a piercing. But a word of warning. Some blends contain more acrylic. This makes them sturdier but less bendy, and best treated as a shorter-term solution than a BFF.

Acrylic -

Cheap, cheerful, and often found in multipacks. It's ok for a short stint in a fully healed piercing for something like an interview or a match. But not for the long haul.

And here’s an interesting twist in the tale. Piercing retainers are available in both titanium and surgical steel. You’ll hear us talking about these as material masterstrokes for many body modifications. But not so for retainers, which we’ll come on to shortly.

The glass piercing retainer is typically thought of as the reigning champion for the following reasons:

• Silky smooth, non-porous, and doesn't harbour bacteria
• Inert and hypoallergenic, so it's kind to sensitive skin
• Safe piercing retainer for MRI scans and surgery
• No issues with long-term wear in healed piercings

Conversely, it loses points on fragility. But that's pretty much the only pitfall.

As for the others:

• Cheap plastic and acrylic piercing retainers - You’ll find these on the shelves of fashion accessory shops. But they don’t come highly recommended by the body mod community. This is because these pieces get minute surface scratches over time, which trap bacteria and raise the risk of irritation and infection. You definitely shouldn’t trust them for sensitive or long-term wear.
• Medical-grade PTFE piercing retainer - It’s in a different league from the high street tat, thanks to its biocompatibility and flexibility.

Accordingly, the recommended duration of wear is largely material-dependent.

Smooth, safe implant-grade titanium is the benchmark for fresh piercings.

Then there’s the 316L surgical steel retainer, which is also preferred over plastic by many customers we speak to. All the same, even surgical-grade stainless steel contains small amounts of nickel. So, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere if you’ve got a nickel allergy or sensitive skin.

BUT there’s a major drawback with titanium and surgical steel. THEY’RE NOT CLEAR.

Titanium is silver-grey and can’t be made into a clear piercing retainer, although it can be anodised into different bronze and gold tones for a closer skin match. Similarly, you can get surgical steel retainers in fun colours.

But cheap clear acrylic retainers are porous, trapping bacteria and irritating or infecting delicate tissue. So, plastic should never go into an unhealed piercing.

Swapping jewellery too early is also risky, because it can cause trauma, hinder slow healing and even cause what you're trying to prevent - a closed-up piercing.

All in all, try to avoid switching to a retainer until you're fully healed if you can. Although this isn’t always possible when medical matters dictate otherwise.

A piercing retainer for surgery or an MRI scan can be a lifesaver. But you must check the rules first.

In any event, a glass piercing retainer or a PTFE or Bioflex retainer is preferred, because they’re non-metallic and don't conduct electricity. This lowers the risk of burns from electrical surgical equipment and won't interfere with imaging.

But:

You need approval -

Policies vary, so ask your surgical team if piercing retainers are allowed. Some are fine with non-metal retainers to stop holes closing, while others insist everything comes out to reduce infection, equipment interference or snagging risks.

Mouth, face and airway = usually no -

Retainers are almost never allowed if your procedure involves these areas.

General anaesthetic adds an additional layer of risk -

Jewellery or retainers near the mouth pose a risk of swallowing or aspiration. This is why many medical teams prefer everything out.

Get it sorted early -

Swap your metal jewellery for an appropriate retainer beforehand, as long as your medical team has given the green light. Don't leave it to the morning of the op to experience any issues; there’s no wriggle room to deal with.

And if the answer’s no? Suck it up. It’s a safety decision for your health and wellbeing.

An ill-fitting retainer is less than useless. This is why it’s vital to measure piercing retainers before you buy. Here are a few tips:

• Match your current size - Bar thickness matters most. So, go for the same thickness as your usual jewellery.
• Can't find your exact length? - A slightly longer bar is fine for a short period.
• Not sure what size you wear? - Don’t rely on guesswork. Measure your existing jewellery before ordering.

And think about aftercare too, once you’ve got the size right.

Approach your retainer like wearing a tiny bit of tech which needs keeping clean if you're wearing it for any length of time:

• Wash it weekly with mild soap and warm water.
• Listen to your body, and speak to your piercer or a medical professional if you experience any redness, swelling or irritation.

Typical red flags you and your retainers aren’t gelling include the following:

• Irritation, soreness or swelling
• Using piercing retainers in holes that aren’t yet fully healed
• Materials look cloudy, scratched or worn, indicating it’s time for a replacement
• You've been told by your medical team it's not allowed

Q. What is a piercing retainer?

A. It’s a clear, skin-toned or low-profile piece of substitute jewellery to keep your piercing open, while staying discreet for work, school, sport and medical situations.

Q. Can you wear a retainer in a fresh piercing?

A. Generally no. Plastics and acrylic should never go into unhealed piercings. What’s more, changing jewellery too soon can cause trauma or closure.

Q. How long can you leave a piercing retainer in?

A. It depends on the material. A glass piercing retainer can be worn long-term in healed piercings. Silicone skin-tone ear retainers work if you keep them clean. And a PTFE piercing retainer should be replaced every 6 to 12 months. Notably, an acrylic or Bioflex retainer is for short-term wear only.

Q. Can I keep my piercing in for an MRI or surgery?

A. Only if your medical team says you can. Non-metal materials like a glass or PTFE piercing retainer are sometimes permitted. But some teams insist on full removal, especially for oral or airway piercings.

Q. Are glass retainers better than plastic?

A. Yes, in most cases. Glass piercing retainers are smooth, non-porous, hypoallergenic, kinder and cleaner in the long run. The main disadvantage is the risk of breakage.

Ultimately, piercing retainers are unsung heroes when life, HR and hospitals get in the way.

But always, always play by these non-negotiable rules:

• Pick the right material
• Get the size right
• Keep it clean
• Never rush a fresh piercing

Head to Stretch It Body Jewellery for everything you need to know about the processes and products.

And remember, rules and policies vary between workplaces, schools, hospitals and piercing studios. For this reason, always check with your employer, your medical team or your piercer before you swap anything.

This isn't medical advice. We’re not qualified to give that. But we’re more than expert enough in the body mod arena to point you in the right direction.