OMAHA, Neb. -- Tattoo parlors may be the safest place to get piercings -- even standard ear piercing -- because they are tightly regulated by the state, a professional piercer said.

"We're experienced professionals, trained to work with tissue and the body," said piercer Monte Vogel. "Not your average 16-, 17-, 18-year-old hired to pick up something they've never done before. It's a big difference."

Until two years ago, Nebraska had no regulations for piercing and tattooing. Vogel promoted legislation that passed, which regulates piercing for almost every body part except ear lobes.

Casey Guiffredo, 11, and her mother found that out the hard way.

"I was really looking forward to getting my ears pierced," Guiffredo said.

They went to a popular teenage jewelry store at the mall, where the clerk used a piercing gun.

"It was so swollen by the time we got home, and the next day it was so infected," said mother Denise Guiffredo.

In spite of thoroughly cleaning the ears, Denise Guiffredo said that her daughter's infection got so bad that their doctor prescribed antibiotics.

"No pierced ears and I'm out $150," she said.

The Guiffredos are convinced that the infection came from unsterile conditions. Denise Guiffredo said she was shocked to discover the state does not regulate ear-lobe piercing.

"I couldn't believe it when I called the Health Department and they were so sad to tell me, 'We can't help you. There's nothing we can do. Anybody can do it,'" Denise Guiffredo said.

Vogel said legislators didn't regulate ear piercing because they didn't want to hinder businesses that profit from quick piercing with licensing, training and safety regulations. He said he'd never use one of the guns so common to mall stores because, he said, they are often inaccurate and too hard to clean.

Vogel uses a sharp, sterile needle designed for the job.

Learn More:

MayoClini.com | Nebraska see page 170 of "Tattooing and Body Piercing" document