Septum Piercing Pain While Healing

If you could see my Instagram saved collection rn, you’d probably think I have a weird obsession with noses. And it’s not

True, considering I’ve wanted a septum piercing (aka that sliver of skin between your left and right nostrils) since, like, the seventh grade. And I’m not the only one into them either—celebs like Zoë Kravitz and Zendaya continue to prove just how cool and wearable septum rings really are. That’s why I went ahead and found everything there is to know about septum piercings (yes, including how painful they are), ahead. Good luck getting through this without booking an appointment with a piercer.

Are

It’s the question everyone asks before they get a new piercing: How bad is this going to hurt? It’s important to remember that pain is totally personal and no two people (or noses) are going to experience the same level of discomfort. Generally speaking, though, septum piercings are definitely a step up from your earlobes but are by no means excruciating (think: your eyes will water and you’ll

Septum Piercings 101: Cost, Pain Level, Healing, & More

Want to squeeze a friend’s hand). That’s because your piercer doesn’t actually slide the needle through your nose cartilage (which would seriously hurt) but instead aims for your “sweet spot, ” aka the soft and flexible area of skin that sits toward the tip of your nostril.

Other than the first initial days—during which your septum piercing will probably feel a little tender—you shouldn’t expect any major pain or discomfort during the healing process (which, BTW, can take anywhere from six weeks to three months). As long as you keep it nice and clean (more on that later) and away from your hands, you’ll honestly forget it’s there.

As with any piercing, it’s super important to make sure you’re getting pierced at a clean studio with a licensed professional (i.e., you want to go to someone who really knows what they’re doing). Taking care of your septum piercing during the healing process is a nonnegotiable too—you’ll want to clean it with a saline spray twice a day to ward off an infection or prolonged healing time. So before you book that appointment, make sure you stock up on your care supplies:

Septum Piercing Healing Stages

It’s no secret that one of the reasons people love septum rings so much is that they’re super easy to conceal (ever wonder why/how so many celebs pull them off?). Even though you can definitely flip up your septum ring after it’s healed, it’s best to leave it completely alone throughout the entirety of the healing process (which, again, can last for many months). The more you touch and mess with your piercing, the longer it’s going to take to heal (and the higher chance you’ll end up introducing some bacteria in there). Golden rule: Leave your new piercing TF alone.

Even though you’re obsessed with that sweet and delicate septum chain you saw on Instagram, know that you’ll probably have to wait until your piercing is healed before you can try it, since most piercers will use a simple 16-gauge ring or barbell for the initial installation. As soon as your piercing is healed, prepare to load up on these crazy-pretty jewelry options:

Why TF not?! As long as you’re prepared to go to a legit piercing studio and take great care of it throughout the healing process, you should definitely consider getting your septum pierced. It

What Does It Feel Like To Get Your Septum Pierced?

Ruby was the beauty editor at , where she covered beauty across print and digital. Her work has appeared on The Zoe Report, Fashionista, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram.

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The Meaning Behind Princess Eugenie’s Tiny Tattoo Rita Ora Got an Extremely Chic Underboob Tattoo Here’s How Much You Should Tip Your Tattoo Artist The Special Meaning Behind Jason Momoa’s TatsA popular body piercing that has been embraced by both men and women is septum piercing jewelry. Unlike what many people think, this is not a modern-day fashion statement as it has been around for centuries. Many communities worldwide are renowned for having these piercings as part of their culture, where it was considered an initiation practice. So, if you are thinking about septum piercings, you are just connecting to our forefathers who sported this unique look.

A septum piercing is a circular piercing that goes through the center of your nose. This piercing is made through the thin bit of flesh (sweet spot) on the front of your nose. Today, septum piercing has become mainstream, with celebrities and influencers being at the forefront of driving its popularity.

Moving

Like most piercings, septum piercing is not a completely pain-free process. The good news is that it is an instant process where the piercer targets your sweet spot using a small clamp, needle, and receiving tube. Typically, what you experience during this process is more of a weird sensation rather than sharp pain.

Septum Piercing Pain, Read This Before Getting A Septum Piercing

The period it takes for your septum piercing to heal depends on the level of care you adhere to after the procedure. Generally, there are three septum piercing healing stages, and these are:

This is the first stage that comes right after you have your piercing done and jewelry inserted. You will experience pain during this period that lasts for between 1 to 8 weeks, especially whenever you have to touch your swollen nose. The septum piercing aftercare for this stage is demanding and requires complete dedication. You will need to take anti-inflammatory medicine for the swelling, and to keep your nose clean, always do two warm seal salt solution soaks every day. You should also use a piercing aftercare spray between 3 to 6 times each day.

If you do not develop any infection during the first stage, you have kicked off your healing in the right foot. In the next stage, your nose will no longer be swollen, tender, or painful. Now you can easily change your jewelry and no longer have to deal with a bleeding nose. However, the scar is yet to heal, and you still need warm sea salt soaks, though not as regularly as before.

Cleaning

Septum Piercings: The Ultimate Guide

This is the last stage of your septum piercing healing; by now, you should feel more confident about the piercing. Still, you need to ensure that nothing is done to irritate the fragile scar that has just dried. You must also stick to high-quality body jewelry and use warm sea salt water to clean your nose.

Septum piercing should not be too complicated to handle, as all you need to do is maintain high hygiene levels. You should avoid touching your nose and jewelry during the initial healing stages and adhere to the septum piercing aftercare routine recommended by your piercer. Equally, you need to be keen on any unwanted signs and symptoms such as yellowish and smelly discharge, thickening lump, or worsening pain, as this often points towards an infection. You get to treat an infection early enough, and it will be only a short while before you fully heal.