As the name suggests, a septum piercing is done by piercing the cartilage thin wall between your nostrils. Ideally, the needle will be inserted through the “sweet spot” or columella.
Everyone’s anatomy is different and not everyone has a columella, so make sure you go to an experienced piercer who can perform the piercing correctly.
Septum piercings are typically done with a 16- or 14-gauge hollow piercing needle. If you’re thinking about stretching your septum, you can get pierced at a larger gauge, but talk to your piercer about it.
You also want to make sure your professional piercer uses high quality jewelry like implant grade titanium or gold jewelry for your initial jewelry. The initial jewelry is usually a captive bead ring or circular barbell. Your piercer will recommend the best type of jewelry for you. Make sure you don't get anything with a base metal you're allergic to. Allergic reactions can make healing more painful, or even force you to remove it entirely.
Wondering how much it hurts?
Pain levels can vary from person to person, but most people find it tolerable. Some even describe it as a quick pinch, followed by a warm sensation. Remember, it's over in seconds!
Septum Piercing Healing Time
The healing time for a septum piercing can range from 6 to 12 weeks. Make sure to be patient and give it enough time to heal before changing the jewelry.
Septum Piercing Aftercare
Aftercare is crucial to ensure proper healing and avoid infections. Avoid touching your piercing with dirty hands – always wash them first!
You want to clean your piercing at least twice a day, in the morning and night, using a saline solution or saline spray. Soak the piercing area for a few minutes and then use a paper towel to gently dry the area or let it air dry.
During the healing process, avoid touching your piercing, bumping it, rotating the jewelry or moving it. Just don’t touch it! Avoid any bodies of water like swimming pools, hot tubs and the beach. These places contain bacteria that can cause an infection.
An advantage to getting a septum piercing is that you can easily hide it. You can talk to your piercer about using a septum retainer or flipping the jewelry up when you get it pierced so that you don’t have the temptation to touch it. A small septum ring may also create less irritation until a piercing is fully healed.
As your piercing heals keep an eye out for signs of infection, such as, excessive redness or swelling, persistent pain or discomfort, yellow or green discharge or fever or flu-like symptoms. If you see signs like these, get in touch with your piercer or doctor.
Once your septum piercing heals, head to our website at bodyartforms.com to shop our collection of septum jewelry. We have tons of styles.
