Cartilage piercing: everything you wanted to know

WHAT IS CARTILAGE PENETRATION?

While most piercings only go through the skin, cartilage piercings also go through a piece of hard connective tissue, which you might guess is known as cartilage. What makes a cartilage piercing different from a piercing like an earlobe or an eyebrow piercing is that cartilage piercing is a bit more difficult.

Cartilage piercing is done in two stages:

• The first step is the actual needle puncture.
• Step Two Involves Placing Your Desired Decorations

TYPES OF PENETRATION OF CARTILAS

There are several types of cartilage piercings you can get, but let's take a look at three of the most popular types:

tragus piercing

The tragus piercing is located in the part above the earlobe on the inside of the ear.

helix piercing

The helix piercing is the most common type of cartilage piercing and is a simple piercing on the outer upper part of the ear.

INDUSTRIAL PIERCING

It is similar to a Helix piercing, except that an industrial piercing has two or more holes that go through your cartilage and are connected by the same piece of jewelry.

DOES IT HURRY TO PENETRATE THE CARTILAGE?

If you do not like needles, then you are really lucky! Whether and how much the initial piercing will hurt depends largely on how high your tolerance for pain is, but the initial piercing usually doesn't hurt, and when it does, it goes away in an instant.

The best way to describe the feeling of a cartilage piercing is to imagine being suddenly pinched on the ear by an annoying younger sibling. It's pretty much what it looks like, which, in hindsight, isn't all that bad.

Having said that, the piercing process itself is usually not the painful part; the pain factor (albeit small) is more about the next two weeks.

Cartilage piercings take at least 4 to 6 months to heal. The initial swelling may subside after 2 weeks, although more often it lasts for about 2-6 weeks.

So, if you're nervous about needles, then waiting for a needle will cause a lot more pain than when it's being used. In addition, your ear may feel hotter than usual, accompanied by mild discomfort when you brush it.

Cartilage piercings are, at best, a little uncomfortable until the piercing is completely healed. In other words, they are not as painful as you think!

HOW LONG DOES A CARTILAGE TEST HEAL?

As mentioned earlier, the main healing time is from 4 to 6 months. But cartilage piercings can be deceiving in that just because you can't feel them anymore doesn't mean the piercing's healing process is complete.

It takes about nine full months for a cartilage piercing to heal. During this time, after the first two weeks of discomfort, you may feel a crust behind the earring, as well as a slight sensation of dampness. These symptoms are typical and not unusual when it comes to cartilage healing attempts. As long as the piercing is kept clean, any possible infection will be easily prevented.

AFTER CARE AND CLEANING

Your original jewelry should remain in place until you are ready to downsize, which is 12 weeks for standard helical piercings and most cartilage piercings. Taking an earring off, even for a day, puts it at risk of closing, so make sure the piece of jewelry you choose can last a little less than a year.

You usually get ear cleaner from the original piercer, but if they don't have it in stock, the piercing is usually cleaned with a sterile saline solution such as Neilmed Neilcleanse.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE A CARTILAGE PIERCING?

Before heading into the studio, it's best to keep your hair loose and away from your ears. It is also recommended that your ears be thoroughly cleaned before getting pierced, your piercer will clean your ears until they are fit for piercing.

It is also important to research the piercing studio in advance. The last thing you want to do is end up with an unfortunate piercing or problem. At Pierced.co, our team is highly experienced and committed to providing the best service and care. We are here to answer any questions you may have in advance and make sure you feel comfortable at every step of the process.

INFECTIONS AND RISKS

It is important to stay away from ponds, lakes, oceans, hot tubs, and swimming pools as these bodies of water harbor many different types of bacteria that can interfere with healing and cause irritation, infection, and other problems.

Also, try not to touch it with your hands as your hands are full of unnecessary germs that will infect your piercing. It is also recommended to keep the hair away from the ears so that it does not get caught on the earring, and also to avoid this side of the face while sleeping.

The piercer will provide aftercare instructions for cleaning and sanitizing. These instructions generally recommend one cleansing and one irrigation per day.

If you notice swelling, oozing, heat radiation, or severe pain, contact your piercing specialist or family doctor to check for a piercing infection.

In some cases, your body may reject or be allergic to certain types of metals in jewelry. In such cases, the piercer may replace your jewelry with something less annoying.

HOW MUCH DOES A CARTILAGE PIERCING COST?

The average cost of a cartilage piercing is around $40-$50, depending on the piece of jewelry you choose. As a rule, it is more expensive to get a piercing done by a professional because they are licensed and do an excellent job. So while doing this at the mall might save you money, the $30 saved is usually not worth the risk in the long run.

Our favorite ear piercings

WHERE CAN I MAKE A PROPIRE OF THE CARTILAGE?

It is important to remember that cartilage should never be pierced with a piercing gun. Piercing guns will destroy your cartilage and prevent it from fully healing. Piercing guns are also extremely painful, both during the piercing process and during the time it takes to heal, if it heals at all.

It is best to pierce the cartilage with a hollow needle, and this should always be done at a licensed tattoo or piercing studio, such as those in Mississauga or Newmarket.

READY TO DO YOUR CARTILAGE PERCING?

The right piercing studio can go a long way towards an enjoyable experience and a piercing that is infection-free, perfectly made, and ready to show off to friends and family.

If you live in Newmarket, Mississauga or Toronto and are thinking about getting a cartilage piercing, feel free to contact us. Our team of talented piercing professionals would love to hear more about how they can help and answer any questions you may have.