General Piercings
It is to be noted that all piercings done through cartilage must be done with larger gauge needles than the gauge of the jewellery to follow. It is also helpful to twist the needle to remove the cartilage to reduce pressure from the cartilage on the jewellery. The use of a dermal punch to remove the cartilage for larger gauge piercings is recommended. Healing time for ear cartilage piercings can be anything from 6 to 12 months depending on aftercare.
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LOBES
This is a piercing through anywhere along the ear lobe; located in the soft tissue before the cartilage starts. Initially, these piercings must be performed with straight bars for the healing period. The healing period is between 4 to 6 weeks.
HELIX
This is a piercing through the cartilage tissue; located along the upper and outer rim of the ear. Initially, these piercings must be performed with straight bars for the healing period. The healing period is between 10 to 12 weeks.
CONCH
This is a piercing through the cartilage tissue; located along the inner, central, cup-shaped part of the ear, known as the Concha. Initially, these piercings must be performed with straight bars for the healing period. The healing period is between 10 to 12 weeks.
DAITH
This is a piercing through the ear’s innermost cartilage tissue fold; located just above the ear canal and the Tragus, and below the Rook. This is the only cartilage piercing that must initially be performed with a circular piece of jewellery (Hoop) for the healing period. The healing period is between 10 to 12 weeks.
ROOK
This is a piercing through the uppermost ridge of cartilage tissue of the ear, located just above the Daith, and beside the Forward Helix. Initially, these piercings must be performed with a curved bar for the healing period. The healing period is between 10 to 12 weeks.
TRAGUS
This is a piercing through the Tragus, which is a small triangular piece of cartilage tissue, located immediately in front of the ear canal. Initially, these piercings must be performed with straight bars for the healing period. The healing period is between 10 to 12 weeks.
ANTITRAGUS
This is a piercing through the small, vertical lip of cartilage tissue, located above the ear lobe,and directly opposite the Tragus and ear canal, called the Anti-Tragus. Initially, these piercings must be performed with a curved bar for the healing period. The healing period is
between 10 to 12 weeks.
SCAPHA
Also known as the Flat piercing, this is a piercing through the flat area of the Helix; located along the flat upper ear cartilage tissue, extending as far as the Scapha ridge. Initially, these piercings must be performed with straight bars for the healing period. The healing period is between 10 to 12 weeks.
FORWARD-HELIX
This is a piercing through the rim of the upper and outer cartilage tissue of the ear closest to the side of the face; located where the top rim of the cartilage tissue curls and connects to the face. This rim of cartilage wraps forward over the Rook, eventually swooping downwards to form the cartilage tissue fold of the Daith. Initially, these piercings must be performed with straight bars for the healing period. The healing period is between 10 to 12 weeks.
NOSTRIL
This is a piercing through the soft cartilage tissue of the nostril; located anywhere on the outer part of the nostril. Initially, these piercings must be performed with straight bars for the healing period. The healing period is between 10 to 12 weeks.
BRIDGE
This is a piercing through the region of the upper nose; located above the nasal bone, and below the middle of the eyebrow ridge. Initially, these piercings must be performed with straight bars for the healing period. The healing period is between 4 to 6 weeks.
SEPTUM
This is a piercing through the thin, fleshy tissue between the cartilage on either side of the septum; located on the bottom part of the nose, through the tissue that separates the nostrils. Initially, these piercings must be performed with a circular piece of jewellery for the
healing period. The healing period is between 4 to 6 weeks.
EYEBROW
This is a piercing through the soft tissue of the eyebrow; located anywhere along the eyebrow ridge. Initially, these piercings must be performed with a curved bar for the healing period. The healing period is between 4 to 6 weeks.
NAVEL
Also called the Belly piercing, this is a piercing through the soft tissue of the navel. It is typically located in the top lip of the navel, although can also be performed on the bottom lip of the navel. Initially, these piercings must be performed with a curved bar for the healing period. The healing period is between 3 to 4 months.
NIPPLES
This is a piercing through the soft tissue of the areola; located behind the nipple. It istypically performed horizontally, although can also be performed vertically. Initially, these piercings must be performed with a straight bar for the healing period. The healing period is between 3 to 4 months.
SURFACE PIERCING
These are piercings that are done on relatively flat surfaces of the body. The piercing runs beneath the complete skin layer and exits at right angles to the bar below the skin, because of this a “U-shaped” Barbell is used or in recent years the more successful “Flat Surface Bar”. The success of this type of piercing is heavily dependent on various factors such as movement, correct piercing procedure, pressure from internal and external sources and of course aftercare. These piercings have a high rejection rate if they become unhappy and healing time is anything from 3 – 6 months depending on aftercare.
INDUSTRIAL
This is the name given to a piercing structure that has one piece of jewellery passing through 2 or more piercings. These structures often require custom-made jewellery. These piercings are also not confined to the Ear as many other regions on the body can accommodate an Industrial structure. The individual piercings are often done separately and healed, before the jewellery is custom made and fitted.