Getting anything on your body pierced for the first time can be both exhilarating and come with some hesitation, as you’ve yet to experience the process. Fortunately, you can always feel more at ease about the experience by doing a little research before even setting foot in the shop.

When it comes to septum piercings, you may have many questions. What is a septum piercing? What should you expect throughout the process? Let’s dive into all of the specifics surrounding septum piercings, so that you feel confident and safe getting yours.

What Is a Septum Piercing?

A septum nose piercing, aptly named, is a piercing of the septum, which is a small piece of cartilage between the nostrils. Of course, this isn’t entirely accurate - septum piercing jewelry doesn’t go directly through the septum, as this would be quite painful. Rather, it goes through the soft tissue located directly underneath the septum.

This popular piercing can look great, but it’s not for everyone. If you have a deviated septum, a septum nose piercing might not look quite right once it’s finished. Additionally, if you don’t have much soft flesh to work with, a septum piercing can be painful. In this case, there’s plenty of septum piercing jewelry that you can use for a fake septum piercing to get the same look without the same risk.

What Do I Need to Know About Getting a Septum Piercing?

While getting a septum piercing can seem pretty straightforward, there’s a lot you should brush up on to educate yourself about before you dive in.

How much do septum nose piercings cost?

If you’re planning on getting a part of your body pierced, it’s important to not only plan ahead for the piercing itself, but to understand how much it’s going to cost to get the work done. The cost of a septum piercing will vary greatly depending on who you go to. Some might only charge $30, while others can charge up to $100. Make sure that you reach out to the shop you plan on going to so that you can learn more about pricing and the process of getting your septum pierced.

What can you not do with a septum piercing?

There’s a lot of information out there about septum nose piercing aftercare and what to do with your septum piercing jewelry. However, what many won’t tell you is what type of activities you should be avoiding after you get your septum pierced. Some important items to know ahead of time include:

• Make sure not to touch it or take it out, as this might introduce bacteria to the site or cause your wound to close up (extending the healing time as well).

• Don’t flip it up if you can avoid it. Leave it undisturbed.

• Avoid using rubbing alcohol or other harsh soaps and drying agents. Warm water and gentle soap are enough to keep the area clean. You may even wish to invest in a cleaner designed specifically for your septum piercing.

• Try not to over-clean it. A few times a day is sufficient enough.

• Be careful when your face is near anything that could get caught in your piercing. The last thing that you want is to have your piercing torn out or to get stuck in something that could affect your healing.

Overall, what you should avoid when you get your septum pierced comes down to common sense, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to properly care for your septum piercing jewelry and stay on track for proper healing.

How painful is septum piercing?

Pain, like cost, isn’t necessarily easy to determine. It’s going to vary wildly from person to person. For some, a septum piercing is just a minor pinch that causes their eyes to water and is immediately fine once the piercing is in. For others, it may be a stronger sensation that’s only painful for a bit until the piercing is finished. Overall, it shouldn’t be an overwhelming pain, and it certainly isn’t one that’s going to last for hours. A septum piercing is tolerable for most.

That being said, what you need to be careful with is taking care of your wound afterward. An infected septum piercing might cause a great deal of pain, which is why regular cleanings and proper care are so important. You should also watch out for signs of a rejected septum piercing and let your piercer know if there are any developments that might be concerning.

How long do septum piercings take to heal?

Septum piercings are not only unique in terms of pain, but the healing process as well. Some might move through the septum piercing healing stages faster than others, becoming fully healed within only two to three months. Others might take anywhere from six to eight months to fully heal. The good news is that generally speaking, the healing process should be relatively easy as long as you’re making sure to clean your piercing and take care of it. Once it’s fully healed, you can easily switch out septum nose piercings as often as you like now that it’s permanent!

Are there any side effects?

There are going to be side effects that you need to know about. Some of these include:

• Symptoms of infection. This can cover a broad range of issues, but some of the problems to watch out for include swelling or redness of the piercing site, pus and discharge coming out of the piercing site, fever, and peeling or bumps around the piercing.

• An allergic reaction to the piercing itself, which can be addressed by using a piercing made of metal you’re not allergic to.

• Scarring that occurs as a result of the piercing.

• Blood-borne diseases.

• Tearing when jewelry gets caught on something.

• Blood building up in the piercing area if blood vessels are affected.

As long as you work with an experienced piercer who knows what they’re doing, you should have a relatively easy time navigating your new septum piercing.

What to Expect from Your Appointment

Once you book a septum piercing, the piercer will explain the process to you. Then, they will sterilize the area to make sure that everything’s prepped for piercing, use a clamp to hold your septum in place as they pierce it, put in the septum piercing, and send you on your way! It’s a quick and easy process that should yield very few problems when done by the right professional.

How to Pick the Right Septum Piercing

There are multiple types of septum piercings that you’re going to be able to choose from, each of which with its own advantages and disadvantages. The most common type of septum piercing jewelry is the curved barbell, which looks like the traditional ring piercing that most think of. However, there are also captive bead rings (which contain a bead in the center), full rings, septum retainers, and septum clickers, just to name a few.

There are also different types of metals that you’ll come across when you choose your septum piercing jewelry. These include titanium, gold, sterling silver, and surgical stainless steel. It’s important to pay attention to the type of metal in your chosen septum piercing for many reasons. The first is that you’ll have to properly care for these items over the course of their lifetime, and you want one that you know how to clean well so that they don’t wear out too soon. The second reason is that you may be allergic to certain metals. An allergic reaction can extend the healing process and cause a wide range of negative side effects that you don’t want to deal with.

Simply put, taking the time to plan all this out and pay attention to how certain jewelry types interact with your body (if you have other piercings) will go a long way in making sure that your septum piercing is a seamless and enjoyable experience the first time around.

Ready to take the first steps and learn more about septum piercings and styles? A professional piercer will walk you through all the different kinds of metals and styles of septum nose piercings that there are available today.

If you’re ready to get your septum pierced and you want someone reliable to do the job, contact us at Black Line Studio to book a free consultation and let us answer any questions you may have.