Cartilage piercing advice?

1) Getting one done would be better for your body, so the area of healing is more localized and not spread across the body.

2) The pain (if your getting it done with a gun) will actually be very intense and lasting. For around 2 weeks it will hurt almost non stop. But after that only when it is bumped or touched. If you are getting it done with a needle (really the best way to go!) it will only be a pinch and only hurt for an hour or two after. A needle causes almost no trauma to the body where as a gun is very traumatic and can easily shatter the cartilage of the ear.

Tips-

Massage the area a lot from now until pierced. This will move the blood around, soffen the skin and separate skin cells and make the piercing go smother.

Avoid any alcohol

(if getting it gunned) do NOT use the cleaner they give you it is pretty much peroxide watered down and won't do a thing for your piercing. You will want to do sea salt soaks or buy H2Ocean spray. Do not use table salt, rubbing alcohol or peroxide.

Try not to play with the jewelry to much.

Wearing normal (lobe) earrings in it is actually really unhealthy for a healing cartridge piercing.

Don't hold your breath during the piercing. It will make it hurt more

Good luck!! <33

I only have my left side but its really just a personal preferance

BUT make sure you go to a professional piercer. A gun is more likely to cause problems such as shattering your cartilage, hypertrophic scarring and infections because they dont clean the guns, they just change the jewelry. Going to a professional that uses hollow needles is much better than a gun that forces a pointed earring through your skin.

When I had mine done, It was nothing! All I felt was an uncomfortable pinch, but it really depends on your pain tolerance. But really the pain was a quick second and it was over. If it matters, they used an 18g and a captive bead ring (not a stud)

It will really take a full year to completely heal. The minimum is about 4 months.

For the cleaning, DO NOT use any solution such as the stuff they sell at claires, it is waay to harsh for your new piercing. Only use something if it is a professional piercer. Also, you should never use Hydrogen Peroxide, Rubbing Alcohol, Betadine, Iodine, Chlorhexadine Gluconate (Hibiclens) or other surgical scrubs, Hand washing soap containing Triclosan NEVER EVER.

My piercer suggested to me to use wound wash saline or Satin Soap. Another alternative is to do sea salt soaks. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt to 1 cup (8oz.) of distilled or sterile water. I just take some tap water and boil it for at least ten min. Just make that, warm it up a bit (not too hot) put it in a little cup and put your ear in it, or dip a clean cotton ball in it and soak your ear with it for about 5 min, twice a day.

Make sure you only clean your piercing 1-2 times a day. More than that will over dry and irritate your piercing.

For the first few weeks or so, dont be surprised if its red, feels like its hot or throbbing. This is all perfectly normal. Also, you are going to have some crusties. All of this is part of the healing process.

Also, unlike what mall piercers tell you, NEVER touch, play with, or move your piercing. You should not touch it unless you are cleaning it. I guarantee that your skin will not stick to the earring. Touching it, as well as sleeping on it, will irritate your piercing and could lead to hypertrophic scarring.

Good luck with your piercing and sorry for saying so much xD

I just want to make sure that you have a hassle free piercing and that you do everything right.

I got my cartilage pierced about 9 years ago, and there is no need to be nervous. The more worked up you are, the more the actual procedure will freak you out.

The first question I have for you is are you getting it done with a gun (like at Walmart or Claires) or with a needle (like at a piercing parlor)?

Either way, it won't be more than a minor pinch. It may be sore for a little while, especially if you sleep on it. I only have one side done, but it all depends on personal preference. I have mine done on my right upper ear, my sister has both sides done, and my sister in law has two done on one ear. Personally, I like having just one done, and if I were to get another, I would get them both in the same ear, one under the other.

If you get it done with a gun, what the earring does is it pushes the cartilage out of the way to make room for the earring. Although it will heal (so long as you KEEP IT CLEAN!), it will not heal as easily as if you had it done with a hollow needle, which actually removes the cartilage and flesh to provide a nice empty hole.

In the months to come, don't be surprised if your ear gets warm and hurts a bit. Nothing agonizing, but you will be able to feel the piercing. But don't worry, that is normal. Make sure you are turning the piercing a couple times a day with CLEAN hands, as well as cleaning the piercing.

Also, don't try and change the piercing too soon. It takes up to a year for the piercing to be completely healed, so try and chose an earring you will be likely not to get sick of anytime soon.

Good luck :)

I got mine done a month ago... :)

1) Get one... If you have second holes in your ears it looks good too, so if you have one second hole get it on that side. Also, get it on the opposite side you sleep on, because for about 2 weeks it's impossible to sleep on because it hurts.

2) For pain, the actual piercing hurts more than piercing your lobes. Then it hurts for a few minutes after. It still hurts when I move it around a lot, after a month. Don't think it's infected unless it's really swollen or red, or the pain is really a lot. MAKE SURE YOU CLEAN IT DILIGENTLY. This is SO important. Use a q-tip and rub the solution around the earring and the skin around it.'

Oh, also, just my advice is to get a stud with a crystal in it, not just a gold or silver ball. It just looks better. I made the mistake of getting the gold ball. :/

Glad to help and good luck!

For 1, all I can tell you is it depends on what you want to do. I would go with 1 since I think a little asymmetry does wonders on most faces, but again, your decision.

2) I got an industrial piercing at one time. The pain was horrific. It depends on your pain threshold, of course, but I've never personally experienced that amount of pain in my entire life. Also, after I had it, it would bleed profusely occasionally, which wasn't pleasant at all. This is why you should make sure you keep it VERY clean (don't scrub with soap or anything, just rinse with saline, let soap run over it every now and then).

Also, just for reference, I had to take mine out eventually because it started to push out on it's own and I wanted to avoid a nasty scar on my ear. It's not a 100% chance thing, but it could happen to you also. There went a ton of cash and a lot of pain down the drain...

1) i have only my right side done. but its completely up to you.

most of my friends have only one side done though.

2)i have an okay tolerance for pain. i was really scared cause this was the only piercing i had gotten with a needle. and of course i was nervous the whole time. but honestly it hurt probably for 10 seconds.

that's it. it was probably the same amount of pain as biting your tongue. maybe a bit worse.

but that was only for me.

just remember to clean it as much as you can.

and don't play around with it.

my got infected. and it SUCKED.

so clean it as much as possible and don't touch it for the first few days (3-4)

you will probably be told to spin it around but right after you do that, clean it.

it getting infected was a LOT more painful then actually getting it done.

just one looks good use peroxide a lot you pick what side looks best on you as far as pain a 4 at the worst best wishes and good luck!