Getting a Nose Piercing? Procedure, Pain and Healing Time

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Kim Kardashian has the proverbial Midas touch; everything she touches turns to gold – or in this case, becomes a trend. Case in point – Kim’s clip-on nose pin at the recent Jean Paul Gaultier by Olivier Rousteing show that has put nose piercing back on the map for most who had forgotten about it.

Although nose piercings have been a part of not only Indian but many cultures around the world, they have been viewed as traditional accessories that are not in tandem with modern wardrobes. However, thanks to many celebrities who have turned to nose piercings to inject more vintage glam into their appearance, they are slowly gaining popularity again.

If you’ve found yourself sticking rhinestone bindis and holding diamond earrings against your nose in the mirror imagine how a nose accessory would go with your everyday outfits, well, here’s everything you needed to know about nose piercings other than simply imagining its looks. Have a look!

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Types of Nose Piercings
Procedure, Pain And Healing Time
Signs of a Problem
FAQs:

Types of Nose Piercings

There are several types of nose piercings to choose from, however, here are some of the most common types that are popular and aesthetically pleasing. Take a look:

Nostril Piercing

The most common type of nose piercing, the nostril piercing, as the name suggests, is done on either side of the nostrils where the jewelry is placed just above the crease of the nostril’s natural curve or in the natural dip. Many types of jewelry are used for nostril piercing, here are some of the most popular jewelry types:

A Simple Nose Ring

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This jewelry is best for women who like an indie aesthetic. These rings are often plain silver or gold or can be diamond or crystal encrusted depending on the wearer.

Diamond Nose Stud

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Both Sonakshi Sinha and Mithila Palkar’s nose ‘pins’ are simple studs that sit in the natural dip just above the natural nostril crease. These are minimal and are best for women who don’t want to worry about changing their nose accessories with every look as diamond studs go with all looks.

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Studs are also available in silver with funky patterns in shapes other than just round for those who want to push the envelope with their style. Generally, these can be affixed with screws on the underside.

Clip-On Nose Pins

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For those who want to wear a nose pin but are afraid to commit to a nose piercing, try wearing clip-on nose accessories till you feel confident about getting the nose permanently punctured. These are U-shaped pins that can be worn on the nose and pressed to tighten into place.

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Septum Piercing

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Septum piercing is definitely a style that is for the bold and fashion risk-takers. This involves puncturing the septum – the partition separating the two nostrils – and fixing curved barbell fixtures with beads on either end or any such curved jewelry. It is more painful than a simple nostril piercing.

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Pro Tip: Many people have multiple nose piercings. It is not uncommon, but surely fascinating, to see people with both their nostril and their septum pierced. Chunky silver nose jewelry is best for making a statement with such piercings.

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Procedure, Pain And Healing Time

Nose piercings are usually done in the traditional manner with a gold wire, a surgical steel piercing needle or a piercing gun. In almost all the methods, the part of the nose that has to be pierced is recognised, cleaned, marked, and finally punctured. For most people, the pain of piercing itself is like a sharp pinch that subsides very rapidly followed by warmth induced by the rush of blood to the wound site.

Most nostril piercings take 2 to 4 months to heal completely while septum piercing takes longer as it is performed on the cartilage. However, healing completely depends on a person’s body type and can vary significantly. The piercing process itself influences the healing time with punctures made with a piercing gun taking the longest time.

Pro Tip: It’s best to avoid getting your nose pierced with a piercing gun that causes swelling in the punctured spot which indeed leads to more pain.

How to Care for Your Nose Piercing

The healing time is dependent on how well you care for the piercing. As a ground rule, there are certain dos and don’ts of caring for your nose piercing.

Don’t remove the jewelry with which the piercing has been done for at least 6 weeks.
Avoid touching the wound site with bare, unsterilised hands.
Clean the area with saline solution; avoid applying oil or any antiseptic creams.
For the first few days, avoid direct contact with soaps and shampoos.
Contradictory to popular opinion, avoid twisting or moving the piercing to reduce the chances of scarring and fluid build-ups.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye out for signs of infection. For smooth healing, use metals that you are not allergic to.

Signs of a Problem

While it is absolutely normal to experience pain and swelling, there are a few symptoms that are giveaways of an infection about to happen. They can include:

Abnormal and unbearable pain, sometimes even throbbing
Unpleasant odor
Pus oozing from the puncture site
A boil (keloid) on the piercing site
The appearance of blisters or redness

Pro Tip: A cold compress or a chamomile compress is recommended for helping with the pain of the piercing if it feels more than usual.

FAQs:

Q. What should I know before getting my nose pierced?

A. While getting your nose pierced can sound very lucrative and something that you are most likely to get done in the spur of the moment, it is important to keep the following things in mind:

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Are you allergic to any specific metal? – Nose piercings are available in metals that run the gamut from sterling silver to gold and it is important for you to tell the jewelry technician if you are allergic to a specific metal.
Type of piercing – There are several types of nose piercings, and not all are for you. Keep the structure of your face and your nose in mind before getting it pierced. Mostly, a lower nostril piercing on either the right or left side of the face suits all.
Consider the pain and after-care – Although the process itself is not very painful, the healing can get painful if adequate care is not taken. Nose piercings can feel uncomfortable for two-to-four weeks after they are done.
Cost of nose piercing - Although there are people who will pierce your nose at cheaper costs, it is important to take into consideration important factors like the experience of the technician, the setup, and most importantly, general hygiene. Technicians who provide good quality service are seldom cheap.

Q. How painful is a nose piercing?

A. Nose piercings are done traditionally with gold wire, a surgical needle or a piercing gun (although this is the least-preferred method). On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain, on average, is a 4 or 5, but it depends on each person’s tolerance. The punctured area often becomes warm and sensitive to touch after the initial sting of piercing. It is usually the most painful a couple of days after the piercing when the area begins to heal.

Q. Why do I have a bump on my nose piercing?

A. A bump on the piercing indicates that the area has not fully healed and has developed something called a keloid. It is also indicative of an allergy most probably caused by the metal or a component of it. Most keloids go away on their own, however, it’s best to seek a doctor’s advice if it doesn’t after 6 weeks.

Q. Do nose piercings hurt?

A. Nose piercings feel like a sting and are generally tolerable. However, septum piercings can get painful for people and their after-care is more difficult, too.

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