A Quick Guide to Septum Piercing: Everything You Need To Know

The hottest thing amount Paris Fashion Week goers and some of the Hollywood cool girls? Septum piercing!

Did you know that septum piercing has come back after its peak fame during the early 2000s? Yes, it is a Y2K trend that every carefree, chic girl is either obsessed with or at least secretly in love with. There’s something so irresistible about this style statement.

Are you considering getting this edgy piercing? We are totally here for it! Feeling nervous or unsure? That’s okay. On a cautious note, if piercings are not done right, they can leave you with permanent scars, infections and other dangers.

You don’t have to make a decision right away. This is why we’ve compiled a quick and easy guide to understanding Septum Piercing better. This way, you know if Septum Piercing is for you or not.

What’s Septum Piercing?

A septum piercing goes through your nasal septum, the tiny area between your nostrils. Usually, this is done with a sterile, single-use needle and is quite painless compared to a standard nose piercing. There are very few nerve endings around the septum. Therefore, It only feels like a strong pinch and nothing beyond that.

Your piercer will start off by marking the spot, where the actual piercing will be done. Then, they will hold the cartilage in place with either septum forceps, a receiving tube, or just their freehand. After that, they will insert the needle using a taper, thread the jewellery through the hole and secure it nicely.

These simple steps require a great deal of attention to detail, experience, and hygiene. This is a highly sensitive part of your body so make sure to follow the below steps in finding your piercer.

Steps in Finding a Piercer

The piercing studio should be a safe and clean space. Make sure to drop by the studio to make an appointment and observe the place for any red or green flags. Don’t forget to with them on their licenses!

Check what others have to say about their go-to piercing studios. Because your piercer needs to be someone who knows what they are doing. Therefore, reading reviews and asking friends for septum piercing always works out in your favour.

Have a chat with your potential piercer. A good and trusted piercer will request you to get a pre-piercing test prior to your appointment. Why? This allows the piercer to learn about your health, cleanliness, and determine if a septum piercing is suitable for your body. What’s more? This also gives you the chance to ask any questions you might have about the procedure and septum piercing in general.

Here are a few other things to know before booking that appointment!

Cost of A Septum Piercing

A decent piercing experience usually ranges between $30 and $60; this cost reflects the quality of the piercing station and the jewellery used. We advise you not to settle for extremely low rates than the standard pricing for something sensitive as septum piercing.

Healing Time

The healing time for septum piercing differs from one person to another. In addition, the climate plays a role in it too. For instance, during winter, it takes longer to heal due to dehydration.

It can be sore, tender and show other signs of inflammation for about 3 weeks. A pierced septum heals in about 3-4 months.

Aftercare for Septum Piercing

Typically, your piercer will advise you on the Dos and Don’ts. These are the ones you can’t miss, even if they do!

• Never touch your piercing without washing your hands thoroughly with soap.
• Clean your piercing twice a day using either saline solution or fragrance-free antimicrobial soap. Use a q-tip or cotton ball when cleaning, and try not to touch the piercing. Continue until it’s fully healed, even though this is mainly to clean the crusties or any other buildup that could lead to infections.

Wonder where to get saline solution from? This can be bought from the nearest pharmacy. Or you could make your own: All you need to do is mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water.

• If your piercing is feeling dry or irritated, try applying a light coat of ointment to soothe it. You can use ointments made for piercings or use mild petroleum jelly like Vaseline® instead. Try not to use a lot as too much ointment can get in the way of healing!
• Avoid touching your piercing except when cleaning. Skin contact can increase the chance of bacteria buildup and infection. Yikes, you don’t want that.
• Never change the jewellery unless your piercer says it’s okay.

See that wasn’t too hard? A little bit of caution and care is all you need.

Side Effects of Septum Piercing

This is what every septum-piercing-admirer dreads. The consequences can be a little crazy. But, learning about them makes it all easy.

Inflammation: Swelling and redness stay around the piercing spot for a few days. However, sometimes, they can stick around for several weeks.

Infections: When you fail the aftercare for your septum piercing, you can end up with infections. Visit a doctor if there is increased pain, swelling and redness around the pierced spot. They usually provide antibiotics depending on the type of infection.

Pain: While, in most cases, septum piercing hardly causes any pain. There are times, you can face a great deal of pain. Consult your doctor if that happens. Try not to self-diagnose, because you never know where the pain is coming from.

Migration: This is when your piercing moves away from the original spot. The main reason could be an improper aftercare situation… When you notice this, get your piercer to immediately fix it as it could lead to infections.

Scarring: Not being extra careful around your piercing, can leave you with scars. Other than that, infections are another cause of scarring.

Changing out a Piercing

No matter how head over heels you are with septum piercings, you might eventually remove or switch the jewelry. It’s inevitable and this is how you do it.

You remove the old piercing. This can be a bit nerve-wracking. Get a good grip on the ring using a pair of pliers and forceps and then pull it out. Try not to twist or turn as it can damage your piercing spot.

Clean the area around the piercing using a sterile saline solution. This is to remove any bacteria or dirt that may have built up around the site.

Insert the new ring into the hole and secure it in place with a pair of pliers or forceps.

Tighten the ring in place before releasing it. If it’s not placed properly, it could fall off and create a mess. Therefore, always give it a few gentle tugs to make sure it’s secure.

Congratulations, you made it! You’ve changed out your septum piercing successfully. Watch out for any signs of irritation in the next few days and take good care of your piercing.

Note: Ideally, it’s better to change after one year and get it done by a piercer, rather than doing it yourself.

Pros and Cons of Septum Piercing

Some of the advantages are:

Septum piercing is one of the most affordable forms of piercing. High-quality piercings are a must; when it comes to septum piercing, the standard pricing is around $30 – $60 and that isn’t a lot compared to others.

You’ll get that edgy look in one of the most effortless ways ever! Septum piercings are quite versatile enough to be styled as a part of an elegant look too.

It’s quite easy to conceal a septum piercing, all you need to do is just flip it up.

The process of piercing is quite simple and painless in relation to other forms.

And the disadvantages are:

The healing period can take as long as 4 months for some people. This is why good aftercare is important.

This can be seen as unprofessional in many formal settings. Especially, because it resembles a bull ring. Unless your lifestyle is casual and/or you do a good job concealing or styling it, you should think twice.

Removal of septum piercing is a pain in the nose! It’s uncomfortable to remove because the holes are not placed in a perfect circle.

Septum piercing affects your breathing, during the healing period. The reason is that the swollen septum restricts airway passage. This is temporary and doesn’t cut off your breathing at any point!

Types of Jewellery for Septum Piercing

Septum Clickers: They have a hinged closure that clicks open. The outer edge comes with different kinds of embellishments and stones. For a more subtle look, you can find clickers with a plain outer design.

Barbell: This easily fits the piercing spot and its simple horseshoe shape makes it easy to conceal.

Bonus Tips: We recommend you get this in either stainless steel, titanium or niobium as they are good for those with metal  allergies. And most of the time, you may never know if you have an allergy until you try it! Titanium is on the pricey side but it's quite durable.  

With the sizing, 18 gauge is good for beginners. 16 and 14 works well for a fuller nose.

Final Thoughts

Septum piercing is a cool and easy way to look edgy and bold. But like anything, it needs work with aftercare, healing and when needed, concealing. Therefore, to make a good choice with fewer regrets, make sure it fits your lifestyle and you genuinely like how this style statement may make you feel. An authentic move is never a wrong one!

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