You might have already decided to get a nose piercing or just finished getting it. What are the next steps? How long does the healing process take? What do I do should any infections arise? Are there any foods I should avoid? These are only some of the questions you might be asking yourself.
We got you covered! In this article, we will walk through everything you should know about post-piercing. A few things may concern you, such as the healing process, dealing with infections, and cleaning the area.
How long does it take a nose piercing to heal & aftercare?
The average healing time is two to four months. You will feel soreness and tenderness during the first three weeks. However, the healing timeframe may differ depending on several factors.
Nostrils will heal within two to four months, while the septum will take at least three to four months. It is dependent on the piercing type. The following are rough estimates.
Nostril
The nostril has an average healing time of four to six months. It is dependent on the jewelry type. A large ring will take more time to heal, while a small one can close quicker.
Septum
The septum averages two to three months of healing. It is the thin layer between your two nostrils and is more delicate. It hurts more, but it heals faster because of fewer body tissues.
Rhino
The rhino area has a healing time of six to nine months. The tissue surrounding this area is thicker, taking longer to recover.
Bridge
The bridge takes two to three months of recovery. This type involves very little tissue, making the healing time faster. Any jewelry in this area passes through a small portion of your skin between the eyes.
Nasallang
Nasallang is more complex than the others because it passes through both nostrils and the septum. We highly recommend seeking a professional for it. Generally, the Nasallang takes four to six months of recovery.
Aftercare Process
Similar to a tattoo, a nose piercing is an open wound that requires safe aftercare attention. More risks are involved because it is between the eyebrows and upper lip. The veins in this region connect to the sinus cavity, which may link to serious issues without proper care. An infection, scarring, or bleeding are the common problems you will encounter with improper aftercare.
The priority after the procedure is minimizing infection risks. Getting an infection will lead to scarring or jeopardizing your entire health. Most issues will prevent you from using your jewelry, which defeats the purpose of getting one.
Before touching your jewelry, always wash your hands. Only soak your jewelry in saline solution if the wound is still healing. At this time, you must stay away from baths, pools, saunas, and hot tubs. Rings will likely take more time to recover because they can get hit or moved more often than a stud.
Stages of healing
There are three main stages of healing for nose piercing. Many would ask questions if something they are experiencing is normal or not. It is tricky to know if the recovery is progressing or if there is an issue.
The three stages are the inflammatory, proliferative, and maturation phases. The surrounding areas may differ per person per stage, so one may not exactly look the same as another.
Inflammatory Stage
The inflammatory stage will likely last a few days to weeks, depending on how your body reacts and how fast it can deal with the inflammation. Your body begins working as soon as the procedure finishes. It works to seal the wound and create new tissues.
Blood will clot the area of the piercing. Afterward, the red blood cells will assist in creating collagen, a tough fiber responsible for growing skin. Unlike cutting yourself with scissors or a knife, the body cannot seal the wound because of the jewelry. It wants to start the granulation process, but it cannot.
As a result, the body tries to reject the foreign object. It results in an inflammation of the area. It forces the jewelry out, causing tenderness and pain with the inflammation. The pain will intensify if you touch it. Redness, warm sensation, and bleeding may accompany these symptoms.
Proliferative Stage
The proliferative stage starts when the body creates a fistula. It is a tube or tunnel of tissue that grows from the outside and connects to the center. This phase does not show open wound signs. For example, it will no longer bleed, inflame, or tender to the touch. However, it has not fully healed and is still susceptible to infections.
As the fistula forms, you will notice a yellowish discharge of waste, dead cells, plasma, or lymph around each piercing hole. Some people may worry, but this is a good sign! The yellow discharge signifies the body is creating new scar tissues. The ring may loosen or tighten while tissues are forming around it.
We do not recommend moving the jewelry because the fistula may dislodge. It is uncommon for it to feel sore or tender during this stage. If you do encounter it, there might have been some trauma. It may need extra care.
Throughout this phase, precaution and care are necessary to avoid infections or any issues arising. Care will involve consistent cleaning and limiting contact from it.
How do you know if the proliferative stage is over? The discharge should stop, and the piercing’s edges pull inward.
Maturation Stage
The final stage is maturation, where the fistula walls expand and thicken. The risk of damaging your piercing is less at this stage. Moreover, removing it for a short time will not close it. The maturation stage takes a few months to some years to reach, depending on location and health.
The piercing may close if you remove your jewelry, even after the healing process is over. We do not recommend stretching it until the fistula is larger than the jewelry.
How It Closes
Some people may find it interesting. If you remove your jewelry, your body will try to join the fistula scar tissues. It begins closing at the tunnel’s center, explaining why your jewelry will not go through. When the fistula connects, your body will fill the tunnel with tissue. If you would like to prevent it from happening, do not remove your jewelry for a long time.
