Piercing Information Library

Nose Piercing

Description and Location:
Located on either side of the nose, usually in the small skin crease just above the nostril curve, it is sometimes called the "Ala" after the medical term for this part of the anatomy. Studs are most commonly worn, although wearing a BCR is becoming increasingly popular.

Procedure:
Just before being pierced clear your nostrils of any mucus and remove any make- up. The nose will be cleaned on the outside with alcohol and saline solution on the inside. The position will be marked and should be agreed by you before the piercing takes place. Small specialist clamps will be gently applied and then the nose pierced.

Swelling:
Some redness and swelling around the piercing on the outside of the nose is to be expected. This should reduce quickly, and usually disappears within two weeks. The swelling is normally greatest on the inner nostril, forming a small cone shaped swelling which takes several weeks to reduce.

Healing Times:
A minimum of four months.

Types of Suitable Jewellery:
Although a 1.0mm and 1.2mm gauge of jewellery is commonly fitted, there is a strong scientific evidence to indicate that cartilage piercings heal with fewer complications when larger 1.6mm gauge jewellery is fitted.
When a conventional straight ear piercing stud is used in an initial piercing, the stud is prone to being accidentally knocked. A labret stud does not suffer these problems as the flat plate keeps the stud secure inside the nostril. Special labret studs with tiny jewelled bars are made especially for this purpose.

Extra Care Considerations:
Despite the poor location of the piercing next to the often infected discharging mucus, nostril piercings in the main have a surprisingly high success rate, although problems can occur, particularly if a streaming cold is contracted shortly after the piercing.

Spring Trigger Piercing Systems - 'Guns'
The common practice of using an ear piercing system in the nose poses a number of serious dangers, including disease transmission as well as possible damage to the nose cartilage. Unless the 'gun' manufacturer's instructions specifically state that it`s safe to use the system on the nose, the nose should not be pierced by use of a 'gun'.