Facial piercings come in a multitude of forms, sizes, and fashions. They are common body alterations that are among the most visible and distinctive sorts of facial piercings available. We’ll go over everything you need to know about body jewelry getting pierced and the various varieties of facial piercings accessible in this article.
There are many types of piercings – from exterior piercings like bridge piercings and third eye piercings to cheek piercings, eye piercings, anti-eyebrow piercings, and more. Always do your homework before getting a body piercing and talk to a piercing professional about the best option for your body moving forward.
Now let’s take a look at the various types of face piercings and their locations on the face:
Eyelid Piercing
Anti-Eyebrow Piercing
Bridge Piercing
Cheek Piercing
Eyebrow Piercing
Third Eye Piercing
Horizontal Eyebrow Piercing
Nose Piercings
Lip Piercings
Piercing of the eyes
1. Eyelid Piercing
Eye piercings are mostly done on the eyelid and are called eyelid piercings. Though most eyelid piercings are done with a captive bead ring, others can be done on the top of the lid and require a curved barbell.
Process-So you don’t damage the eye, a set of sterile forceps is used to lift the lid away from the sight before inserting the piercing needle through the interior to the outside of the eyelid.
Healing time is approximately eight weeks.
Captive bead rings, curved barbells are recommended pieces of jewelry.
2. Anti-Eyebrow Piercing
An anti-eyebrow piercing, also known as a teardrop or butterfly piercing, is a surface piercing positioned just above the cheekbone, lining up with the brow’s edge.
Process-The clamp and pierce method is the traditional procedure for an anti-eyebrow piercing. The dermal punch and taper approach is another more recent way to accomplish this piercing.
Healing time is approximately 6-8 weeks.
Surface bars, barbells, and curved barbells in sizes 12G to 18G are recommended.
3. Bridge Piercing
Another kind of surface piercing is one that runs through the bridge of your nose.
Process-A hollow piercing needle is commonly used for this piercing. The needle is pushed through the thin flesh on the bridge of the nose.
Healing time is approximately 8-12 weeks.
Barbells are an excellent choice for jewelry.
4. Cheek Piercings
Cheek piercings are sometimes known as dimple piercings since they are placed where dimples would show. For symmetry, both sides of the cheeks are usually pierced.
Process-Instead of using a piercing gun, a 14G or 16G sterile needle is used to pierce the dimple.
Healing time is approximately 8-12 weeks.
Lip rings, barbells, and labret lip rings are recommended.
5. Eyebrow Piercing
An eyebrow piercing is a type of surface piercing that commonly pierces around the outside edge of the brow but can be done elsewhere on the brow. If you’re feeling particularly daring, you can make a twin eyebrow piercing by piercing both eyebrows and wearing pieces of body jewelry in both.
Process-A 14–16-gauge hollow piercing needle is commonly used for eyebrow piercing.
The healing duration is approximately six weeks.
Curved barbells and captive bead rings are recommended jewelry.
6. Third Eye Piercing
This surface piercing, also known as a forehead piercing, is positioned in the center of your forehead where your third eye would be, hence the name.
Process-The piercer will pinch the skin in the center of your forehead and use a sterilized piercing needle to make the piercing.
The healing duration is approximately 4-6 months.
The surface barbell is a good choice of jewelry.
7. Horizontal Eyebrow Piercing
A horizontal eyebrow piercing is positioned immediately above your eyebrow and sits horizontally on your face, rather than vertically like a traditional eyebrow piercing.
Process-Horizontal Eyebrow Piercing involves piercing the brows horizontally instead of vertically.
A hollow piercing needle is commonly used for this piercing.
Time to heal: 6 to 8 weeks
Curved barbells are an excellent choice for jewelry.
8. Nose Piercings
Some of the most famous face piercings are nose piercings. From large and aggressive septum rings to small and discreet nose studs, they come in various forms. If this is your first time getting a facial piercing, starting with a nose piercing is a terrific way to begin your body modification journey. Nose rings, septum rings, and nose studs are all recommended.
Process-It includes punching a needle through cartilage.
Pierced nostrils heal completely in about 2 to 4 months. A pierced septum heals in about 3 to 4 months.
There are essentially 5 options when it comes to nostril piercing jewelry: nose screws, nose bones, fishtails, nostril rings and labret studs.
9. Lip Piercings
Lip piercings are another fascinating piercing that’s ideal for displaying your edgy flair. There are a variety of lip piercings available, ranging from Monroe lip piercings to labret lip piercings.
Process-The needle penetrates the lips or the area surrounding the lips.
Approximate healing time for most lip piercings is between 1 and 3 months.
Labret lip rings are an excellent choice for jewelry.
10. Dermal Piercings
Dermal piercings are skin piercings that arise on flat skin parts, such as the cheeks or above the collarbone. There is no exit opening because these are single-entry piercings. Instead, a dermal anchor is inserted deep within the skin, and the dermal top is fastened into place immediately.
For a more solid grasp, dermal anchors sometimes include a “foot”—an extended end—but you can also purchase circular dermal fasteners, which are likely to be less lasting. The anchor will remain in your epidermis under all circumstances, enabling you to change tops as needed. If you do not apply a dermal top, you will have a tiny opening in your epidermis where the dermal anchor rests.
Several places have made it hard for dermal piercings to stay lawful. While the technique is usually harmless, some countries classify it as an implant that only a specialist can insert. However, numerous piercers claim that they are not implants since they are non-permanent piercings that most individuals only leave in for a couple of years at most.
What Is the Procedure for Getting A Perfect Dermal Piercing?
The procedure is a little different because there are no exit holes for these piercings. A dermal piercing can be accomplished with either a dermal punch or a needle.
Your piercer will puncture a hole in your skin and slide the needle in to create a small pocket beneath the skin where you can insert the anchor if you use a needle. It must be punctured deeply enough to remain secure and not be rejected by your body.
You’ll feel some discomfort, but it may be less than you anticipate. However, your pain tolerance is a factor, and some people have reported experiencing more acute pain.
A dermal punch removes a small amount of tissue to place the anchor properly. This option may appear more unpleasant than using a needle, but the punch’s razor-sharp edge makes it a less painful operation.
Many states, however, prohibit the use of dermal punches unless a medical expert administers them, so check your state’s legislation before requesting this treatment. Next, the anchor is slipped within, and the dermal top is screwed into the anchor.
Do Dermal Piercings Hurt?
Like any other piercing, your pain tolerance and the piercer’s expertise determine the pain degree of a dermal piercing. You might be shocked to learn that dermal piercing is not as painful as you think.
This is one piercing for which you should seek out an experienced piercer. It can be challenging to perform this piercing, and as previously stated, legislators and piercers often disagree about the procedure’s safety. Prove legislators wrong by ensuring the success of your dermal piercing.
Look for a piercer who has performed this surgery several times. Don’t be afraid to request their portfolio and do some research. One of the most common reasons for piercing infections is the use of unsanitary and contaminated tools, and it is essential to know that the success of your piercing depends on the choice of your piercer.
Benefits Of Facial Piercings
When you think about facial piercings, you may think of eyebrow piercings, nostril and septum piercings, and labret piercings.
1. A variety of piercing options are available for your face, all of which can be used to accentuate your best features
Facial piercings have a large canvas to work with. There are numerous piercing choices available for the lips alone. Surface piercings also allow you to pierce the flat sections of your skin, allowing you to get piercings on your cheekbone, temple, and other parts of your face that you might not have considered before.
2. It’s a great way to express yourself
There’s plenty of room for piercing on your face, and it’s a great way to express yourself. In addition, well-placed facial piercings can draw attention to your best features.
3. You can create your unique facial piercing
Almost every type of facial piercing has a variant. Even relatively simple piercings, such as an eyebrow piercing, have various piercing kinds to select from.
You’ll have some jewelry alternatives to examine once you’ve narrowed down the actual piercing and variation you’d like. Facial piercings are a terrific way to express your style and personality.
4. You have the option of being bold or dainty
Most facial piercings may accommodate both large and small jewelry. Your piercing will be less noticeable with a smaller piece of jewelry, allowing you to wear it even to more conservative events. You can bring out the more elaborate jewelry when it’s time to show off your piercing.
5. Tattoos are permanent, but piercings are not
Tattoos, like piercings, allow you to express your uniqueness through bodily alteration. Tattoos, unlike piercings, are permanent unless they are removed.
Remove the jewelry, and you won’t have to worry about how your piercing will affect your life in the future. Scarring from healthy, well-healed piercings is rare.
Drawbacks Of Face Piercings
1. Your piercing may affect your employability
Even though piercings are growing increasingly popular, some firms, particularly giant corporations, have policies prohibiting face piercings. You can remove your jewelry during the workday once your piercing has fully healed, but you risk having your piercing close.
Because some piercings close up within hours of the jewelry is removed, opting for this alternative could mean saying goodbye to your facial piercing. You can also get glass piercing retainers to put in your piercing, however, certain businesses may not accept this option because, while subtle, retainers are still visible.
2. Some facial piercing types may reject your jewelry
Jewelry rejection happens when your body, like a splinter, begins to force the new jewelry out of your skin. This can develop in any piercing, but it’s widespread with surface or eyebrow piercings.
Piercing rejection can occur for various reasons, and while you can take precautions to avoid it, it can still happen even if you follow all of the rules. Consult your piercer right away if your piercing begins to migrate. If you ignore it, the rejection may leave a mark on your face for life.
3. There’s a risk of infection
Infection is a risk with any piercings. Infections on the face, on the other hand, can be ugly. If your piercing becomes infected, you may need to consult a doctor. The good thing is that using a saline solution during the healing process reduces the risk of infection significantly and even reduces healing duration.
Which Facial Piercings Are Considered “Appropriate”?
Different piercings are viewed differently in different cultures. For example, while nostril piercings have become increasingly popular, society still considers lip piercings rebellious and unprofessional. When weighing the benefits and drawbacks of facial piercings, remember that you will not handle all piercings equally.
Outside of the ear, nostril piercings are the most common. You can find these piercings on the noses of everyone ranging from lawyers and college students to stay-at-home mums. A nostril piercing can be embellished with a tiny stud to make it less noticeable. As a result, nostril piercings are found to be more acceptable by employers and more conservative people.
Septum Piercings
A piercing between the two nostrils is unlikely to be tolerated in a professional setting, but it is easy to conceal. For example, if you opt for a curved or round barbell, it may be flipped inside your nose and hidden for the rest of your workday. Furthermore, if you choose to remove your septum piercing, the piercing hole is hidden inside your nose so that no scars will be visible.
Aftercare for Body Piercings
Experts note that regardless of where a piercing is placed, the aftercare is often the same. After a piercing, it is critical to wash your [piercing] with soap and water daily and rotate the earrings a few times daily to ensure the piercing hole remains open. It is advised to use Vaseline or another petroleum jelly over the hole to prevent scab formation or crusting. Avoid using peroxide or alcohol.
Ensure to clean your piercing twice a day for the first month, then once a day for the rest of your piercing’s life, as germs and skin cells can build up, making it necessary to maintain piercings clean.
CONCLUSION
There’s no denying that facial piercings are on the rise. Any facial piercing, when done appropriately, can elevate your appearance. However, there are hazards associated with face piercings, both culturally and health-wise, so think about it before you go.
The excellent blood flow that your face receives helps most facial piercings heal quickly. They can, however, leave scars if not properly cared for, so we recommend finding an experienced body piercer who can assist you in getting the best placement and healing procedure possible.
Facial piercings are among the most visible piercings and will be noticed right away. As a result, it’s essential to think about whether a specific facial piercing will fit into your daily routine. We recommend getting piercing retainers if you need to cover your facial piercings at work or school. Most facial piercings can be made to look more natural with the use of piercing retainers.