So maybe they are not the latest fad anymore, but there are a lot of people out there who are fascinated by the idea of body piercings and adorning their body with different jewelry. If you are enamored by body piercings, then there are couple of things that you need to know and decide on, like which body part are you getting pierced, what is the healing time and what are the aftercare procedures that need to be followed. Following is a detailed brief on how much time piercings take to heal.
Healing Time for Piercings
Once you have got a piercing done, it is extremely important that you allow the piercing to heal well. Most people tend to commit the mistake of not allowing the jewelry to stay for the entire duration of healing time, changing it to more fashionable pieces. But this change in piercing can play havoc with the healing process. The entire process for healing of piercings can be divided into three stages. The first one being the inflammatory phase, wherein the wound is still open and therefore, bleeding. It is in this phase that you can expect to experience swelling around the area of the piercing and also tenderness and pain. The next phase that occurs during the healing period is the proliferative phase, which is the phase in which the body produces cells and protein to heal the wound. The main part that is healed during this process is the puncture itself and the edges around, which are caused to compress. This phase lasts the longest and takes the most amount to heal. The last phase of the healing process is the maturation phase, which is the phase in which the body produces those cells that line the piercing and strengthen it. There may be a white or yellow discharge that is noticed on the jewelry on your piercing initially. Do not be alarmed by this, as it is a healing mechanism of your body. The sebaceous glands produce this substance to moisturize the wound which reduces the healing time considerably.
The piercing healing time differs, depending on the place where you have got the piercing done. Surprisingly, one of the fastest healing piercings are the one on the genitalia, with some piercings in the area healing in less than 4 weeks. One of the most painful piercings and one that takes the most amount of time to heal are navel piercings. Piercings on the navel can take as long as a year to heal. In case you want to get a navel piercing done, then it is important to have a ledge for the piercing to catch onto and depth to the navel. Healing time for nose piercings differ depending on which part of the nose you are getting a piercing. Septum piercings take about 2 months to heal and heal better, if there is no cartilage involved. Ear piercings can also take time, varying from 4 months to almost a year.
| Piercing Healing Time | |
| Body Part | Healing Time |
| Ear lobe | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Ear cartilage | 3 months to 8 months |
| Eyebrow | 6 to 12 weeks |
| Nostrils | 2 to 4 months |
| Nasal septum | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Lip | 2 to 4 months |
| Tongue | 4 - 6weeks |
| Lingual Frenulum | 1 - 2 months |
| Nipple | 3 to 9 months |
| Navel | 7 months to 1 year |
| Female genitalia | 4 to 10 weeks |
| Male genitalia | 4 weeks to 6 months |
Now that you know how much time it will take for a piercing to heal, it is important to understand what are the risks involved in getting a piercing. Always remember to go to a place that is reputed, licensed and uses sterilized equipment for piercings. Infections like hepatitis, tetanus and even HIV can spread through the needles used, so insist on using a new needle for your piercing. Avoid using a gun, as it cannot be sterilized and is therefore, a huge risk. Ensure that you are not allergic to the metal that is being used for the piercing. In order to avoid body piercing infections, clean the area regularly. These are just some things you need to keep in mind before you opt for a piercing. A reputed and licensed piercer will always give you tips for body piercing aftercare and advise you about the healing time. Follow his advice and in case of any sort of unexpected reaction, consult a doctor. As long as you take care, both before and after you get the piercing, there is nothing to fear. Just get the piercing and flaunt your newest body accessory.
