What are the healing times for piercings?
Each area of the body has its own unique healing period and process.Oral and facial piercings tend to heal fastest and every individual heals and reacts to piercings differently.
A general guideline for approximate healing times is as follows:
- Earlobe: 1-2 months
- Cartilage: 6 months-2 years
- Lip: 1-2 months
- Labret: 1-2 months
- Cheek: 2-3 months
- Nostril: 3 months-1 year
- Eyebrow: 2-3 months
- Tongue: 1-2 months
- Septum: 1-2 months
- Navel: 6 months-over 1 year
- Nipple: 3-6 months
- Genital: 2-8 months
How long before I can change the initial piercing jewelry?
It
is not recommended to change initial piercing jewelry until your
piercing is fully healed, unless the new piece of jewelry is sterile.
Many piercings
will require a change of jewelry during the healing period as the
swelling of your piercing is reduced; however, this should be done by
your piercer with sterilized jewelry.
If
you want to change the jewelry yourself, wait until the new piercing
has healed and developed a tough barrier of healthy skin between the
piercin gand the jewelry. Reopening the wound will delay the healing
process and cancause infection. Wait until the piercing is no longertender (you can play with your piercing without experiencing any discomfort). Use as much care and be as clean as possible when changing your jewelry for the first time. |