My Piercings ranked healing and pain
Ignore how my skin looks rn, it's rough. More in depth explanations
My nostrils weren't bad at all, seriously. Healed great even with snagging them a time or two and they didn't hurt all that bad. They're great.
My septum was my first piercing other than my lobes, she was great we love her. Healed amazing and I never had issues during the healing process (getting sick or being congested with a septum tho is hell) and it barely hurt at all getting it done.
My Medusa is my most recent one and I love her most of the time. she definitely hurt a good bit and she's healing fine but was definitely catching my initial jewelry before the downsize on stuff constantly while eating. shes doing just fine now though.
my vertical labret wasn't bad at all. getting it done just felt like someone punched me and busted my lip and it was relatively easy to heal. I had to downsize two or three times because it wasn't quite pierced far enough back but she's doing amazing. it was an easy healing. putting on chapstick or any sort of lip products can be a bitch though.
my nipples are okay but once again one of them was pierced too far back (I let an apprentice do them with supervision) they act like they are healed sometimes and then you barely catch them on something and they're pissed off. the pain wasn't too awful and I'm not anymore sensitive than I was before getting them pierced. I love them.
my belly button- it's a horror story... I was pierced incorrectly massively but that's what I get for cheating on my main piercer. Yes I went to a shop, I never don't go to a licensed shop and piercer, but this dude massively screwed up. I spent over a month trying to save it but I don't think I even had proper anatomy for it, he didn't even check either. He took way too much skin to pierce through so the long jewelry for healing was too small (I had to special order an extra long one and changed it to hopefully get somewhere with it) I followed all of the proper healing steps. I tried my best to save it but she stayed pissed off and did not want to heal at all. I retired it and it left me scarred, badly so I don't think it could ever be repierced even if done properly if I have the anatomy.
I forgot to mention my helix in my initial post. I don't wear jewelry in it and it's partially closed over but I could easily reopen it with getting it redone. Healing was a bit of a bitch but it didn't hurt too bad. I have a whole ear set up planned out but I have to finish stretching my lobes before moving forward with it. I've been stuck at a 4g for ages, my goal size currently is 14mm (4g is 5mm) I have a good bit to go.
When it comes to body piercings, healing times and pain experiences vary widely depending on the piercing location, individual anatomy, and proper aftercare. From my personal journey, I’ve realized that some piercings, like the septum and nostrils, tend to heal quite well and with comparatively low pain, while others like the belly button can be notoriously difficult if not done correctly. Proper piercing technique and choosing an experienced, licensed piercer cannot be overstated. For instance, my belly button piercing turned into a complicated healing process because the piercer didn’t properly assess my anatomy and took too much skin. This caused the jewelry to be too short for healing, leading to prolonged irritation and ultimately scarring. This highlights the importance of communication between client and piercer about anatomy and aftercare. Healing ratings such as the ones I shared—nostrils (9/10 healing, 5/10 pain), septum (10/10 healing, 2/10 pain), Medusa (8/10 healing, 6/10 pain), vertical labret (8/10 healing, 3/10 pain), nipples (4/10 healing, 5/10 pain), and belly button (0/10 healing, 3/10 pain)—reflect that the piercing’s location heavily influences recovery. Cartilage piercings like the helix can be slow to heal and may partially close if jewelry is removed, but they do not generally cause unbearable pain. During healing, it’s common to encounter challenges such as snagging jewelry on clothing or food, which I experienced with my Medusa piercing until downsizing the jewelry. Using hypoallergenic jewelry made from titanium or surgical steel minimizes the risk of allergic reactions and helps with healing. A major tip for maintaining healthy healing is to avoid changing jewelry prematurely or exposing the piercing to harsh chemicals or environments. Keeping the area clean with a gentle saline solution and avoiding irritants like chapstick on lip piercings can prevent setbacks. For those interested in stretching lobes, patience is key. Stretching too quickly can cause tearing and prolong healing. Gradual increments, proper sizing, and sterilization are essential for safe adjustments. My current goal is to reach 14mm, but at 4g (5mm), I am taking the time needed to heal well. Lastly, understanding that pain and healing ratings are deeply personal can help manage expectations. What hurts or heals quickly for one might not be the same for another. Being attentive to your body’s signals and consulting a professional when unsure will yield the best outcomes. Sharing experiences and troubleshooting problems encourages safer, happier piercing journeys for everyone involved.
