Piercing Aftercare
Congratulations, you rocked it! Now let’s keep it clean and healing right.
These are the DO’s and DON’Ts to help the healing process. Follow these instructions carefully based on your piercing type (lobe vs. cartilage).
Lobe Piercing Aftercare
- First 2 Weeks: Spray Neilmed saline twice per day directly onto the piercing front and back.
Use only packaged sterile saline solution (0.09% sodium chloride) for cleaning. Neilmed Fine Mist Spray is the best choice.
- After 2 Weeks: Switch to spraying only once per day, front and back.
- Beginning Week 3: Once per week, after your shower, spray saline on a clean q-tip and gently clean the front and back of the piercing. Continue this until you come in for downsizing at approx 3 months.
- Some redness, soreness, and crusting (yellowish or clear) around your piercing is normal and expected. This is part of the healing process.
- Healing Time: Total healing time for lobe piercings is approx 3 months.
- Downsizing: Once healed, come back to see us for a smaller, fitted labret back to reduce movement and promote long-term comfort. There is no need to downsize hoops.
Cartilage Piercing Aftercare
- First 10 Months: Follow the same spraying and q-tip cleaning routine as above for Lobes
- Healing Time: Cartilage piercings take 10 months or more to fully heal
- Downsizing: Visit us for a downsize after healing to ensure the best fit & outcome. No need to downsize for hoops.
DO NOT’s for Both Piercing Types
- Avoid twisting, turning, or snagging your jewelry.
- Do not use alcohol, peroxide, or ointments.
- Avoid submerging in pools, lakes, hot springs or hot tubs for at least 3 weeks.
- Do not sleep on the piercing; try using a Nina Wynn Piercing Pillow to relieve pressure.
- Avoid beauty products on or near the piercing.
DO’s for Both Piercing Types
- Clean your piercing with saline as directed.
- Stay healthy; good nutrition and rest aid in healing.
- Be cautious when using items like phones, headphones, or hats near the piercing.
- Get a Piercing Pillow for your Cartilage Piercing. These REALLY help the healing process.
Reminders
Healing takes time, especially for cartilage, which remains delicate for longer. Keep your jewelry in place until it is fully healed, and contact us with any questions or concerns.
Stay patient, stay clean, and enjoy your new piercing! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your piercer.
Downsizing Instructions
Your new piercing was performed using a longer post to allow for swelling during the initial healing period. Downsizing your jewelry is a crucial step to ensure a proper fit and prevent irritation or complications.
Please book your downsizing appointment ahead of time to ensure your piercing continues to heal beautifully. If you pierced initially with us your downsizing will be at no charge using code DOWNSIZE at check out.
Please note that we exchange the back piece called the Labret only, not the jewelry itself.
Why Downsizing your post is Important
- Comfort: A shorter post after the initial swelling subsides reduces the risk of the jewelry moving around too much, which can cause irritation or even prolong the healing process.
- Healing: Downsizing prevents excessive movement that can lead to bumps or complications.
- Aesthetics: A downsized post will sit more snugly and beautifully on your ear.
When to Return for Downsizing
- Lobe Piercings: We recommend coming back for downsizing 3 months after your initial piercing. This allows enough time for the initial swelling to subside, while still being early enough to prevent issues.
- Cartilage Piercings: For cartilage, it’s important to wait at least 10 months or more before downsizing. Cartilage piercings heal much slower than lobes, and rushing this process can lead to complications.
What Happens During Downsizing
- We’ll assess your piercing to ensure it’s ready for the shorter post. If you come in too soon, OR we feel it is not ready for a downsize we may ask you to come back at a later date.
- We’ll change your jewelry to a shorter, snug-fitting post that will be comfortable and safe for the remainder of your healing process.
- This usually only takes 10-15 minutes.
- You may certainly get more piercings at this point.
Downsizing Instructions
Your new piercing was done with a longer post to allow for swelling during the initial healing period. Downsizing your jewelry is a crucial step to ensure a proper fit and prevent irritation or complications. Here’s what you need to know:
Why Downsizing is Important
- Comfort: A shorter post after the initial swelling subsides reduces the risk of the jewelry moving around too much, which can cause irritation or even prolong the healing process.
- Healing: Downsizing prevents excessive movement that can lead to bumps or complications.
- Aesthetics: A downsized post will sit more snugly and beautifully on your ear.
When to Return for Downsizing
- Lobe Piercings: We recommend coming back for downsizing 3 months after your initial piercing. This allows enough time for the initial swelling to subside, while still being early enough to prevent issues.
- Cartilage Piercings: For cartilage, it’s important to wait at least 10 months or more before downsizing. Cartilage piercings heal much slower than lobes, and rushing this process can lead to complications.
What Happens During Downsizing
When you come in for downsizing:
- We’ll assess your piercing to ensure it’s ready for the shorter post.
- We’ll change your jewelry to a more snug-fitting post that will be comfortable and safe for the remainder of your healing process.
Book Your Appointment
Please book your downsizing appointment ahead of time to ensure your piercing continues to heal beautifully. If you pierced initially with us, your downsizing will be no charge using code DOWNSIZE at check out.
To book your downsizing appointment please click here
If you have any concerns or questions about your piercing, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help!
NEILMED SPRAY
We recommend using Neil Med Saline Spray, a sterile and gentle solution that helps clean and moisturize the piercing area without causing irritation or discomfort.
DONUT PILLOW
To ensure maximum comfort during the healing process, we also offer a custom-made donut-shaped piercing pillow that helps reduce pressure on the piercing and allows for better circulation. This pillow is specifically designed for piercing aftercare and helps prevent accidental bumps and disruptions to the piercing.
Find it on Amazon
HAPPY HEALING
At Nina Wynn, we want our clients to have the best piercing experience possible. By following our aftercare recommendations and using these high-quality products, our clients can feel confident in their piercing's safety and successful healing.
If you encounter signs of an adverse reaction such as infection, allergic reaction, illness with fever, or an active disease process, please contact your Physician. In very rare instances and despite all preventative measures taken an abscess may form due to an infection below the surface. Please discuss with your physician if you should leave in quality jewelry, change it out to an appropriate inert substitute or to remove it entirely.
Piercings are not considered permanent and can be removed at any time. Side effects of being pierced include, but are not limited to; sore skin, itching, redness, swelling, bruising, minor scabbing, scar formation.
Should you no longer wish to have the piercing, simply remove the jewelry with clean hands and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases only a small mark will remain.
Thank you for choosing us.
We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Need ideas and inspirations for your next piercing? Check out our Piercing Guide here
A Guide to Different Types of Ear Piercings
The Curated Ear: How Multiple Piercings and Jewelry Create a Cohesive and Creative Look
