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Piercing the nasal septum is a widely practiced form of body modification. For the best results, it's recommended to visit a professional piercing studio. This is the safest way to ensure your septum is pierced properly and to avoid infection. However, if you prefer to do it yourself, it's crucial to sterilize the piercing environment thoroughly to minimize any complications or risks of infection.
Steps
Prepare your nose and the necessary tools
Select jewelry for your first piercing. The first piece of jewelry you wear will differ from the ones you'll wear once the wound heals. A hoop-shaped or curved piece of jewelry is ideal for the nasal septum, allowing you to hide it inside your nose while waiting for the wound to heal.
- Choose jewelry made of 14K gold or platinum to avoid skin irritation. If these are unavailable, surgical steel jewelry is a good alternative. Once the wound has healed, you can switch to other materials for your jewelry.
- Ensure that the jewelry is properly sterilized and individually packaged. Never remove it from its packaging or touch it with bare hands. Always wear medical gloves when handling jewelry. Sterilization is crucial to prevent infection after the piercing.
Clean the area where you'll be performing the piercing. The room where you pierce should be thoroughly cleaned and have a mirror so you can see what you're doing—the bathroom is usually the most suitable space. Clean the sink and counters well, and lay down paper towels on the surface before arranging your tools to maintain a sterile environment.
- If you're using a bathroom, avoid using it until after the piercing is done. If you do use the bathroom, bacteria may spread, and you'll need to clean everything again. If you've opened a sterile kit, discard it because you won't be able to re-sterilize the tools.
- In the bathroom, make sure to close the toilet lid and take the trash bag outside. If there's a litter box in the bathroom, move it elsewhere before starting.
Tip: If you have pets, keep them away from the piercing area after cleaning. They can introduce bacteria into the sterile environment.
Wear disposable gloves when handling your nose or piercing tools. Put on gloves before you begin to ensure no bacteria enter the piercing area. It's better to wear two pairs of gloves from the start so that if the outer pair becomes contaminated, you can easily remove it.
- Wash your hands and arms up to the elbows before putting on gloves. Avoid wearing loose clothing that could brush against your arms or hands.
Arrange the necessary tools on the counter. You can order disposable sterile piercing tools online from piercing supply stores. Make sure all tools have been sterilized in an autoclave and individually packaged. Do not remove any items from their packaging until needed.
- Arrange the tools on the counter in the order you'll use them to avoid touching anything more than once.
- Keep a small bag or dish nearby to dispose of used items after you're finished.
Warning: Never touch any sterilized items with bare hands. Doing so will compromise their sterility and could introduce bacteria into the wound, leading to an infection.
Trim the long nose hairs with a surgical scalpel. Take your time to avoid cutting into the skin. Inhale deeply and begin trimming while exhaling to avoid inhaling any hair, which may trigger sneezing. If you sneeze onto the blade, it will become contaminated, and you will need to use a new one.
- You don't need to trim the nose hairs too precisely, but make sure none of the hairs obstruct or introduce bacteria to the wound.
Disinfect each nostril with an antiseptic. Dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and clean inside one nostril. Then, use a different cotton swab to clean the other nostril. Always clean your nose while exhaling to avoid inhaling any fumes from the alcohol.
- After cleaning both nostrils, use a fresh cotton swab to clean the outside of your nose and any area your fingers might touch during the piercing process.
Tip: Use alcohol to clean any part of your face or nose that your hands might touch while performing the piercing. If your hands come into contact with any area that hasn't been disinfected, your gloves will be contaminated.
Locate the columella (nose pillar). Put on gloves and gently pinch the nasal septum until you locate the columella. You'll feel soft tissue at the bottom of the nose, and as you move up, you'll encounter harder cartilage. The space between these two is the columella, which is where you will pierce. To find it, insert two fingers into your nostrils and feel around.
- The columella is easier to locate if you gently pull down on the tissue. However, not everyone has a prominent columella. If you have a deviated septum or asymmetrical nose, there might not be a suitable location for a piercing.
- If you can't find the columella, you may accidentally pierce through the cartilage or fatty tissue at the bottom of the nose, which can be very painful. Try to feel for a very thin point between your fingers. You shouldn't feel pain, only a slight pressure as you press your fingers together.
Warning: If you go to a piercing studio and they tell you that your nose isn't suitable for a septum piercing, don't attempt to do it yourself at home.
Mark the piercing point with a surgical marker. Once you locate the columella, use a surgical marker to make a small dot on it. You only need to mark one side where you'll insert the needle, but you may choose to mark both sides to ensure the piercing is symmetrical.
- Draw a horizontal line across the bottom of the septum, aligning it with the point where you plan to insert the needle. This line will guide you to pierce through the columella accurately.
Tip: If you're unable to bring your face close to a mirror for a clear view of your actions, consider using a magnifying mirror.
Complete the piercing process
Clamp both sides of the piercing site with forceps. Open the forceps and place them so that the marked point aligns with the center of the clamp. Make sure you have a clear view of the mark. Try to keep the handle aligned with the line you drew on your nose, ensuring the needle is guided accordingly.
- Look closely in the mirror to adjust the forceps. Remember, this step requires a solid understanding of the structure inside your nostrils.
Secure the clamp tightly. Once the clamp is positioned correctly, tighten and lock it to avoid holding it with your hands. However, don't release your grip until you're sure it's not shifting. If it slips, the piercing position will become skewed.
- If the clamp is too tight, you can hold it manually while performing the piercing. Just make sure not to let go during the procedure.
Align the needle perpendicularly to the septum and insert it. Remove the needle from its packaging and position the tip on the marked spot on the 'columella' to begin the piercing. Look in the mirror to ensure the needle goes straight through the mark, not at an angle. Take a few deep breaths, and as you exhale, push the needle straight through.
- Pull the clamp downward to prevent puncturing the opposite nostril.
- If you position the needle correctly, the pain shouldn't be too intense, more like a pinch. However, you might tear up. Try to keep tears from falling onto your fingers.
Tip: Septum piercings usually aren't very painful, but try not to focus on the pain. If you dwell on it, you may lose confidence. Take deep breaths and relax, imagining a peaceful and happy place. Then, push the needle through the septum.
Attach the sterilized jewelry to the needle and pull it through. The needle now forms a horizontal bar at the end of the nostril. Thread the jewelry onto the needle's tip and push it through the hole.
- After removing the needle, secure the jewelry in place. If the jewelry has beads at both ends, twist the beads on. Congratulations, the piercing is complete!
Maintain cleanliness at the piercing site
Clean the wound with saline twice a day. Dissolve ¼ teaspoon of salt in 240 ml of water. Dip a cotton swab into the solution and apply it to the wound in both nostrils. If there's any leftover saline, store it for the next use.
- Make sure to cover the entire area so the saline can enter the piercing. Apply the saline while exhaling to prevent inhaling the liquid.
- Do not make the saline solution more concentrated. A stronger solution won't be more effective and could dry out the skin.
Use antiseptic solution to eliminate bacteria. Antiseptic solutions are available online from major retailers and on piercing supply websites. Spray the piercing area 2-3 times a day to prevent bacteria from entering the wound.
- Use antiseptic in addition to saline solution treatment.
Wash your hands before touching the piercing. After getting a new piercing, you might be tempted to touch it. However, because your hands carry germs, this could introduce bacteria into the wound and cause an infection.
- With some piercings, you should rotate the jewelry daily. However, don’t do this with your nose ring. Leave it alone and don’t touch it until your hands are clean.
Avoid swimming or taking hot baths for at least 2 weeks. While your piercing is healing, exposure to pool or hot tub water can slow the healing process. The chlorine in the water can dry out your skin, leading to bleeding, and water may introduce bacteria into the wound.
- After 2 weeks, you can bathe or soak in public hot tubs. However, avoid submerging your head in water. If you need to submerge your head, cover the piercing with waterproof tape. Waterproof tape is available online or at pharmacies.
Wait at least 2 months before changing jewelry. As the wound starts to heal, you may be eager to change your jewelry. However, typically, it takes about 6 weeks for a piercing to fully heal. Even if it no longer hurts or feels irritated, it’s best to wait at least 2 months before swapping jewelry.
- Use this time to explore different jewelry styles for various moods. Once the piercing has fully healed, you can change your jewelry as desired.
Seek medical help if signs of infection appear. If you maintain a sterile environment during the piercing and keep the wound clean afterward, it should heal without issues. However, if you notice yellow or green discharge, especially with an unpleasant odor, it’s important to consult a doctor.
- Swelling and inflammation in the first few days after the piercing is normal. But if the symptoms don’t improve or worsen, the wound may be infected.
- If you develop a fever, seek medical attention immediately. You may need antibiotics to treat the infection.
- Don’t remove the jewelry if you suspect an infection. The piercing hole may close, leaving no way to drain pus.
Tip: If you're hesitant to consult a doctor, a professional piercer can also assess whether the wound is infected.
Tip
- You can get a septum piercing even if your workplace or school doesn’t allow it, but you'll need to know how to hide it.
Warning
- Avoid getting a septum piercing during allergy season if you're prone to allergies.
- Performing a piercing at home is dangerous and not recommended. Visiting a professional piercing shop is always the safest option. Although it costs money, the risk of infection and complications is much lower.
- Septum piercings require a good understanding of the inner nose anatomy. If you're unsure about this, it’s best to leave it to a professional piercer.
- While wearing gloves, don’t touch any clothing, body parts, or anything that hasn't been sterilized. Otherwise, the gloves will become contaminated and you’ll need to replace them.
Items You’ll Need
- Rubber Gloves
- Cotton Swabs
- Disinfectant Alcohol
- Sterilized Jewelry
- Sterilized Needles (Size 14 or 16)
- Sterilized Surgical Pen
- Sterilized Surgical Blade
- Medical Cleaning Solution
