Healing time: 9-12 months

Downsize: 1 month

 Helix and Flat piercings are initially pierced with longer bars (typically, a flat back labret post) to accommodate for swelling. Sleeping on this piercing, especially when they have not yet been downsized, can cause the issue of the piercing healing crooked, in some cases, the piercing will never heal. Downsizing your piercing is a vital and important step to avoid these issues!

Healing time: 6 months

Initial swelling, bleeding and bruising is quite common with lobe piercings, this will typically subside within the first 3-4 weeks. During the healing process, it is important to remember to not touch, twist or pick at the piercing. This can irritate your piercing, and prolong the healing process.

Healing time: 6 months

Downsize: 1 month (optional)

As nose piercings tend to snag on things such as blankets and pillowcases, for this reason, we recommend placing a small circular bandaid over the piercing for the first few weeks of healing while you sleep. This will act as a gentle barrier between your nose stud and anything that can cause irritation. The piercing should be cleaned with saline and thoroughly dried before applying the new band-aid. 

There are a few things to avoid with nose piercings that tend to cause irritation during the healing process. 

• Facial products on or around the piercing for the first 2-3 months, including; cleansers, skin care and makeup. 
• Face cloths, fluffy towels and exfoliating mitts. These have small loops and fibers that can be easily snagged on your jewelry and tend to harbour bacteria.

Healing time: 4-5 months 

Downsize: 2-4 weeks

Eyebrow piercings are highly anatomy based, and can be a difficult healing process for some. Bruising and swelling is quite common, at times a downsize is required after 2-4 weeks.

With clean hands, always remember to check the tightness of your beads before going to bed! These can wiggle loose from being adjusted and cleaned over time.

Healing time: 2-3 months

Wait to change: 1-2 months

Initial septum piercings are done with a horseshoe barbell, this jewelry will accommodate for any swelling that may occur. Your initial piercing jewelry should be left in place for a minimum of 1 month before being switched by your piercer, especially if your end goal is a fitted hoop. It is recommended to have your piercer change this piercing as it can be difficult to change on your own. 

With clean hands, always remember to check the tightness of your beads before going to bed! These can wiggle loose from being adjusted and cleaned over time.

Healing time: 9-12 months

Navel piercings will likely be tender, red and bruised within the first month of healing. During the healing process, we typically advise avoiding high waisted pants as they can catch on the jewelry and cause irritation to your piercing. A loose fitting, lower waisted or a softer material type of pants is recommended instead.

Be sure to DRY your navel piercing, it is a very crucial step in the healing process. Dabbing the area with a clean dry a-tip or sterile gauze is recommended after any encounter with moisture (after cleaning with saline wound wash or after a shower). Leaving moisture on your navel piercing can harbour bacteria and lead to infection and or severe irritation. Avoid submerging this piercing in any bodies of water (lakes, pools, bathtubs etc.) for a minimum of 2 months. 

With clean hands, always remember to check the tightness of your beads before going to bed! These can wiggle loose from being adjusted and cleaned over time.

Healing time: 9-12 months

Downsize: 4 months (optional)

It is recommended to wear a soft sports bra or tank top for the first few months of healing. This light compression is usually more comfortable as it can aid with any sensitivity or snagging that may occur, especially in your sleep. Initial swelling, bleeding, tenderness and bruising around the nipple is very normal for the first 1-2 months of healing. Be sure to avoid touching and moving the jewelry excessively as this will cause irritation, and remember to dry the area off after any encounter with moisture.

Healing time: 4-5 months

Downsize: 2 weeks

Swelling in lip piercings is expected and can last for 2-3 weeks. The initial jewelry will be long to accommodate for this swelling. It is a crucial step in the healing process to have this longer initial jewelry downsized to a shorter bar, typically after 2 weeks. Leaving the longer jewelry in for an extended amount of time can lead to difficult healing, permanent damage to teeth and gums, and in some cases; causing the piercing to migrate/reject. 

As for cleaning any oral piercing, we recommend using alcohol-free mouthwash morning and night (twice a day). If there is any portion of the piercing on the exterior of the mouth, sterile saline wound wash is recommended, twice a day, gently cleaning away any debris on the jewelry. Eating foods you have to bite into or spicy/acidic foods can cause discomfort and irritation during the healing process. Avoid all oral contact, rough play, and contact with others' bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.

Healing time: 4-6 weeks

Swelling, tenderness, redness and light bleeding is very common during the first week or so of healing. A gentle stream of warm water in the shower can also be used in place of saline, avoiding any soaps or other hygiene products on or around the area. Avoid sexual contact/intimacy for the first 3-4 weeks of healing.

Healing time: 4-5 months 

The first 2 weeks of healing a dermal are the most tedious and require very thorough aftercare.

During the first week of healing, it is very important to wear a small circular band-aid over your piercing at all times, ensuring changing morning and night after each cleaning.

In the second week, the circular band-aid should be applied only at night when your jewelry is most at risk to be snagged or caught. This is because the tissue around the base of the jewelry needs time to heal, close and secure the microdermal in place. Until this happens, your piercing is at very high risk of falling out or healing on a poor angle - leading to early migration of the dermal. These should be gently cleaned with sterile saline and thoroughly dried morning and night for the first 2 months of healing. Bleeding and bruising are very common and can last for weeks depending on the area your dermal is placed.

Changing your dermal top should only be done by a professional body piercer after a minimum of 9 months of healing and no more than 1-2 times a year. Changing this too often can lead to rejection of the piercing.