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2021 Upper Ear Cartilage Piercing Pros & Cons by a Piercer S02 EP07

In Season 2 Episode 07, DaVo, a Professional Piercer since 1994, covers the Pros and Cons of Upper Ear Cartilage Piercings.

I aka DaVo have been a professional body piercer and the owner of the Axiom Body Piercing Studio in Des Moines, Iowa since 1994. My focus on education and helping clients make safe and informed decisions on getting pierced has always been a large part of my business practices and services. With my website and increasingly on youtube, I hope to expand and inform others outside of my small part of the world. I always encourage questions and comments, so if you have one, please comment. 

Show Notes:

  • Pierced Horizontally through the Scapha on the upper ear, not the helix of the ear

 

History:

  • believed to have been done for as long at earlobe piercings

Pros:

  1. Widely Socially accepted

  2. Large Variety of Jewelry

  3. Lot of placement options

  4. Can be done in Groups

  5. Long history of healing

Cons

  1. Hard to Isolate

  2. Healing can be difficult

  3. closes quickly

  4. can not sleep on the piercings

  5. Sensitivity to trauma

 

Things to look for:

  • Piercer be experienced

  • The piercer should be professional, informative, and make you feel comfortable should offer a consultation that involves aftercare, risks, etc…, evaluate your anatomy, and should suggest a barbell or stud for piercing/

  • If they pierce with a ring, the jewelry must be oversized

  • Ask if they provide aftercare products and written and verbal aftercare instruction?

The Piercing Experience:

  • If you want additional piercings, discuss that while marking

  • When marking the piercer should avoid any noticeable blood vessels.

  • Usually done freehand with a needle and NRT or cork

  • A taper pin or guide pin may be used to insert the jewelry

  • Piercing is very quick and usually not too painful. However is prone to a lot of heat.

  • The jewelry may require a little time to insert and close

  • There may be some slight to moderate bleeding

  • Usually, you will have throbbing, aching, and warmth in the area for a few minutes afterward

  • Piercing is sensitive to the touch.

Healing:

  • Average healing time is 8-12 weeks or longer

  • Saline twice daily

  • Must practice cross-contamination prevention and isolate and avoid any contact with the piercing.

    • Clean hands

    • no oral contact

    • Keep your bedding, clothing, towels, etc… clean

    • No Swimming

    • Keep Pets Away

    • avoid contact with earbuds, headphones, etc….

    • Make sure that your hair is dried before it comes in contact

  • Avoid contact or trauma to the area.

  • First 3-5 days you can experience slight bleeding off and on, redness/discolor, heat, and tenderness to the touch.

  • Do not sleep on the piercing no mater if it hurts or not

  • Try to elevate the piercing off the bedding.

  • Masks contact and pressure.

Jewelry Options:

  • Can change after the piercing is healed

  • Jewelry should always be wide enough to allow for the thickness of the area

  • Labret Studs have the least profile

  • Rings need to be wide and oversized

Living with the piercing:

  • The jewelry should be left in at all times.

  • Avoid pressure or trauma to the piercing including sleep

  • Test wearing headphones, helmets, hats, etc…

  • Adjust or change loose jewelry after it heals

Abandoning the piercing:

  • Will close but may appear open for a long period of time.

  • There will be a small indented circular scar on each side. This may fade in time.

  • The holes may produce a cream cheese like discharge, this is sebum.

Check Out Our Merch Store - https://teespring.com/stores/bpt-channel

Additional Information:

Articles:

Videos:

Following links are affiliate links and a small amount will go to DaVo and the Axiom:

Suggested Aftercare Products:

  • For Premixed Saline DaVo suggests. NeilMed Neil Cleanse Wound Wash First-Aid Sterile Saline Solution 6 fl oz Each - https://amzn.to/2lgrfL7
  • For Oral Piercings -     
    Biotene Fresh Mint Moisturizing Oral Rinse Mouthwash, Alcohol-Free, for Dry Mouth - https://amzn.to/2NbIYza

All footage was filmed using a Canon EOS 80D Camera with the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens - https://amzn.to/3bb5PV4 and Canon EOS R  - https://amzn.to/386Y1BZ with Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM Lens - https://amzn.to/3jkvptO

Audio - Recorded with Audio-Technica AT875R Line + Gradient Condenser Microphone - https://amzn.to/2XiCMuT and Tascam DR-40x - https://amzn.to/2XhgoRl

For more information on DaVo and the Axiom Body Piercing Studio go to https://axiompiercing.com

Now on TikTok - TikTok - @SKTattoo - http://vm.tiktok.com/fWNXFc/

Axiom Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/axiombodypiercing/

Skin Kitchen's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theskinkitchen/

Contact DaVo at davo@axiompiercing.com or by phone at 515-966-4814
If you would like to set up a Piercing Appointment go to https://axiompiercing.com/booking.

Skin Kitchen Tattoo and The Axiom Body Piercing Studio are located at 3800 Douglas Ave./Des Moines, Iowa 50311
Tattoo hours are Thursday - Monday 1-8pm
Piercing hours are Thursday - Monday 2-8pm