Cartilage Piercing Pain: How Much Does It Hurt?

  • Written By Dan Hunter on July 15, 2018
    Last Updated: October 13, 2023
  • Medizinisch überprüft von Dr. Jennifer T. Haley, M.D., FAAD.

Cartilage piercings have been extremely popular for many years, and they give the option to customize your look depending on how many piercings you get and where you place them. They can be symmetrical with the same number on each ear, or you can just get one ear decorated and still look great.

However, if you’re thinking about getting your first cartilage piercing, it’s only natural to wonder how much it’s going to hurt you, and that’s exactly what we’re going to be discussing right here.


How Bad Do Cartilage Piercings Hurt?

Compared to other body piercings, cartilage piercings don’t hurt too much. However, cartilage is thick and tough tissue so there will be some pain and discomfort. It’s also worth remembering that everybody is different, and while it may hurt a lot for some, it may not hurt so much for you.

When you’re talking about cartilage piercing pain, there are actually two different types of pain at issue; the initial pain from the piercing needle, and the later pain as the piercing heals.

There are also two different types of cartilage piercings. The piercing most often referred to as a cartilage piercing is situated on the upper ear. You can get many different areas of the ear pierced, and almost all of them, with the exception of the lobes, contain cartilage.

However, the nose also contains cartilage, so you can get a cartilage piercing through the nose septum, or through the tip of the nose as well.

The thing to remember about any piercing is that the initial pain is over fairly quickly. It’s not like a tattoo where the needle enters the skin over and over again.

That being said, a needle doesn’t go quite as deep for a tattoo as it does for a piercing, so it will be slightly more painful for a shorter duration of time. The pain will likely feel sharp and intense, but only for a tiny second or two. By the time you begin to register the pain, it’ll all be over.

How much initial pain you experience is going to depend upon which particular area of cartilage you get pierced. Some are more sensitive than others.

A good way to gauge how the pain will rate is to pinch the area you want to get pierced. It won’t feel exactly the same as getting pierced, but it will give you some idea of how well you tolerate pain in that area of cartilage.

What to Expect at the Shop

For cartilage piercings, a professional piercer will use a hollow needle to make a hole through the tissue. Cartilage is firmer than flesh but softer than bone, so you will feel a bit more resistance than if you get your earlobe pierced, for instance.

Once the needle goes through, the jewelry is inserted. The whole process is over very quickly and you’ll be given your aftercare sheet and sent on your way in no time.

How Long Will a Cartilage Piercing Hurt For?

After the brief initial pain, the cartilage piercing may hurt for up to a week as the inflammation calms down. Because this area doesn’t get much blood flow, it takes longer to heal, which means the healing pain lasts a bit longer than other regions of the body.

After that, you shouldn’t experience much pain unless the jewelry gets pulled or pressed against you while you sleep.

Getting an infection within your new cartilage piercing can also cause increased pain and tenderness. They can also cause permanent damage to the area, so be sure to get your piercing checked out by a doctor if you suspect an infection.​

What Factors Can Affect Cartilage Piercing Pain?

Several factors determine how bad the piercing pain will be. Here are a few things that make a difference.

How much anxiety you experience before the piercing

The more anxious you are prior to the piercing, the more likely it is you will experience the pain as being more intense. Often, it’s the worry beforehand that turns out to be worse than the actual piercing experience.

One of the best things you can do is inform yourself about the process. Knowing everything you can about cartilage piercings prior to getting one takes away the uncertainties of the process. And often it’s the things we don’t know that make us the most nervous.

Whether you use numbing cream

You can use a lidocaine numbing cream prior to your cartilage piercing. You rub the cream on the area you want to get pierced and wait for the duration stated on the packaging.

You will, however, still feel some sensation during the piercing.

Eines der effektivsten betäubenden Produkte für Piercings, das derzeit auf dem Markt ist, ist die Zensa Numbing Cream. Sie enthält die höchste von der FDA für den freien Verkauf zugelassene Menge an Lidocain. Das Feedback von Tausenden von Kunden zu diesem Produkt ist schlichtweg außergewöhnlich.

Befolge einfach die Anweisungen auf der Verpackung, trage die Creme kurz vor Beginn deines Piercing-Eingriffs auf und freue dich auf ein weniger schmerzhaftes und angenehmeres Piercing-Erlebnis.

The person piercing your cartilage

Who performs your cartilage piercing can make a difference in how much the pain you experience. A more experienced piercer will get the procedure done quicker, and will usually cause less pain because they know exactly where to pierce.

It also depends on how roughly the piercer handles your tissue, the needle, and the jewelry. Ask around to find out what other people’s experiences have been with various local body piercers.

Although cartilage piercing prices may be higher ​when using a more experienced piercer, the extra cost is definitely worth it to help ensure everything goes as well as it can.

How many piercings you get in the same procedure

Obviously, if you double the number of piercings you get from one to two, then you will likely go through double the pain. Therefore, if you decide to get two cartilage piercings for example, prepare for a bit more discomfort compared to getting just the one.​

How your body responds to healing

Over the next few days after the piercing, you will very likely experience at least some amount of pain, and this can vary widely depending on your own personal healing process.

Things such as swelling, bruising, infection, and the formation of piercing bumps can all affect pain levels.

Ways to Deal With the Pain

Now that you know what factors affect pain, here’s what you can do to make getting a cartilage piercing slightly more tolerable.

  • Educate yourself about the process of a cartilage piercing beforehand
  • Listen to music to reduce anxiety and take your mind off the pain
  • Bring along a friend or family member if allowed
  • Tell yourself that you are strong and this won’t hurt much
  • Remember that everybody with a cartilage piercing has gone through the same process
  • Be well rested and not under the influence of substances
  • Relax, breathe, and wear comfortable clothes
  • Try a numbing cream

Summary

Yes, you can expect to experience pain during and after a cartilage piercing, but if you choose a quality body piercing shop with sterile conditions and practice proper cartilage piercing aftercare, your pain will be fast and minimal.

And once you’ve finally received your amazing new cartilage piercing; you will have completely forgotten about the pain anyway.​

Wenn du sicherstellen möchtest, dass dein Piercing bestmöglich heilt, ist es unerlässlich, dass du den Nachsorgeempfehlungen deines Piercers genau folgst und in eine hochwertige Nachsorgelösung investierst, um die Regeneration zu unterstützen.

Das beste Pflegeprodukt für Piercings, das ich bis jetzt verwendet habe, ist das After Inked Piercing Aftercare Spray. Es ist nicht nur vegan, sondern auch völlig frei von Alkohol und Zusatzstoffen. Die Lösung funktioniert gut auf allen Hauttypen, einschließlich sensibler Haut, und es kommt in einer großzügig bemessenen Sprühflasche für eine einfache Anwendung.

Wenn du es von Anfang an im Heilungsprozess verwendest, hilft das Spray, die Heilungszeiten zu verkürzen und zielt darauf ab, jegliche verbleibende Schmerzen oder Beschwerden zu beseitigen. Hier klicken, um es bei Amazon zu kaufen.

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1 thought on “Cartilage Piercing Pain: How Much Does It Hurt?”

  1. Dan Hunter, your post really resonated with me! It reminded me of my college days when I was grappling with similar thoughts. Have you considered the impact of cultural diversity on this subject? There’s also something to be said for the role of technology. In my experience, it has both facilitated and hindered progress. I have to ask too, what are your thoughts on the influence of socio-economic factors? A parting thought: let’s not forget the power of individual will. Cheers to more insightful discussions! 😊👏

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