Which piercing?

[Sincerely Yours ♥]

I'm trying to do something different, just cause I guess. I'm thinking about piercing something, but I just want your guys' opinion. Which do you guys think is best, long-term? Ear cartilage, belly button, or nose?

I don't think I'd go with nose piercings, because I'm still looking for a second job & I wouldn't be able to keep the nose ring in probably. I just want to know what you guys think.

I heard that the belly button ring moves or closes up or something after a few years. I wouldn't want to get that if it wouldn't last long. Also, does a belly button piercing hurt a lot more than an ear piercing?

I've been considering an ear cartilage piercing since I got my ears pierced (I wish I had gotten them all done at the same time).

Let me also add that I have a total phobia of needles & pain. I don't remember what it felt like to get my ears pierced, so I'm flipping out that it's gonna hurt bad. I can deal with long-term pain, I can't handle a ton of instant pain. Does a cartilage earring hurt more than a regular earring?

Thanks in advance!

[Angel]

Long term? Earrings.

I've got both my naval and my cartilage pierced, the ear being recent. I love them both although the cartilage piercing is more of a bother to clean. You don't really outgrow your ears, while naval piercings can change due to weight gain and pregnancy. From what I've heard, rejection seems to be more common in naval piercings than in the cartilage but you shouldn't quote me on that one. The whole piercing process is something that I find really weird. The sensation is more of a shock than it is painful (from my perspective.) There isn't a lot of instant pain, but I can't compare it to earlobe piercings cos it's been ages. I think you're better off getting your ear pierced first. Both can be really cute, so it's up to you!

[Tigerlily.]

I've had nose and cartilage piercings. As far as I know navel piercings do have a tendency to move and reject because of many reasons: weight gain or loss, pregnancy, material rubbing it, etc... For me, the nose piercing didn't hurt much, and I made the stupid decision to do it myself, which took hours because well I dislike pain, the way I see it is, it barely hurt and it took me 4 hours, so getting it done in a minute tops at a professional should be no big problem in all reality. As for the cartilage, if you do choose it, I highly suggest getting it done at a piercing shop with a needle, not a piercing gun. Piercing guns can cause damage to the cartilage and if you have thin cartilage it can shatter it. Also getting an infection in your cartilage is serious, because an infection can spread fast and be hard to get rid of. I'd suggest the nose, but out of the other two, I'd have to say cartilage. And you seemed worried about getting a job with a nose piercing. You can have it pierced with a corkscrew stud or a ring, it doesn't have to be a rind and the stud don't have to be big and flashy. After you can change it, they even make really nice little clear ones and flesh coloured ones as well.

[Sincerely Yours ♥]

I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the ear cartilage piercing. I just have to find a place that pierces with needles. My sister got hers pierced at the same place we got regular ear piercings, but that was with a gun. I think she got lucky.

Thank you both!

[Maloo]

My cartilage piercings (other than my tragus) were by far the most painful ones I've gotten, and the healing time was awful because I sleep on my stomach.

I've had my bellybutton pierced for over 2 years, and it's never moved or anything (I've never eve heard of that happening, to be honest ), it's never gotten infected, and the healing time was quite quick.

[Audacious]

don't ever get a cartilage piercing with a piercing gun. My friend is a piercer and he explained to me why, after I got it done and my ear got infected and wouldn't heal.

A) When they pierce you with a gun, the post is often too short and causes pressure when your ear swells. Not fun, lots of pain.
B) because it is so quick, it can shatter your cartilage and permanently disfigure your ear.
C) It's a post that just goes through your ear. When you get it pierced with a needle, it actually cuts a crescent shape in the cartilage, and gives you more room for the piercing to heal.

Here's a tip that I was given after I got my piercing done the second time PROPERLY.
Get a 14 G (guage) dermal punch.

It sounds scary, but it's not. They actually use what looks kind of like a hole puncher, and they cut a circle in your ear cartilage. Often cartilage piercings are done 14G, so that's just why I said do it that way. The dermal punch will heal up SO MUCH BETTER than just a normal needle. I wish I had gotten it done that way. It hurts a little bit more, but it's not bad.

Piercings hurt, let's face it. But the thing is, they won't hurt for long. It feels like a hard pinch, and then it's DONE. as soon as the piercer puts antiseptic on it, it feels so much better. It will be warm and will swell a bit, maybe even bleed, but that's it. After it's done, you want more haha.

Good luck, and let us know what you get.

For the record, there are clear spacers that you can put in a nose piercing (or ANY piercing) so that you can take it out for work or something. Makes it look like you don't have a piercing at all.

[TheCrowing]

I have 8 done in my cartilage and they can take forever to heal properly if you're not extremely careful or tentative. But.. they didn't hurt as much as my 2nd holes in my earlobe.

And 14G? Sure it's not 16G? All of mine were done as 16's, and the most common earrings that I find (Not actual gauges) are either 16 or standard which are about 18's. Maybe it's just something around here? I don't know.

[Audacious]

I might be wrong. My piercer did it 14G. Idk haha.

[Revolution]

Yeah, go with the ear.

[Dark Horse]

I'd also go w/ earrings

[bitesize]

I've had three ear cartilage piercings, and I still love them, I'd definitely recommend getting one. (: I had two done with guns that didn't hurt at all, but apparently it's much safer to get them done with needles. I won't lie, the one I got done with a needle hurt the most, but the pain goes away and it's definitely worth it. Just make sure to look after it and clean it regularly and it'll be fine. (:

[alixthetree]

I agree go with the ear. I got my cartilage done about 5 weeks ago, and I thought it was going to hurt rather badly and it barely did. It's worth the little bit of pain

[Sincerely Yours ♥]

Okay sounds like I'm going with the ear cartilage piercing. I'll do some more research as well. Thanks everyone!

[Sincerely Yours ♥]

Originally Posted by alixthetree

I agree go with the ear. I got my cartilage done about 5 weeks ago, and I thought it was going to hurt rather badly and it barely did. It's worth the little bit of pain

By the way, did you get yours pierced with a gun or needle?

[Nicole!]

Go with the ear cartilage, it doesn't hurt much to get it pierced and its still a pretty simple piercing. Although you do have to make sure to take good care of it or you can get 'the bump' or infections.

[Sincerely Yours ♥]

Originally Posted by Melody

Go with the ear cartilage, it doesn't hurt much to get it pierced and its still a pretty simple piercing. Although you do have to make sure to take good care of it or you can get 'the bump' or infections.

I'm definitely going with this, I'm just trying to figure out if I want to risk it & get it pierced with the gun or try to find a place around here that uses needles.