Laura Ljaze
Body Piercing

Septum piercings are incredibly popular in Western culture nowadays, but they did not start out this way. Septum piercings, like many piercings, were popular in ancient times among Native American tribes who favoured this piercing because of its ability to stretch in order to accommodate larger jewellery, pieces of wood and animal bones or tusks!

t wasn't until civilizations like the Mayans and the Aztecs took on this piercing trend that decorative materials like gold and jewels were added, creating Septum jewellery that is very similar to the rings we wear today.
It's not only trend hunters that are rocking septum piercings, with celebs like Rhianna and Lady Gaga sporting this edgy body modification too, it's regularly featured on the red carpet too!
 
One of the biggest selling points of Septum piercings is that they can be extremely discreet; once the piercing is completely healed, you can easily flip your jewellery up inside the nose to make your piercing virtually invisible, which is great news for piercing fans at school and work.
Septum piercings are highly debated in terms of how painful they are, with the majority of people agreeing it is not that painful at all but a small minority claiming they found it very painful. One explanation for these discrepancies could be that the piercing was performed incorrectly by an inexperienced piercer who did not correctly identify the sweet spot. It is also important to remember that piercing pain is always entirely subjective and that each individual will have a different experience of the amount of pain caused by a Septum piercing.
However, the majority of people claim the Septum piercing is comparable to a regular nostril piercing and a completely bearable pain that is over very briefly. Like any piercing, you should also expect some soreness at the piercing site during the initial healing process.  Septum piercings take approximately 3 - 6 months to heal completely, with the initial soreness lasting around 1-2 weeks. Because of the placement of a Septum ring being so close to your nose, there is a higher risk of bacteria getting in to the piercing.
To avoid infection, follow these precautions:
Soak your Septum piercing in salt water soaks twice a day
Make sure you clean every part of your jewellery including both the ball and the bar
Always wash and dry your hands before touching your piercings
Do not 'flip' or turn your piercing until it is fully healed
It is very important that you follow the aftercare instructions given to you by your piercer during the healing process.
It is normal for a Septum piercing to be slightly swollen and secrete small amounts of white or clear fluid whilst healing, however if you experience yellow/green fluid or a sore lump around the piercing site, do not hesitate to visit your piercer for an assessment. Initial swelling may make your Septum piercing look a little wonky but rest assured that once the swelling settles you will replace the jewellery for a piece that sits comfortably and straight in the nose.
Jewellery: You can wear a variety of jewellery types for a Septum piercings such as Horse Shoes, Clickers,Circular Barbells,Straight Barbell (Once Healed),BCR (Once Healed). If you are looking for a Septum piercing you can hide, Horse Shoe bars are the easiest to flip and Straight Barbells can actually sit flush inside the nose.
 DISCLAIMER: Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact your Piercer. These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. If you suspect an infection, seek medical attention. Be aware that many doctors have not received specific training regarding pierc