What Is An Orbital Piercing: A Guide to This Unique Cartilage Piercing
An orbital piercing is simply two piercings connected by a single piece of jewelry. You can wear exquisite orbital jewelry through these two holes. There are a few certain places where such piercings are done, like the antihelical fold, Scapa, or the conch. The orbit of the ear is a critical place, so it needs proper aftercare and the healing time is also quite long. Nevertheless, if you are planning a change to your look, believe it’s worth it.
This is a type of cartilage piercing, specifically two piercings connected by a single hoop. Such a piercing almost takes a few months to fully heal. Cartilage is the tissue that is softer than the bone and harder than the skin. It is a shaping element of our nose and ears. The healing process with cartilage piercings is slow as it does not hold a lot of blood vessels like the usual skin tissues. As a result, you might have to go through a considerable amount of pain for quite some time. Although these are the facts, if this piercing is done correctly by an experienced piercer, you would be left with a new distinct piercing style. So now let’s move to its procedure.
The Procedure
Like all other body piercing, even the orbital piercing is done after following proper steps. Getting a catch on them would give you a brief on its process.
- Your piercer would sterilize the spot that needs to be pierced and mark the jewelry insertion points.
- You would be shown the points to confirm the exact place. Now when you are pretty fine with the spot, the next step would include injecting a hollow needle at the bang-on points, creating the piercing holes.
- Once it’s done, the whole area would be cleaned up appropriately and your chosen jewelry, often a captive bead ring, will be inserted.
- You can either get a single side pierced or even both at one shot, a choice as personal as deciding on a frenulum piercing. It is your choice and also depends on the kind of stuff you wish to flaunt.
- If there is an already existing single piercing and you want to add up a new one to create an orbital, this is a different process than getting a septril piercing and would be carried out by your piercer.
How Much Does Orbital Piercing Cost?
The cost of orbital piercing is largely dependent on the professional piercer with whom you are going to work. If you hire an expert professional for this purpose, you are sure to spend a few bucks extra but it would be a great deal as major risks are related to the procedure in which the piercing is done. Orbital piercing always falls costlier in comparison to a single cartilage piercing as there are two piercings involved in the action. When searched extensively, you might find some cheaper options but ask yourself how reliable they are. An average orbital piercing may cost you somewhere around $50 to $80 in the United States while 40 to 70 Euros in European nations, depending on the expertise of the professional piercer and the piercing studio.
Orbital Piercing Pain Level and Healing Process
As mentioned earlier, an orbital piercing is done on the connective tissues and not the skin. Hence, it is quite painful in comparison to a standard lobe or even some cartilage piercings, such as an industrial piercing. The amount of pressure that is given on the hollow needle to pierce the ear tissue is often rated at a 4 out of 10 pain level. This measurement is enough to understand that it can be an immensely painful experience for some.
Although with apt aftercare and healing methods you could recover, it would still take some time. If the initial pain is unbearable, you can also switch to painkillers to get some immediate relief while waiting for your ear piercing to fully heal. But this is not going to help for a long time. Such painkillers are only efficient in the suppression of pain, but the ultimate healing process, especially with a captive bead ring, would matter much more.
Tips To Keep In Mind While Healing
Healing is the most crucial part of a successful orbital piercing, particularly when considering the type of piece of jewelry used. If proper precautions are not followed, it can end up in some kind of infection. To ensure a hassle-free orbital piercing experience, much like the aftercare for an Ashley piercing, and try trendy jewel pieces on it later on, it is first of all important to take its care.
Healing up of such cartilage piercings like the usual orbital or helix orbital piercing can take some time, similar to the healing journey of a snug piercing, and it’s essential to use the right piece of jewelry to ensure proper healing. You need to stay alert for almost 5 months to ensure that the piercing is healing appropriately.
- Applying some aftercare lotions or natural ointment can help to heal the wounds.
- It is important that you do not touch the ears as it might cause immediate irritation at the piercing site.
- Sterilization of that part is also essential to make sure that it stays clean and hygienic.
- Note that no cheap products are advisable as they might ruin all the efforts taken up by you. Right from jewelry to lotions, everything must be simply perfect.
Only a handful of tips would keep you away from all the negative aspects relevant to an orbital piercing and you can stay carefree.
Orbital Piercing Aftercare: How to Clean an Orbital Piercing
To shine like a star after that orbital piercing, certain aftercare of the respective area is extremely important. A proper routine is key to a healed piercing.
- Wipe the piercing area with a sterile saline solution for at least three times a day, a standard practice for many cartilage piercings, including the auricle piercing. Do not use hydrogen peroxide.
- Do not touch the pierced portion with your hands.
- Use a dry paper towel to gently pat the area where the orbital piercing is done. Do not rub it over that part or you might face inconvenience or pain in it, which is a common issue in ear piercing aftercare.
- Special attention is to be given during sleeping hours. Avoid sleeping on the piercing. If at all, you scratched that portion roughly, there are very high chances of severe complications.
- When the healing process is on the go, avoid getting into any pools or beaches as the contaminated water might lead to further problems.
- It is still very sensitive and does not try to fiddle with it unreasonably.
- Any spirit agent must not be applied to that area.
- Remove or change the jewelry only after the orbital piercing has undergone a complete healing process.
Even after following the above-given home remedies, if you feel any type of sharp pain or discomfort in your ears, immediately consult your nearest health care expert. No risk of the situation worsening can be taken at any cost.
Orbital Piercing Risks and How to Ensure Proper Healing
Risks are a part of every procedure you go through and an orbital piercing is no exception to this. You are prone to a high ear infection even if a small mistake is made by you. As per the reports, almost 30% of the cartilage piercings are exposed to infections. An orbital piercing, since it involves two piercings, is certainly at high risk. The only thing you can practice is to be aware of the risks associated with getting pierced.
Infections can also be of various levels and fixing them at the initial stages is the right thing to do. In case of any critical complication, your investment and health both are in danger, highlighting the importance of proper piercing aftercare. Many people are unaware of the severity of untreated piercing infections. They might also lead to permanent ear damage that is tricky to fix up.
Apart from these infections, there are not many risks associated with orbital piercing. Proper care is all it takes to ensure a beautiful, healed piercing.
More Orbital Piercing Inspiration Gallery
Conclusion
Now you are well-equipped with complete information and facts related to ear piercings, including orbital and conch piercing. Anything done with good care is never harmful. Also, remember you are not the only one getting this styling done as there are many people crazy over such piercings. To put it better, it has been one of the coolest trends of the century.
Proper care and a good piercer is everything you need to know to portray a new side of yourself. It is your inner contentment that shows in the way you like to dress or style your accessories. Having a few pairs of stylish studs from a reputed brand can accentuate your piercing. All the money you spend and all the care you have taken would be worth it when people are glancing at you out of curiosity and wondering if they could look so trendy! Be careful and you can enjoy the complete style and fun of study jewel chunks with a well-done and maintained orbital piercing. Just shine out and portray your glam quotient to the world without any worries.
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between an orbital piercing and a conch piercing?
A: A conch piercing is a single piercing through the inner cup part of the ear’s cartilage. An orbital piercing involves two separate piercing holes in the same area (often the conch or helix) that are connected by a single piece of jewelry, usually a hoop. So, while you can have an orbital in your conch, they are distinct piercing styles.
Q: Can an orbital piercing be done on the earlobe instead of the cartilage?
A: Yes, an earlobe orbital is a popular placement option. Since an orbital piercing simply means two piercings connected by one hoop, it can be done on the fleshy lobe. The healing time for an earlobe orbital is much shorter and the pain level is significantly lower compared to cartilage piercings.
Q: How is an orbital different from an industrial piercing?
A: Both involve two piercings and one piece of jewelry, but their placement is different. An industrial piercing typically consists of two helix piercings on opposite sides of the upper ear cartilage, connected by a long, straight barbell. An orbital piercing’s two holes are much closer together and are connected by a small hoop.
Q: What are the best jewelry options for a healed orbital piercing?
A: Once the piercing is fully healed, you have many jewelry options. Captive bead rings and seamless rings are the most common orbital piercing jewelry. You can find them in various materials and styles, from simple titanium hoops to more elaborate ringed jewelry with gems, to perfectly match your style.
Q: Can a forward helix piercing be part of an orbital piercing?
A: Yes, it’s possible to create a forward helix orbital. This would involve two piercings in the forward helix—the small flap of cartilage where the top of your ear meets your head—connected by a tiny hoop. This is a more unique placement and requires a consultation with an experienced piercer to see if your anatomy is suitable.
