My teen DS wants a nose bridge piercing - talk me down

[PrincessPark]

They're 17.5yrs

I know nothing about this type of piercing so would appreciate the wise counsel of Mumsnet please.

Good and bad- hit me with it (for disclosure I'm an old gimmer).

Thanks.

Goes through the skin at the top of the nose (nearer to eyebrows).

I wouldn't have an issue with it at that age providing they went to a reputable piercer and was committed to the aftercare. If they don't like it they can always take it out

Its a surface piercing so there's a high rejection rate but I don't know many people who have had problems with it.
It's an awkward place so easy to knock when getting dressed, wearing glasses, washing face, taking off make up.. so she'll have to be careful.
It may be uncomfortable to squint, raise her eyebrows. I'd tell her to try out a fake for a few weeks first.

Imo they are horrible but it isn't mine, or yours, nose that it is happening to.

Help her to find a reputable place to have it done, ask her to look into the negatives but that if she still wants it done you will take her. Sometimes parental acceptance makes something undesirable, if it doesn't and she still wants it done at least then you will know it has been done safely

I would let my hypothetical DS go for it I think, piercings heal up and that area of the face tends to be hairy and wrinkly enough to cover any scars it might leave.

I'd insist on a reputable piercer though and scrupulous hygiene even if I had to offer to fund the cleaning solution / more expensive place

I haven't seen one IRL (I don't think) but even if he takes it out , he'll be left with a mark . The nose is an oily part of the face , he could look like he has two manking great blackheads .

I have a daith (very pretty , tucked away) done in Dec . Healing well but still a blighter if I sleep on it .
I wou;dn't fancy getting clothes , glasses , masks caught .

My DD got her naval done at 16yo , (she has a flat belly worth flaunting and a size 6-8) . I wasn;t enamoured but its her belly .

What's your DS planning career wise ?

Looks like it's just through skin.

Would you not go cross eyed though? Can’t remember what age for facial piercings, but if it’s 18 I’d say wait till then. If he wants it he’ll still want it then.

They’re surface piercings so are more likely to reject or push through the skin leaving a not very nice scar. A few of my friends as teens had cleavage piercing which are similar and left those scars. But if it takes ok it’s fine, just a couple of scars either side of the nose. There are worse choices! It’s his body and it’s unlikely to do him any actual harm, assuming he goes to a reputable piercer

No, it’s like wearing glasses you don’t notice the bits of metal after a while

Sorry not sure why I read DD not DS. My kingdom for an edit button!

'You can do it when you're 18'.

Many councils have a licensing rule that piercings other than the ear lobes are only allowed from 18. Plenty of piercing places set their own rules of 18 as well, to avoid angry non resident Dads parents marching down there to complain about their child's body being defiled.

It's one of the easiest piercings. And he'll probably be fed up with it by the time he's 19, even if he finds somewhere that will pierce him younger/your council doesn't set a minimum age and he's able to follow the aftercare instructions.

I've been researching it - the more I read, the more I'm not keen as the potential of rejection snd scarring is very high.

Unfortunately the "when you are 18" won't wash I dont think - I've emailed the local place that DS mentioned and they replied with "age 26, £40" snd "so long as you have ID, you'll be fine" in shower to my question of do I need parental permission if under 18......

Most reputable piercers will refuse to do this style of piercing now. Surface piercings have a high rejection rate, especially in an area that has the potential to be knocked frequently.

As soon as I turned 21, I turned my face into a pincushion. It looked so cool at the time (it always does when you're young). Had to have an MRI on my back and spent good amount of time removing all the metal in my face, not fun. I've retired most of my piercings and now just have a single nose piercing (left nostril) and 8 ear piercings (one on each helix and three on each lobe). I'd say let him do it. As others have said, it's a surface piercing and surface piercings have a high rejection rate. He'll either get fed up with it or will remove it before a big ugly scar is left behind.