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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be nervous about getting tragus pierced

55 replies

Alice190720 · 21/12/2020 15:32

I have been wanting to get my tragus pierced since I was 11 (I am now 21) and my partner has said he will pay for me to get it done as part of my Christmas present but now he has said this I am very nervous as the only other piercing I have are my ear lobes. Please give me your piercing experiences

OP posts:

Ivy455 · 21/12/2020 15:34

I have my helix and both my daiths pierced and it really wasn't bad at all. Just a sharp pain and it's done. Don't worry about it! Weirdly the piercing I found the most painful was my bellybutton which most people seem to think is painless.

celtiethree · 21/12/2020 15:35

I got a rook piercing this year. It was fine. Deep breath in and out didn’t really hurt. Just takes a while to heal as it’s cartilage.

AragonsGirl · 21/12/2020 15:36

I had a tragus piercing in October and it was absolutely fine, not sore and healed really well

MilkshakeandFries · 21/12/2020 15:37

It takes seconds...do what I did and talk nonstop before and during because you're so nervous and you don't even realise it's happening because you're then apologising to the super cool piercer for being such a muppet

MrsJBradders · 21/12/2020 15:37

yeah i've had my tragus pierced for about 15 years, IIRC you lie down to have it done and was just a quick sharp pain, I've found found the older i get the less piercings hurt!

whatacarryon2018 · 21/12/2020 15:38

Agree with other posters. It's so quick, a good piercer will do it without counting down so it's over before you even realise!
What I would say is, mine took about 9 months to heal so be aware of that!

QueenofLouisiana · 21/12/2020 15:38

I also have helix and daith piercings (as well as upper lobes). I found the helix tge most difficult. Stuff I’ve read says that the tragus isn’t uncomfortable, but there can be a pop when the piercing is done- I heard a definite noise when my daith was done, but it’s over then!

Feckmesideways · 21/12/2020 15:39

I had my tragus pierced when I was 14. Honestly it didn’t hurt at all, was one of the easiest piercings I’ve had done. Just make sure to clean it regularly while it heals.

Mylittleturkeysandwich · 21/12/2020 15:41

My tragus wasn't that painful at all. A few seconds and it's over. Takes a wee while to heal completely though so you have to take care of it. I generally don't find piercings cause long term pain, only if you knock them on something will it nip for a bit.

Elphame · 21/12/2020 15:43

It'll be a slow healer - think months rather than weeks but they look fab.

There may be a crunch noise but that's the worst of it. Cartilage has no nerve endings so it's only a quick sting as the skin is pierced and it'll probably feel hot afterwards for a bit.

I was mad enough to have a double snug!

edin16 · 21/12/2020 15:46

I had my tragus done, it was no worse than any on there piercing. But it did take a long time to heal and I ended up getting a growth around it that sometimes happens with cartilage piercings , but once I sorted that it was fine.

Side note...not all ear phones fit in your ear properly with the piercing in!

79Beastie · 21/12/2020 15:48

I had my tragus done when I was 19, 41 now and I have never taken it out. Its done quickly, not very painful. Just got to make sure you follow the aftercare instructions and you'll be fine. I love mine and will never take it out.

Original poster

Alice190720 · 21/12/2020 15:50

So it’s a good first “proper” piercing to get? I’m sure I read somewhere it’s one of the most painful piercings

OP posts:

DubiousGoals · 21/12/2020 15:59

I've got tragus, conch, daith, helix & forward helix and the tragus was the least painful and 2nd quickest to heal. Just keep it clean with some sterile saline, sleep on the opposite side and try not to fiddle with it till it's healed!

Sick · 21/12/2020 16:03

Go to a good piercer and it will be fine! If you're in the North East I can recommend a couple! Follow the aftercare instructions properly. It's not any more painful than other cartilage piercings. Stock up on stericlens! Or a few bottles of 0.9% eye wash and a spray bottle.

I have a lot of ear piercings (19 total) and all of them healed differently, a couple took more than a year to heal properly. Fleshy parts (lobe) heal a lot quicker than cartilage.

Nowaynothappening · 21/12/2020 16:03

I had mine done when I was 14 and it rejected. I had to go to A&E to have it removed because it swelled up so badly, it honestly looked like a lump of liver. The pain was just atrocious too.

Obviously most people are fine with it but I had plenty of other piercings at the time which were all fine, that one was just a bad experience.

Elphame · 21/12/2020 16:03

My second rook piercing was by far the most painful. followed closely by the second set of lobes.

Snugs are meant to be the worst and many piercers won't even do them as the cartilage is thick and it takes a lot of pressure to do.

Sick · 21/12/2020 16:05

Also get a doughnut pillow (ear goes in the hole) because sleeping on a new piercing can damage it or affect how it heals and cause it to be crooked.

hadesinahalfahell · 21/12/2020 16:16

It doesn't hurt. It's definitely not one of the most painful piercings, I believe the septum is.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/12/2020 16:18

My DD (now 18) has had
5 lobe
1 helix
1 tragus
1 bellybutton

To date she's allowed the helix/tragus and 2 lobe to heal over but they didn't cause her any pain to have done (she is a wuss with needles )
Helix got caught by a hairdressers comb (ouch)

YY to sleeping on that side , it'll be difficult

Waxonwaxoff0 · 21/12/2020 16:20

I have my tragus, nose, tongue, belly button and ripples pierced. Honestly I'd say tragus is more painful than belly button as it's more cartilage than flesh but as with all piercings it's over really quickly. You'll be fine!

MrsJBradders · 21/12/2020 16:21

@hadesinahalfahell i just had my septum done in Sep and didn't find it painful at all, Ditto with my smiley (webby bit under your top lip)

Both healed really well and quickly - I would say out of all their piercings i've had done nostril was the most painful, but i have got thick nostrils so maybe that's why

Waxonwaxoff0 · 21/12/2020 16:22

Nipples not ripples!

Sick · 21/12/2020 16:24

@hadesinahalfahell

It doesn't hurt. It's definitely not one of the most painful piercings, I believe the septum is.

Septum shouldn't be painful (other than the initial sting) if done correctly in the "sweet spot". A lot of piercers do it badly and pierce through the cartilage instead of the flesh between your septum and tip of your nose.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 21/12/2020 16:25

Daith is one of the prettiest ( I was told) and it's rumoured to help with migraine

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