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Original poster

Conch piercing

17 replies

mistermagpie · 07/09/2021 17:24

Random question but I am fancying getting a conch piercing and was reading that it can take up to a year to heal. I have had my belly button pierced in the past and that healed fine and still have a tongue piercing in from years ago which was also fine, but I just wondered if anyone had any experiences or tips for getting a conch piercing done?

OP posts:

HelloChompy · 07/09/2021 20:27

I have mine done - I love it. I think they say from 6 - 9 months with cartilage piercings but they can take longer to heal. Mine's 5 months old now and feels good unless I bump it.

Mine swelled a lot initially- which was fine as I had a longer bar. The swelling subsided very quickly and I had it downsized at 4 weeks. I had to be careful to ensure that it was sticking out at the front rather than the back before downsizing in case I rolled onto that side in my sleep and put pressure on it while it was healing.

ThisIsNotAGloveSong · 08/09/2021 07:31

Was it painful to have done? I've had my helix done, don't know if it's comparable.

Tlollj · 08/09/2021 07:33

What’s a conch piercing? I know that’s not what you asked I’m just curious.

HelloChompy · 08/09/2021 07:55

@ThisIsNotAGloveSong it was more painful than my helix and my flat helix because the cartilage is a lot thicker in the conch and he had to apply more pressure to get it through. Healing wise it has been a lot easier than the lowest of my forward helix piercings which throbbed when I ate smiled or spoke for a good few days 😬

cirrusminor · 08/09/2021 07:58

I have a conch piercing, in response to a PP it was painful for the couple of seconds it took to actually do it but not unbearable.

Because it was a labret stud in a "tucked away" bit of my ear it was hard to disturb it, and it healed like an absolute dream. Yes it took a year to heal properly as cartilage piercings do but I basically didn't notice it after the first week and left it to do its thing. Never had a problem with it, it's my favourite piercing!

HelloChompy · 08/09/2021 07:59

@Tlollj a handy chart!

Brogues · 08/09/2021 09:26

I think because the cartilage is quite chunky there the healing estimates are accurate. I felt comfortable changing bars myself at 6 months but didn’t try a ring until the full year was up. I found it more forceful but less sharp that belly button piercing. Big deep breath beforehand and you’ll be grand.

Tlollj · 08/09/2021 09:55

Thank you. You learn something everyday! And yeah I reckon that hurts. 😃

CheekyChewinski · 08/09/2021 13:58

I have mine done as think it's been the easiest piercing. You can feel pressure but not many nerves there so doesn't hurt.

Original poster

mistermagpie · 09/09/2021 19:34

Oh thanks for all the info!! I think I'm definitely going to get it done. I have survived a tongue piercing, which is not for the faint hearted and is a real pain for the first week or two (your tongue swells up so you can't eat and talk properly) so I think I can commit to this.

Random question again - can you wear in ear headphones with it in?

OP posts:

ggoodger · 09/09/2021 20:33

I had my conch pierced for several years - I loved it but it does take a while to heal, particularly if it is on the side of your head you sleep on. The discomfort from the healing period may well be the reason I am a back sleeper now!

I couldn't wear in ear headphones I don't think, though it probably depends on the specific anatomy of your ear.

justabigdisco · 09/09/2021 20:37

It wasn’t that painful but mine took well over a year to heal properly. Can wear headphones yes

Brogues · 09/09/2021 21:41

In ear earphones and ear plugs fine for me, cans were okay after a while too.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 09/09/2021 21:48

I've had mine done for years, a bar rather than a ring, yeah it hurt a bit, but not too bad. Took a while to heal, but totally fine now, my in ear earphones work fine, as do earplugs too!

bonzo77 · 09/09/2021 22:03

I had mine done years ago. Still wearing the original flat backed labret that was placed then. Not sure how long it took to heal but it’s given me almost no trouble at all. My flat gave me so many problems I retired it.

Youvegotafriendinme · 09/09/2021 23:35

I’ve had my conch piercing in for around 16 years now. I love it. It’s the only one I kept, all the rest I took out. To have done it didn’t hurt anymore or less than any others but it was definitely the longest to heal but that’s not to say it was painful while doing so. I had a very long bar in initially so it took a lot of the swelling and only changed it to a short one about a year later.
Also, no issues with wearing headphones or anything
Go for it, you won’t regret it I hope :)

mobear · 09/09/2021 23:43

I’ve had almost everything pierced (everything!). Conch was incredibly painful by comparison and wouldn’t heal.

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