October 07, 2024

Septril Piercing: Jewelry, Procedure, Pain, Cost, Healing, Pictures, Aftercare

Fast Facts

Placement: It goes directly through the tip of the nose.
Cost: $50-$100.
Healing time: 4 to 6 months to heal fully.
Jewelry: Studs, plugs, curved barbells.
Note: It is a very rare piercing and is only recommended for those with a stretched septum piercing.

Like other forms of body modification, piercings are a great way to express your individuality and style. It's just a little harder these days to find a truly unique piercing compared to past decades.

If you want a new piercing that's a little more special than the typical ear, nose, lip, or navel rings, you might be a candidate for the Septril nose piercing.

What is a Septril Piercing?

The Septril piercing (also known as the nose tip piercing) goes directly through the tip of the nose, perpendicular to a horizontal Septum piercing. Septril piercings are not beginner-friendly, and they are only recommended for individuals with a fully healed Septum piercing.

Variant: High Septril Piercing

A typical Septril piercing sits under the tip of the nose. On the other hand, a "high Septril piercing" sits above the nose tip, closer to the bridge. Some people prefer the higher placement because it makes the jewelry easier to see.

However, many people have harder cartilage in the upper half of their nose, which is why it's more common to pierce the softer tip of the nose.

Variant: Stretched Septril Piercing

Once a Septril piercing has healed completely, you can increase its visual impact by stretching it to a higher gauge.

The standard gauge size for a Septril piercing is 14G-18G (1.6mm-1.0mm), which is similar to an earlobe piercing. Experts recommend stretching up to 1G-2G (7mm-6mm) at a time and allowing your piercing to rest before stretching it to the next size up.

Due to the uniqueness of this particular piercing, it's also best to attempt stretching under the guidance of an experienced professional.

Septril Piercing Procedure

A Septril piercing begins with a healed Septum piercing, which must be stretched to a gauge size of 0 gauge (8mm) - 2 gauge (6mm).

1. Get a Septum Piercing

The Septum piercing is an absolute must before getting a Septril piercing because it provides access to the piercing area from the inside of the nose.

2. Stretch and Heal the Septum Piercing

A Septril piercing begins with a healed Septum piercing, which should be stretched to a gauge size of 0 gauge (5/16-inch or 8mm) or 2 gauge (6mm). Or, the Septum piercing needs to be stretched to at least 5mm (4 gauge) to accommodate the piercing needle and subsequent septril jewelry.

This is considerably larger than the 1.2mm-1.6mm (16 gauge-14 gauge) width of a standard Septum piercing, which means it will take a little more planning and effort to prepare to receive a Septril piercing.

Typically, stretching the septum entails a series of plugs or tunnels in graduating sizes changed out over time. Because of this significant size increase, it can take up to 18 months of stretching before you're ready to receive the septril piercing.

3. Get a Septril Piercing

Once your Septum piercing has been stretched to the appropriate size, your piercer will pierce the area with a sterilized needle, and your chosen jewelry will be inserted.

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Septril Piercing Pain

On a typical 1-10 pain scale, most people who have received this piercing report a pain level of 3-5. This would put it in the "tolerably uncomfortable" range.

Some people have even reported that it feels "weird" rather than painful, due to the location. Your actual pain experience will depend on your pain tolerance and personal anatomy.

Healing

The Septril nose piercing takes an average of 4-6 months to heal completely. It may take longer if you have a prominent nose that's prone to getting bumped or brushed against foreign objects.

Like many other piercings, you will likely experience redness, swelling, tenderness, and clear discharge in the first few days after getting pierced.

To minimize the healing period, it's important to follow all aftercare instructions, maintain good hygiene habits, and keep foreign objects away from your face.

Cost

As of 2024, you can expect to pay about $50-$100 for a Septril piercing. The final cost will depend on your location, piercer's experience level, and jewelry.

Note that high-quality jewelry and an experienced piercer, which are recommended for best results, will be more expensive overall. As a rule of thumb, remember that "you get what you pay for."

Septril Piercing Jewelry: Types

1. Studs

Cute piercing with natural gemstones red and green stones titanium 16G $24.9, SHOP NOW.

By far, the most common type of jewelry for a Septril nose piercing is a flat-back labret stud. Studs come in a wide variety of shapes, patterns, and colors, allowing for unlimited self-expression, and the flat-back is more comfortable as it sits inside of the nose.

2. Curved Barbells

Curved barbell piercing ASTM F136 implant-grade titanium internally threaded $16.9, SHOP NOW.

Curved barbells are less common.

For the Septril nose piercing, curved barbells are preferable over straight bars. This is because most people have a natural curve to the front of their nose, and a curved barbell fits more comfortably into the contours of the average nose.

Choosing jewelry that fits properly also minimizes complications during the recovery process.

3. Plugs

A plug is a cylindrical piece of jewelry that effectively "plugs" a stretched piercing. They can be found in multiple sizes and inert materials. Plugs can also be used to stretch your Septril nose piercing.

Septril Piercing Jewelry: Size

1. Gauge

The gauge of a piece of jewelry refers to the thickness of the post or bar, measured in millimeters. A smaller gauge size corresponds to a wider post. For new Septril piercings, the average gauge is 14-18g, or 1.6-1mm.

2. Length

The length of your Septril piercing jewelry depends on your personal preference and the thickness of the skin in the piercing area. With that said, the most common lengths for studs and barbells worn in the Septril nose piercing are between 5-12mm (3/16 inch to 1/2 inch).

Usually, your first piece of jewelry will be slightly longer to accommodate the swelling that occurs immediately after receiving the piercing.

3. Diameter

"Diameter" refers to the width of a ring or hoop when measuring straight across from one side to the other.

For the Septril piercing, rings or hoops are not commonly used. If you want to know, incomplete or C-shaped rings with a diameter of 8-12mm are preferable over the traditional circular hoop.

Depending on your nose anatomy, you may be able to go with a slightly smaller or larger diameter.

Recommended Materials for Septril Piercing Jewelry

1. Titanium: About $20-$40

Cute piercing with natural semi-precious gemstones titanium $25.9, SHOP NOW.

Titanium has a reputation for being the best metal for piercings for many reasons. It is lightweight, hypoallergenic, durable, non-corrosive, and won’t tarnish.

Its non-porous nature reduces places bacteria can hide, promoting healing.

Titanium is also hypoallergenic, meaning it is less likely to cause allergic reactions. Titanium is nickel-free.

Its high density-to-strength ratio means your jewelry is very durable.

A lower density also makes titanium lightweight, a big plus in many user's eyes. Finally, the metal comes in many colors because you can anodize it.

The only real downside to titanium jewelry is that you will pay more for all those positive traits. Shop for implant-grade titanium with designations like ASTM F-136, ASTM F-67, or ISO 5832-3.

2. Solid Gold: About $40-$200

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This metal will not rust or tarnish. It is also easy to decorate and shape. The added alloys in 18k, and especially 14k, make them more durable than 24k gold pieces.

One downside to gold jewelry is the price tag, which is expensive. Another concern will be that the metal is soft, making it susceptible to bends, breaks, and gouges. Gold can also be heavy, especially with more pure karat ratings.

3. Surgical Steel: About $5-$30

Surgical steel is nonreactive. However, even surgical-grade steel contains small amounts of nickel that could cause allergic reactions in those with skin sensitivities. Choose a different option if you are concerned about irritation or a nickel allergy.

Steel combines iron and carbon, improving its strength and ability to resist fracturing.

One of the pros most people cite for steel jewelry pieces is the lower price point. Steel is also a durable option. These pieces are low maintenance because the steel does not corrode, rust, or tarnish.

Weight is the top complaint for those using steel jewelry pieces. Steel can be less comfortable if worn in piercings for long periods.

4. Niobium: About $20-$60

Niobium is a light grey metal known for its hardness that is like titanium. The metal resists corrosion and tarnishing like others on the list, creating minimal maintenance for you.

It might be the best metal for a piercing if you want titanium-like durability with more malleability. That extra pliability makes it easier for jewelers to shape pieces. Niobium can come in various colors as it is something that you can anodize.

The only real downsides are that it weighs a bit more than titanium and you will likely pay a bit more due to the process involved in manufacturing this metal.

Aftercare

Take care to avoid contaminating the piercing.
Avoid touching it or applying makeup very close to it.
Avoid getting in the water that might be dirty.
Clean your piercing twice per day using a saline solution made for wound cleaning or soap and water to prevent infection.
Avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.
And of course, make sure to avoid snagging on clothes or towels.
Wear loose clothing. Avoid wearing tight clothing or clothing that may rub against the piercing, as this can cause irritation and slow down the healing process.
Use hypoallergenic jewelry like implant-grade titanium and 14- or 18-karat gold. Surgical-grade steel may contain small amounts of nickel that could cause allergic reactions.
Don't move the piercing unless you're cleaning it. Pulling on a piercing early in healing is painful, but it also can get in the way of healing or damage the piercing itself.
Wait until your piercing heals before changing out your jewelry.
Watch for potential signs of infection and consult your piercer or doctor if it becomes infected.

You should ensure you get pierced by someone experienced and reliable who utilizes the right cleaning and sterilization procedures. You’ll also need to choose high-quality jewelry that you aren’t allergic to. After you get your piercing, be sure to follow all instructions from your piercer.

How to Clean Septril Piercings?

It is recommended to use sterile saline that you buy from the store, rather than homemade saline, for cleaning your piercings. Homemade saline may be too salty for delicate piercing sites, leading to dryness and delayed healing.

Using mild, fragrance-free soap and water to clean your piercing site is also an option.

If you prefer homemade salt solution. You can start by mixing 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt with one cup of distilled or boiled (for at least 20 minutes) water. You may choose to use less of the salt mixture like 1/4 to 1/8 teaspoon if you want a weaker solution that’s less likely to burn or sting. Stir the solution until it dissolves.

If you see signs of infection, you can also use antiseptic solutions, such as betadine, isopropyl alcohol, or diluted hydrogen peroxide. However, avoid using them for daily cleaning as they can damage cells.

Then proceed with the following steps to clean your piercing:

Soak a cotton ball, a paper towel, or a non-plush cloth with the solution. Avoid fabrics that could snag and pull the jewelry or leave fibers behind. Gently saturate the piercing and cleanse it. Don't remove the jewelry!
If you have a sterile saline wound wash that you buy from stores, then spay it while healing.
Ensure you cleanse the piercing of any discharge or crusty material.
Take clean gauze or cotton swabs and pat the area dry.

Your piercer should give you detailed instructions on how to keep your piercing clean once it has been placed.