Piercing
Aftercare:
Follow these simple steps to keep your new piercing clean, comfortable, and looking its best from day one.
Walk-Ins Available, every day.
At Tattoo Heroes, we use medical-grade tools, single-use needles, and implant-quality jewellery. Good aftercare is your part of the partnership—so here’s everything you need to know.
Learn all about piercing aftercare from Tattoo Heroes. Discover accurate healing times for ear, body, and facial piercings, and get expert tips to ensure a smooth healing process.
How Long Does It Take for a Piercing to Heal?
Healing time depends on placement, lifestyle, and aftercare. Use the guide below as a reference and remember: patience is part of the process.
Healing Times
Healing times for Ear Piercings
Earlobes:
4–6 months
Upper Ear (Helix,
Conch, Tragus):
Conch, Tragus):
6–12+ months
Industrial:
6–12+ months
Healing Times for Facial Piercings
Eyebrow:
6–8 weeks
Nose (nostril)
4–6 months
Septum:
6–8 weeks
Lip (labret, Monroe, Medusa):
6–8 weeks
Healing Times for Body Piercings
Navel:
6–12+ months
Nipples:
6–12+ months
Surface Piercings:
6–12+ months
Dermal Anchors:
6–12+ months
Pro Tip: Healing happens from the outside in. Even if your piercing looks healed on the surface, the inner tissue may still be fragile. Stick to your aftercare routine for the entire recommended timeframe.
Piercing Aftercare:
Cleaning Solutions
Use Packaged
Sterile Saline
Best Choice: Packaged sterile saline, such as Neilmed or Stericlens, is the recommended cleaning solution for fresh piercings. These products contain 0.9% sodium chloride as the only ingredient and are available in spray or wipe form.
Availability: You can purchase sterile saline directly from us at Tattoo Heroes or from online retailers.
Avoid Mixing Your
Own Solution
Homemade salt solutions are no longer recommended, as they are often mixed too strongly, which can harm your piercing and delay healing.
Alternatives If
Saline Is Unavailable
A thorough rinse with a warm shower can be an effective temporary solution if sterile saline is not available.
Cleaning Oral
Piercings
Use alcohol-free mouthwash diluted with water to rinse your mouth after eating, drinking, or smoking. This should be done for the first 2–6 weeks.
For lip or cheek piercings, follow the regular cleaning instructions for the external part of the piercing
Tip: Keep a travel-size saline spray or alcohol-free mouthwash on hand for easy aftercare on the go.
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What to Expect During Healing
During the healing process, you may notice the following:
Early Days:
Mild bleeding, swelling,
tenderness, and bruising
tenderness, and bruising
Mid-Healing:
Discolouration, itching, and crusting around the jewellery (a straw-coloured fluid, not pus).
Late Stages:
Tightness around the jewellery as tissue heals, potentially limiting movement. Avoid forcing jewellery to move.
Note: Some discharge and crusting are normal, but green or yellow pus, severe pain, or swelling may indicate infection. Seek professional advice if symptoms persist.
What to Avoid During Healing
To ensure smooth healing, avoid these common mistakes:
Swimming:
Stay out of pools, hot tubs, and natural bodies of water for at least four weeks.
Sleeping on the Piercing:
Use a travel pillow with a centre hole to avoid pressure on ear or facial piercings.
Changing Jewellery Too Early
Wait until the piercing is fully healed before switching jewellery.
Touching or Playing with Jewellery:
Limit contact, except for cleaning.
Avoid all oral contact:
rough play, and bodily fluids near the piercing during healing.
When to Return for a Check-Up
We recommend returning to the shop for a check-up at the following intervals:
Standard Piercings:
4–8 weeks after your initial
piercing, unless otherwise
instructed.
piercing, unless otherwise
instructed.
Oral Piercings
A check-up is required
after 2 weeks.
after 2 weeks.
Our professional piercers can assess your healing progress and make adjustments, such as downsizing jewellery if needed.
Downsizing Jewellery:
When and Why
As swelling goes down, longer starter posts can snag or shift. We’ll fit you with a shorter bar once healing allows—usually after 4–8 weeks. Downsizing helps prevent migration and irritation bumps.
Recommended Downsizing Timelines:
Earlobes:
2–3 months
Cartilage (Helix, Conch, Tragus):
3–4 months
Facial Piercings (Nose, Lip):
6–8 weeks
Body Piercings (Navel, Nipple):
3–6 months
Important: Downsizing doesn’t mean switching to hoops or fashion jewellery. Wait until the piercing is fully healed for more complex jewellery changes.
Signs of Normal Healing vs. Infection
Normal Healing
Symptoms:
Clear or straw-coloured
discharge that forms crusts.
discharge that forms crusts.
Mild redness, swelling,
or itching.
or itching.
Infection Symptoms:
Green or yellow pus
with a foul smell.
with a foul smell.
Persistent redness,
swelling, or pain.
swelling, or pain.
Jewellery becoming
embedded in the skin.
embedded in the skin.
If you suspect an infection, consult your piercer or a healthcare professional immediately.
Additional Piercing Aftercare Tips
01
Exercise with Caution: Avoid contact sports or activities that could bump your piercing.
02
Change Bedding Regularly: Keep your sheets clean to minimise bacteria exposure.
03
Wear Loose Clothing: Prevent irritation by choosing breathable fabrics.
04
Stay Hydrated: Proper hydration supports faster healing.
Long Term Piercing Aftercare
Even after your piercing has healed, ongoing care is essential to keep it healthy:
Regularly clean your jewellery to
prevent build-up.
prevent build-up.
Check threaded ends to
ensure they are secure.
ensure they are secure.
Avoid cheap, low-quality jewellery
that may cause irritation.
that may cause irritation.
Why Choose Tattoo Heroes for Your Piercing?
- Qualified piercers with advanced hygiene training.
- Implant-grade jewellery in a range of styles and budgets.
- Free check-ups, downsizing, and aftercare support.
- Friendly, inclusive environment where every question is welcome.
Book a consultation- Implant-grade jewellery in a range of styles and budgets.
- Free check-ups, downsizing, and aftercare support.
- Friendly, inclusive environment where every question is welcome.
Questions? Ideas? Ready to go?
Chat now
290 High Road Leyton,
E10 5PW, London - UK
E10 5PW, London - UK
