Piercing guide › Ear piercings › Flat
The flat sits on the flat cartilage surface in the upper ear, between the outer rim and the inner fold.
I look for the spot where the surface is really flat, measure and mark. The piercing is done with a needle.
As initial jewellery I use a flat-back bar made of Bioplast or titanium to ASTM F136. The flat back sits behind the ear.
The surface has to be large and even enough. If it is strongly curved, the jewellery won't sit still.
Cartilage has hardly any blood supply. That's why every cartilage piercing heals much more slowly than the earlobe, even if it looks calm from the outside earlier.
How to care for the piercing in each phase is explained in detail on the Care and aftercare page. The short version: sterile saline solution, don't twist, don't fiddle with it, be patient.
When to see a doctor immediately
An inflammation of the cartilage is serious and can permanently deform the ear. Don't wait.
Pain and healing time are guide values, averaged from information given by piercing and tattoo studios. Where the figures come from. Everyone feels and heals differently.
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