The Ultimate Guide to Getting a Septril Piercing

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Plus, expert advice on how to care for your new nose piercing
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If you’re searching for a striking and unique piercing, the septril piercing is a great choice. This nose piercing is placed just below the tip of the nose and requires you to have a stretched septum piercing, which makes it a super rare piercing. If you’re interested in getting this piercing, read on! We’ll go over what the septril is and how it's pierced, as well as its general healing time, pain level, and cost. We'll also explain how to get it and how to take care of it —all with the help from professional body piercers.

Everything You Need to Know About Septril Piercings

Septril piercings are placed below the tip of the nose. They're made by going through the stretched opening of a spectrum piercing. A flat-back labret stud enters vertically through the wall of the nose and exits below the tip of the nose. Healing takes about 4 to 6 months.

Section 1 of 7:

What is a septril piercing?

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  1. A septril is a nose piercing located just below the tip of the nose. This piercing is one of the rarest nose piercings, as it requires you to have a stretched septum piercing before you can get it. The septril piercing enters through the opening of the septum piercing, going vertically through the wall of the nose. Then, the piercing exits just below the tip of the nose. [1]
    • Jewelry type : Septril piercings use flat-back labret studs .
    • You have to take out your septum jewelry when you get a septril piercing and as it heals. So, stretching your septum helps prevent it from closing while the jewelry is removed.
    • Many piercers call the septril a “piercing within a piercing” since you use the hole of the septum piercing to pierce the septril.
    • The septril piercing is not a dermal piercing. This piercing has to be done by going through a stretched septum piercing.
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Section 2 of 7:

How to Get a Septril Piercing

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  1. 1
    Get your septum pierced and let it heal. If you don’t already have a septum piercing, visit a reputable piercing studio to get it pierced . This piercing goes through the wall of cartilage between your nostrils and usually uses circular barbell , captive ring , or clicker hoop jewelry . [2]
    • Ask your piercer if they’ll pierce your septum with a larger gauge. Since you’re going to stretch out the septum for the septril piercing, this can help speed up the stretching process.
    • Healing time : 2 to 3 months.
    • Aftercare : Clean your piercing twice per day using saline solution and avoid touching and twisting it as it heals. We’ll provide more in-depth aftercare advice in the section below. [3]
    • Cost : $40 to $100, plus the cost of jewelry (around $30 to $60).
    • Pain level : Mild to moderate (2/10 to 5/10)
  2. 2
    Stretch your septum to a size 2 gauge (6 mm). Visit your piercing studio to make sure stretching is possible with your piercing. Then, work with your piercer to start the process. Generally, start by inserting a piercing that’s 0.5 mm larger than your initial one. Then, about every 3 months (or when the piercing feels loose), replace the piercing with one that’s 0.5 mm larger until you get to your desired gauge size. For septril piercings, that’s usually between 4g and 0g (5-8 mm). [4]
    • Your piercing may need more than 3 months to adjust before going up a size, and stretching a septum can take 6 months to several years. Always follow your piercer’s advice, and visit the studio if you have any concerns.
    • Do not wait less than 3 months or use larger gauges to try to speed up the process. This can ultimately overstretch the area, damage the tissue, and cause you to lose your piercing. [5]
    • While some discomfort is normal, if you experience severe pain after stretching your piercing, go back to the previous size or visit your piercer if the pain persists.
    • Use single-flare circular barbells, plugs , or pinchers to stretch your septum. Make sure the jewelry is made out of safe materials like implant-grade titanium, niobium, 14k+ gold, or platinum. [6]
  3. 3
    Consult with an experienced piercer about getting a septril piercing. Septril piercings are anatomy dependent, meaning a piercer has to inspect your nose to ensure you have the right features to safely get one. Your piercer will first check that your septum is properly stretched so they can access the hole and pierce through it. Then, they’ll assess where the septril can be placed and work with you to find a spot that you like and is safe to pierce. [7]
    • Research potential piercing studios and choose one that is clean, well-reviewed, and cares for their clients, says piercing specialist Stephanie Anders. Ensure that the piercer has experience doing septril piercings, too.
  4. 4
    Sleep, eat, and hydrate before your piercing appointment. According to body piercing specialist Karissa Sanford, “If you're treating your body really poorly right before you get a piercing, there's a chance that your healing could be compromised.” So, make sure that you get a good night’s rest before the appointment and eat a filling meal and drink plenty of water the day of.
    • For what not to do before your appointment, Sanford advises that you avoid staying up late and drinking alcohol. This can leave you tired and dehydrated for your appointment, impairing your body’s ability to heal.
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Section 3 of 7:

Septril Piercing Healing Time

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  1. Septril piercings usually take 4 to 6 months to heal. Septril piercings are a bit more involved than the standard nostril and septum piercings. So, they can take up to 9 months to fully heal, though they typically take between 4 and 6 months. [8]
    • When can I put my septum piercing back in? Consult with your piercer about the best time to put your septum piercing back in. This might be after you’ve downsized the septril piercing 1 to 2 times, or once the piercing is fully healed.
    • Expect your septum piercing to shrink a bit as your septril piercing heals. You’ll likely need to use a smaller gauge than what you were previously at.
Section 4 of 7:

Septril Piercing Cost

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  1. Septril piercings cost around $40 to $100 (not including jewelry). Septril piercings cost around the same as septum piercings: between $40 and $100. This doesn’t include the price of the jewelry (a flat-back labret stud ), which typically costs between $30 and $60. So, the total cost is often around $70 to $160. [9]
    • Professional body piercer David Wilkins recommends tipping your piercer between 20% and 30% for their service. So, your complete total cost might be closer to $85 to $190.
    • Prices are largely dependent on the studio you go to, the jewelry they use, and your location.
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Section 5 of 7:

Septril Piercing Pain Level

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  1. Septril piercings are moderately to severely painful, but quick. Most people who’ve gotten a septril piercing agree that it’s about an 8/10 on the pain scale and feels like a very sharp pinch. The piercing goes through the thick cartilage at the tip of your nose and takes a bit longer to pierce than a nostril or septum piercing, so it can definitely make your eyes water. [10]
    • However, the process is still pretty quick, so any pain shouldn’t last long at all.
    • Septril piercings are typically more painful than nostril and septum piercings, which are more on the mild side. They might be similar to getting a rook or conch piercing.
Section 6 of 7:

Septril Piercing Aftercare

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  1. 1
    Clean your piercing with saline solution twice per day. Piercing specialist Roger Rodríguez says most piercing studios recommend that you clean your piercing with a sterile saline wound wash. Most of these products come in a spray can that you simply direct at the piercing to keep the area free from bacteria and remove buildup and dirt.
    • Alternatively, Rodríguez says you can clean your nose piercing with fragrance-free, antibacterial soap and water. He suggests creating a soapy lather when you bathe, putting it on your piercing, and simply letting the water rinse it off.
    • Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap before you clean your piercing.
  2. 2
    Avoid touching or twisting the piercing. According to Anders, “the more you keep your hands away from your [piercing]…the better [it’s] going to heal.” A piercing is essentially an open wound, and touching it exposes it to bacteria that can affect its healing time. Twisting, rotating, or playing with the piercing is like picking at a scab, says Rodríguez, which also prevents the piercing from healing well.
    • Avoid touching your septril piercing until the entire healing period is over. Even if your piercing looks fully healed on the outside, it might be tender and still healing on the inside.
  3. 3
    Use a cold compress or an NSAID, like ibuprofen, to reduce swelling. It’s normal for your nose piercing to swell a bit in the first few weeks of getting it. To deal with any swelling, wrap an ice pack or bag of ice in a clean cloth and hold it against your nose for a few minutes. [11] Professional body piercer Sasha Blue also recommends taking an over-the-counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, like ibuprofen, to deal with swelling.
    • Always follow the directions on the medication’s package to take the proper dosage.
  4. 4
    Keep makeup, lotions, and other products away from the piercing. Make sure your cleaning solution is the only thing coming in direct contact with your piercing. Makeup products, lotions, and other cosmetics can potentially clog the area or cause an infection, which can extend your piercing’s healing time. [12]
  5. 5
    Avoid swimming while your piercing heals. Wilkins says that it’s “best to abstain from swimming until the piercing is completely healed,” which is “regardless of whether or not it's a treated pool,” ocean, lake, or other body of water. He says water “contains a level of microorganisms” and “if they get into an open wound,” they can “cause an infection.”
    • Wilkins agrees that taking a bath is generally fine as long as you keep your bathtub clean.
  6. 6
    Eat well and stay hydrated. Looking after your body and health helps ensure that your piercing heals properly. Rodríguez agrees, saying that it’s important that you’re “drinking a lot of fluids” and eating a balanced diet .
  7. 7
    Get your piercing changed for the first time by your piercer. Septril piercings are intentionally pierced with long studs to account for swelling as the area heals. Once the swelling goes down, visit the piercing studio to get the jewelry changed out to a shorter post size. [14]
    • At the jewelry change appointment, your piercer can tell you if it’s safe to put your septum jewelry back in or if you need to wait for the septril piercing to fully heal.
    • Depending on how your piercing is healing, your piercer might recommend that you get your jewelry sized down again. Follow their instructions and visit the studio again to get your jewelry changed out.
  8. 8
    Visit your piercer or health care provider if you notice signs of infection . A bit of swelling, redness, tenderness, and fluid secretion is normal in the first few weeks of healing. [15] However, if these symptoms don’t go away or get worse, they might indicate that your septril piercing is infected. Visit your piercer or doctor immediately to diagnose the issue and treat the infection. [16]
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Section 7 of 7:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. 1
    Are septril piercings safe? Yes, septril piercings are generally safe to get. Just make sure to go to a reputable and clean piercing studio, choose a piercer who has experience doing this piercing, and keep the piercing clean.
    • Like most nose piercings, the most common side effects are infection. There’s also the potential that the piercing can scar or cause keloids. [17]
  2. 2
    What’s the difference between a septum piercing and septril piercing? A septum piercing is a nose piercing that goes through the wall between the nostrils and uses circular barbell or hoop jewelry. A septril piercing is also a nose piercing, but it’s placed just below the tip of the nose. The piercing uses the stretched opening of a septum piercing to pierce through the cartilage and exit on the outside of the nose with a flat-back labret stud.
  3. 3
    Can I stretch my septum again after getting a septril piercing? Yes, you can re-stretch your septum piercing after getting a septril. Just wait about 1 year to start the re-stretching process to ensure the septril is fully healed. Like before, go slowly and size up by 0.5 mm at least every 3 months.
    • If your septril piercing feels tender or uncomfortable due to the increased septum size, revert to the septum piercing to the old jewelry size. Putting pressure on your septril can cause irritation or potentially lead to migration, so it’s important to listen to your body and go slowly.
  4. 4
    What are the most painful nose piercings? Septril, high nostril, nasallang, rhino, and Austin bar piercings are typically considered the most painful nose piercings . Most people put these piercings on the severe side of the pain scale.
    • High nostril piercings sit higher along the nasal bridge than traditional nostril piercings and are generally considered more painful.
    • Nasallang piercings (or tri-nasal piercings) involve placing a single bar through both nostrils and the septum, creating a connected piercing across the bridge of the nose.
    • Rhino piercings (or vertical tip piercings) are similar to septril piercings, as they’re inserted vertically through the tip of the nose. The jewelry is visible between the nostrils and on the tip of the nose.
    • Austin bar piercings are rare piercings that are inserted horizontally through the nasal caps. They do not go through the nostrils or the septum.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/BNDS-7LHgP8?si=LlLteNMm2sOM25Yk&t=2
      2. ↑ https://www.lynnloheide.com/post/septum-101-the-nose-knows-what-to-look-for-from-a-safe-septum-piercing
      3. ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
      4. ↑ https://www.lynnloheide.com/post/septum-stretching
      5. ↑ https://safepiercing.org/stretching/
      6. ↑ https://safepiercing.org/jewelry-for-initial-piercings/
      7. ↑ https://www.urbanbodyjewelry.com/pages/septril-piercing-information-aftercare-guide
      8. ↑ https://www.urbanbodyjewelry.com/pages/septril-piercing-information-aftercare-guide
      9. ↑ https://www.urbanbodyjewelry.com/pages/septril-piercing-information-aftercare-guide
      1. ↑ https://www.urbanbodyjewelry.com/pages/septril-piercing-information-aftercare-guide
      2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/infected-nose-piercing
      3. ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
      4. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3052954/
      5. ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
      6. ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
      7. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/infected-nose-piercing
      8. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/piercings/art-20047317

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