Piercing Healing Times

These are approximate ranges based on what most people experience. Plenty of things affect how quickly you heal, so try not to worry if yours is faster or slower than the guide below.

Ears

• Earlobe: around 6 weeks.
• Ear cartilage (tragus, anti-tragus, upper and lower conch, helix, snug, daith, industrial, rook and similar): 3 to 6 months, and sometimes longer. If a cartilage piercing is taking more than 6 months, have a look at our troubleshooting guide for ways to help it along and avoid scarring.
• Translobe / transverse lobe: 6 months or more.

Body

• Navel: around 6 months.
• Nipple: 3 to 6 months.
• Surface piercings (nape, horizontal navel, anti-eyebrow, wrist, surface tragus, madison, chin, vertical bridge, pubic, hand web, prayer and similar): commonly around 6 months, but can take well over a year.
• Microdermal implants: around 3 months.

Oral

• Tongue: 4 to 6 weeks to fully heal, though the worst is over within the first week and it can be downsized after that.
• Smiley, frowney and tongue web: 2 to 4 weeks.
• Lip / labret, medusa and madonna: around 6 weeks.
• Vertical or horizontal lip: 6 to 12 weeks.
• Cheek: 6 months or more.

Nose and face

• Septum: 4 to 6 weeks.
• Nostril: 3 to 6 months.
• Eyebrow: 2 to 3 months.
• Bridge: 3 to 6 months.
• Nasallang: 6 months or more.
• Septril: 2 to 4 months.
• Austin: 3 months or more.

Intimate piercings (18+)

• Prince Albert: 4 to 6 weeks.
• Reverse Prince Albert: commonly around 8 weeks, up to 6 months.
• Ampallang: 6 months or more.
• Apadravya: 4 to 6 months or more.
• Dydoe: 2 to 3 months.
• Frenum: commonly around 8 weeks, up to 6 months or more.
• Guiche: 2 to 3 months.
• Foreskin: 8 weeks or more.
• Lorum: 2 to 3 months.
• Scrotum / hafada: 2 to 3 months.
• Clitoral hood: 2 to 6 weeks.
• Inner labia: 4 to 6 weeks.
• Outer labia: 2 to 3 months.
• Fourchette: 2 to 3 months.
• Christina: 6 months or more.
• Triangle: 3 months or more.

A piercing can feel healed on the surface long before it is healed underneath, so try not to change the jewellery too soon. If you are ever unsure whether yours is ready, pop in and we will happily check it for you.