Cheek Piercing - Aftercare

Cheek Piercing is also called “Dimple Piercing” in cases where the dimple of the cheek is pierced. In such a piercing, both dimples are perforated to let the pierces wear a piece of jewelry in both holes.

Cheek Piercing Information

Get in touch with a reputed piercing studio in your locality. Fix up an appointment and turn up on the exact hour on the right day to avoid rushes and confusion. You will be handed over a consent form, probably by the piercer. You have to sign this to express your consent to have a piercing. You may also have to show an authentic document as an identity proof. Remember to carry one along with you at the time of piercing.

The paperwork over, the piercer will give you a brief idea about how the perforation is done. You will be asked to choose a jewelry that is to be inserted in your pierced region. You may ask the piercer which type of jewelry should suit you best. Also share any knowledge about any skin allergy that you have from the use of a particular metal. This will help the piercer choose a safe jewelry for you.

Show where you want to get the piercing done on your cheek. The piercer will sterilize the area with an antibacterial solution. The entry and exit points of the skin will be marked with a surgical needle. That part of skin will probably be clamped. It can hurt more than the piercing itself. You will feel the needle passing through the holes on your skin. The piercing will soon be over and the piercer will clean the area again to remove any trace of blood.

The jewelry will be immediately inserted into the perforated region.
The professional will brief you about the aftercare of the region or hand you over a manual containing instructions about the same.

Cheek Piercing Jewelry
Cheek Piercing Jewelry is usually a labret stud or a tongue barbell. Ideally in Cheek Piercing gauge of the ornament should be 12 or 16. The cheek piercing jewelry size should be large enough to give ample space to the cheek to swell and heal after piercing. Cheek Piercing bars usually have a flat back that provide comfort to the skin and also reduces risk of teeth or gum damage from use of the jewelry. Once the inflamed area heals, you may opt for a smaller piece.

Cheek Piercing Healing Time
A pierced cheek usually takes anywhere from 2 to 3 months to heal properly. Recovery may be quicker in people taking proper Cheek Piercing care. However, lack of care may invite bacterial infection in the area and make healing much slower.

Does Cheek Piercing Hurt?
Any type of body piercing involves an amount of pain that may range from mild to severe. Body Piercing requires passing a surgical needle through your skin or tissues.

The same holds true for Cheek Piercing. Most people who have gone for Cheek Piercing report that they have not felt anything more than a mild pinch. But pain is a relative matter and it differs from person to person. If your pain tolerance is really low, it is better for you not to go for this body art.

Cheek Piercing Risks
Infection, rejection and migration are the three main Cheek Piercing dangers.

Cheek Piercing Infection
Cheek Piercing by an unskilled hand can result in an infection. Infections are not only a case of Cheek Piercing gone wrong. They can also arise if the pierced region is not properly cleaned after perforation. It can lead to redness and cheek piercing swelling. There can be pus-filled Cheek Piercing abscesses in extreme cases. Sufferers can experience foul smelling discharge from time to time from these Cheek Piercing bumps. Infection is one of the main dangers of Cheek Piercing.

Cheek Piercing Rejection
Rejection is often a case of incompatibility of the skin with the metal used in the jewelry inserted in the pierced area. When the metal is unsuitable for the skin, the skin pushes the jewel out of its surface. It ultimately falls out leaving cheek piercing scars. In Cheek Piercing scarring is common in case of rejection.

Cheek Piercing Migration
Many people have a bad habit of pulling or playing with the jewelry in the pierced region. This often leads to migration of the pierced area. The pierced spot shifts from its actual location to settle somewhere else on the skin talking the jewelry along with it.

Cheek Piercing Aftercare
Aftercare for cheek piercing usually involves avoiding injury to the region and cleaning it with a homemade saline solution.

Salt Water Soaks
Salt water soaks are necessary after a body piercing session. Cleaning a recently perforated area helps keep it safe from dirt and germs and prevents bacterial infection. Add a tsp of sea salt into a glass containing 8 ounces of water. Mix this thoroughly. Soak a small cotton ball or Q-tip with a little of the solution and apply it to the pierced area. Throw the pad away and repeat the process with a new one. Continue this for 5-6 minutes. The session should be carried out twice daily till a month or two after the piercing session.


Salt Water Washes
Mix a tsp of salt with 8 ounces of water and heat this to make a warm saline solution. Soak a small cotton pad with a little of this solution and rub it gently against the pierced spot for a few seconds. Throw it away and repeat the process with another fresh cotton ball. The session must last for at least 5 minutes. The salt water washes should be carried out at least twice every day for a month after piercing. The heat of the solution will restore blood flow to the region while the salt will keep it disinfected. As this piercing is complex, it is important to take appropriate aftercare to prevent any kind of scars as well as infection. The total healing time required for this piercing is 6-8 weeks, however, this will be different for every person.

Nevertheless, it has been observed that though the exit points of the piercing heals fast, it actually takes a lot of time for the inner part of the piercing to heal. Hence, one must take care of the piercing for a long time. Just like all kinds of body piercings, the best way to help the piercing to heal is to soak it in salt water solution. This should be done at least 2 times everyday. Moreover, one should take extra care to prevent any object from irritating it.

As you now know the risks and dangers associated with this kind of piercing, you must take the decision of getting this piercing done very carefully. Also, if you get the piercing done and observe any signs of infection or excessive bleeding, consulting your doctor or piercer immediately can save you from facing any kind of complications.

CHECK OUT:

Piercing Risks
Piercing Pain
Piercing Mistakes
Piercing Effects
Body Modification