What Does A Piercing Really Feel Like? A Guide To Common Piercing Sensations

Understanding Piercing Sensations: What to Expect

This blog aims to provide a clearer understanding of the sensations you might experience during a piercing appointment.

If you're considering a piercing or have already had one, you might wonder:

• Will my piercing hurt?

• Which piercing hurts the most?

• What does a [specific piercing] feel like?

These questions often intimidate those thinking about getting a new piercing. While it's true that getting any piercing can cause some discomfort, pain is subjective. This means that only the person experiencing the pain can accurately describe what they're feeling.

With this in mind, let's discuss the various sensations you might encounter during the piercing process. This guide will explore some of the sensations perceived as pain, which can vary greatly depending on factors such as anatomy, pain tolerance, and the location of the piercing.

Here are some common sensations you might feel while getting a piercing:

• Pressure: For certain piercings, especially cartilage piercings, the piercer needs to apply significant pressure to push the needle through and maintain control, ensuring it doesn’t accidentally stab into your head or ear.

• Pinching: Often, as the needle goes through, you might feel a sharp pinching sensation at the piercing site. This is a common experience during the piercing process.

• Crunching: While not painful, the sensation or noise of crunching can be unsettling. I've personally noticed it with thicker cartilage piercings like my conch and rook. This noise varies depending on individual anatomy and cartilage thickness.

• Stinging: A stinging sensation is something I felt while getting my lobes and nose pierced, but it quickly subsided once the jewelry was in place.

• Heat: As blood and adrenaline rush to the piercing site, you may feel a warmth or heat in the area. This reaction is a normal part of the body's response to the piercing.

• Soreness: Almost immediately after the piercing, you may experience soreness, which can manifest as swelling or tenderness and usually begins within minutes to hours.

The term that best describes the sensations often perceived as "pain" is intense discomfort. This discomfort results from a combination of factors: the needle pinching your ear with significant pressure, the rush of blood and heat to the piercing site, and subsequent swelling.

In conclusion, every piercing involves some level of discomfort. It’s more useful to describe the specific sensations you experience rather than using a broad term like "pain." Typically, I've only experienced significant discomfort at the exact moment the needle is passing through or when the piercer has difficulty inserting the jewelry.

Credentials: I currently have seven ear piercings: three lobe piercings, as well as a mid-cartilage, helix, conch, and rook. I also have one nose piercing—my septum.