Stretched piercings have a long history, with many indigenous cultures incorporating them as part of their traditions for centuries. Today, however, the trend has resurfaced in a big way, becoming a popular fashion statement in the modern era. While stretched lobes are the most common, you can stretch all sorts of piercings—from nostrils to lip piercings, and even genital piercings (though we’ll skip those for this blog). One piercing that has become a focal point for many is the septum piercing.
Thanks to social media platforms like TikTok, stretched piercings are more popular than ever, with videos showcasing dramatic transformations going viral. However, there's a downside to this trend: many people are rushing to stretch their septum piercings too quickly in order to achieve the look they see online. This rapid stretching can lead to serious issues. It's important to understand the risks involved in stretching too fast, especially with a septum piercing.
First, let’s talk about anatomy. Your earlobe is just a dangly piece of skin and tissue. That’s why stretching is relatively easy. It’s nice and elastic and not very resistant. Your septum, the part where the piercing should be, is something called alar cartilage. It is different from the cartilage in your ear in that it is thinner, squidgier, and more malleable than standard cartilage. This may be why people say that septum piercings hurt less than an ear cartilage piercing although your personal experience may vary on that one. At the end of the day, alar cartilage is still cartilage. It is more resistant than skin. Also, your nose is filled with nerves which if you’ve ever taken a good hit to the nose, you already know. Finally, where the alar cartilage ends, up inside your nostrils, there is standard cartilage and bone. Neither of these could be described as malleable or squidgy. They are firm and resistant, and they make up the structure of your actual nose.
So, you got your septum pierced, and it’s entirely and fully healed, and now you want to stretch it. There are several variations on this. Some people like pincher-style jewelry, some prefer circular jewelry like horseshoes or segment rings, some people like to stack jewelry instead of using a single piece. But those are style choices. What is actually important is the rate at which you stretch. Anatomy permitting, you can generally upsize your lobes every three months or so, as long as the fistula is able to accept the larger size. This is not the case with septums. Septum piercing fistulas, because they are in cartilage, do not relax and expand as quickly as earlobes. You should be waiting a minimum of six months between stretches, and it may take even longer if the fistula isn’t ready yet. Another thing, you are generally safe to stretch your lobes in 1-millimeter increments. This isn’t always the case with septums, especially ones that are being resistant to stretching. In that case you may need half-millimeter increments. A blow-out on your ear is uncomfortable and unsightly but a blowout inside your nose is going to be a misery.
Another thing to remember is that as the jewelry gets thicker, it can begin to push against the firmer cartilage of the nose. It may actually create a small dent in it once there is less space to accommodate it. This is, in fact, just as uncomfortable as it sounds. Taking your time and going very slowly as you step up the size will help make this process less unpleasant. After all, if something goes wrong with your stretching, remember – it’s a lot easier to hide your ear than it is to hide your nose.
Stretched septums are very hot right now and because of that, a lot of people want their septum stretched right NOW. Unfortunately, stretching piercings is a game for the patient. It’s a journey, not a race. If you absolutely cannot wait long enough to stretch your septum in a slow and safe way, you do have options. You can try a cheater-style pincher for a stretched look or a clicker with a standard sized barbell but a wide circular portion. Whatever you decide to do (it’s your choice and bodily autonomy is awesome) just remember this – slow and steady saves your septum. Happy piercing!
