No, bridge piercings go through the soft skin above the bridge of your nose, not through the bone. In fact, the nose is supported by cartilage, not bone, but the piercing doesn’t go through that either.

Since bridge piercings go through the loose, flat skin above the bridge of your nose, they are considered a type of surface piercing. Unfortunately, this makes them more susceptible to migration, rejection, or “growing out.” While you can’t prevent this entirely, following a proper aftercare routine can help slow it down. (For more details on aftercare, click here.)
If the piercing does migrate or reject, it’s best to remove it. Keeping the jewelry in place won’t save the piercing and could result in additional scarring. If you still want the piercing, keep the jewelry and get it repierced once the original piercing has fully closed and the area has returned to its normal appearance and feel.

You can still pluck, wax, or shave your eyebrows, as long as you’re careful around the piercing. During the healing process, avoid putting too much pressure on the area around the piercing. Once the piercing has fully healed, you can remove the jewelry temporarily to wax or pluck, but try to keep the jewelry out for as little time as possible. If you can leave the ewelry in, do so. Just make sure to wash your hands and keep the jewelry clean throughout the process.

We can pierce any type of eyebrow, whether it’s large and arched or bushy like a “Groucho Marx” style, so no shaving or trimming is necessary. If you typically shave and draw on your eyebrows, just keep in mind that the piercing will be placed where your natural brow is, not where you’ve drawn it.

Any piercing through flat skin, like an eyebrow piercing, is prone to migrating toward the surface over time. This means that eyebrow piercings are generally not permanent, although they can last anywhere from several months to a few years depending on your anatomy and healing process.
When a piercing begins to “reject” or “grow out,” it’s due to the old layers of skin shedding, with new skin forming beneath to replace it. If you notice that the jewelry appears to have very little skin holding it in place, or if the surrounding skin becomes shiny, red, peels, or loses hair growth, it’s a sign that the piercing is migrating. At this point, it’s best to remove the jewelry to avoid a more noticeable scar. If you still want the piercing, wait until the area has healed and returned to normal before getting it redone.

Whenever your skin is punctured, scraped, or cut, there’s a possibility of scarring. However, if you properly care for your piercing, any scarring should be minimal and typically hidden beneath your eyebrow hair. The more the piercing is irritated or mishandled, the higher the likelihood of noticeable scarring. If your piercing starts to migrate or “grow out,” it’s important to remove it before it reaches the surface to avoid further scarring. If you do end up with a bump or scar, massaging the area with cocoa butter or emu oil a few times daily can help reduce the appearance of the scar.

Swelling and bruising are natural responses to any type of trauma. For most people, swelling is mild and typically subsides within a few hours, but some people may experience more bruising, swelling, or slight bleeding after getting an eyebrow piercing. Bruising can be more pronounced if clamps were used during the procedure, if you’re prone to bruising or bleeding, or if your blood is thinner (for example, from alcohol consumption the night before). In rare cases, you may even develop a “black eye” from the piercing.
To treat swelling, use cold packs and elevate your head (extra pillows work well). Anti-inflammatory medications like Advil or Motrin can help as well (follow the directions carefully). Avoid blood thinners like alcohol, stimulants (like caffeine), aspirin, and Tylenol. If you notice bleeding, apply cold packs and gentle pressure, but be careful not to bump or disturb the jewelry. The more you fiddle with it, the worse it could get, so try to keep the area undisturbed. 

Irritations are often confused with infections (you can find more details in the “Infections and Irritations” section of our website). For eyebrow piercings, infections may be indicated by swelling, tenderness, or soreness around the piercing site. Infections can develop days, weeks, or even months after the piercing is done. The area might become shiny, itchy, and red, and you may notice yellow, green, or bloody discharge, although some infections may not have any discharge. If you think your piercing is infected, continue with sea salt soaks and seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Remember to avoid touching your eyebrow piercing with unclean hands and keep cosmetics or hair products away from the area. Facial piercings can also take longer to heal in environments with lots of dust, dirt, or cigarette smoke.

During the healing process, it’s important to keep the initial jewelry in place. Trying to hide it with makeup, band-aids, or long bangs can irritate the piercing. Once fully healed, you can use a clear glass retainer to conceal the piercing while keeping it open. This is also helpful for situations like surgeries or doctor’s visits where metal jewelry isn’t permitted. If you’re thinking about getting an eyebrow piercing, make sure you’re okay with not being able to hide it during the healing period, at least for the first two months.

Septum piercings are generally not very painful to get. The needle (and jewelry) pass through the thin, soft piece of skin near the tip of your nose, between the cartilage and the thicker skin underneath. Most people describe the sensation as odd—often causing their eyes to water or making them feel like they need to sneeze—but it’s usually not particularly painful.

Septum piercings are generally not very painful to get. The needle (and jewelry) pass through the thin, soft piece of skin near the tip of your nose, between the cartilage and the thicker skin underneath. Most people describe the sensation as odd—often causing their eyes to water or making them feel like they need to sneeze—but it’s usually not particularly painful.