Conch piercing
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| Conch piercing | |
| Location | Ear cartilage |
|---|---|
| Jewelry | Barbell |
A conch piercing is a perforation of the ear cartilage for the purpose of inserting and wearing a piece of jewelry. It can be either an inner or outer conch piercing, depending on the exact location on the ear.
[edit] Inner conch piercing
The inner conch piercing is located in the center ear cartilage, adjacent to the ear canal.
Typically, inner conch piercings are of a larger diameter, such as 14g or 12g or larger. After sufficient stretching, an open earlet or similar piece of body jewelry can be worn in the healed piercing.
The piercing itself is made with a large gauge hollow piercing needle, and barbell jewelry is usually worn during the healing and stretching period. Alternatively, a dermal punch can be used to create the initial piercing.
The name of this piercing is derived from the similarity in appearance between the outer ear (pinna) and the conch shell.
[edit] Outer conch piercing
The outer conch piercing is located in the outer ear cartilage, in the flat part of the top, outer ear.
They can be done in any position within the flat plane of cartilage. Once the piercing goes to the "curled" edge of the ear it is no longer an outer conch piercing, but a helix piercing. They are generally done at a gauge of no less than 16. When the piercing is smaller than a 16 gauge there is a risk of having it pulled out, rip, or become irritated much more easily.
This piercing is done with a large gauge piercing needle and a curved barbell or a large CBR (captive bead ring). A dermal punch may also be used to bypass stretching. With both stretching and dermal punching, this becomes nearly permanent as the body cannot replace cartilage, and the skin will only cover so much of the hole.
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