Alright guys, travelling + new piercing? (maybe opinions too?)

[Alexandra V]

Well I've been seriously considering getting a new piercing (ever since I had to remove my eyebrow piercing and let it close up I've been in withdrawal lol) but I'm going away to Costa Rica in about 4 days (the trip is about 10 days). I was thinking of getting my tongue pierced, but I'm DEFINITELY not doing that right before a trip because of the speech impediment and the difficulty eating.

However I was thinking also of getting a septum piercing because I hear they're relatively easy to keep/take care of. Do you think it would affect the piercing if I had it done before the trip? (I won't be doing any swimming or anything. The only time it's coming into contact with anything would be with regular bathing etc.) Or would it be in my best interest to wait until after the trip?

(P.S. do you think it would look alright or is my nose too awkward for one?)
Side-ish of my nose:


Front view (looking a bit stupid, it was a halloween party, I was tired, okay?):

[dragonboy4578]

I had tons of problems with my septum piercing. I just couldn't get it to heal, and I really hurts when you smack your head into the pillow. It felt like I was punched in the nose when it was done. I removed it because of all the problems that I had with it. I have never had as many issues with all my other piercings combined as I did with my septum and at one time I had probably 25 piercings....Best of luck

[Alexandra V]

I had tons of problems with my septum piercing. I just couldn't get it to heal, and I really hurts when you smack your head into the pillow. It felt like I was punched in the nose when it was done. I removed it because of all the problems that I had with it. I have never had as many issues with all my other piercings combined as I did with my septum and at one time I had probably 25 piercings....Best of luck

Thanks for the input. Now, I was told that it shouldn't hurt if you get it in the "sweet spot" i.e. the little band of skin just before the cartilage starts. Was I lied to?

[cinderbird]

I would just wait until you get back. You never know if a piercing will effect you badly, and if it does, you won't even be in the same country as your piercer. Another reason I would recommend waiting is because a piercing is a wound, even if you don't want to think about it like that. Traveling puts a lot of stress on people, and your piercing will already be stress on your body.

I know several people with septums done, they said it was annoying to sneeze and moving their noses around for a few weeks was painful. Piercers should pierce in the sweet spot, but that doesn't mean it won't hurt. You will most likely feel like you were punched in the face for few days.

[dragonboy4578]

It doesn't matter where it is pierced it still hurt. I am fairly good at taking pain and it still hurt. I would really wait until you get back. Just my opinion...

[jmugleston]

You should wait until you get back. Even if done correctly and they don't hit the cartilage you still run the risk of a secondary infection. Your nose is not the cleanest part of your body and the added gunk from being outdoors in Costa Rica won't help. If they do hit the cartilage (not all that uncommon) your chances for infection will increase dramatically. If something goes wrong I'm sure you don't want to be spending your time in a hospital instead of running about in Costa Rica. I've done the nose piercing thing and the Costa Rica thing. Costa Rica will be fun even without your septum pierced.

[kitedemon]

warning old guy opinion...

Ok not so old 41... vanity dang.

I work with lots of students I have seen tons of piercing modifications and lots of gone wrong events too. I'd say wait, if you have something go wrong Costa Rica, you might end up in a private hospital, and that means your insurance may or may not cover the expenses of that.

Of all the piercings I have seen more odd issues arise from the tongue, lots of lisps, sometimes they go away sometimes not and even sometimes not after the removal is well healed. The septum doesn't bug me and if you chose to take it out at some point it heals up cleanly.

Just an old (er) guys musings you asked for an opinion and this is mine, no offence to anyone intended.

[Misfit]

Septum!

I got one done two years ago and I'm absolutely in love with it. I fully recommend getting one done if you want a piercing, since the scar is unseen and they're just plain fun. I'd say septum over tongue for sure.

Pain-wise, mine hurt. It hurrt. I got it done in a couple pushes though, because my piercer is anal about enter and exit with the needle, and I almost hit him on the first one, lol. Healing was breeze for me, with soaks (a bit awkward to do) and keeping it clean. I had almost no pain in the healing. Granted, it wasn't bumped too much.

Go for it! Get the septum, I think you have a cute nose for it for sure. I'd recommend a pretty small horseshoe or captive ring afterwards, but that's just my opinion. I think girls look cuter with a smaller septum. BUT! I'd say wait until after Costa Rica, because you NEED to soak it and care for it ESPECIALLY if it's the first week!

[Alexandra V]

Septum!

I got one done two years ago and I'm absolutely in love with it. I fully recommend getting one done if you want a piercing, since the scar is unseen and they're just plain fun. I'd say septum over tongue for sure.

Pain-wise, mine hurt. It hurrt. I got it done in a couple pushes though, because my piercer is anal about enter and exit with the needle, and I almost hit him on the first one, lol. Healing was breeze for me, with soaks (a bit awkward to do) and keeping it clean. I had almost no pain in the healing. Granted, it wasn't bumped too much.

Go for it! Get the septum, I think you have a cute nose for it for sure. I'd recommend a pretty small horseshoe or captive ring afterwards, but that's just my opinion. I think girls look cuter with a smaller septum. BUT! I'd say wait until after Costa Rica, because you NEED to soak it and care for it ESPECIALLY if it's the first week!

Thanks for the advice, yeah I'd almost definitely go for smaller jewelry, probably as small as I can go (thinking a 16 with a little horseshoe) because if I ever need to flip it up for schooling or whatever then it'll be a little bit easier to hide.

I think I'm going to go with everyone's advice and wait until after the trip, it's making a lot more sense to wait now that I know about the soaks and such (I thought it'd just be a saline spray like the rest of my piercings, mind you they were all surface).

[j_h_smith]

I'm not sure it would be wise to go into any foreign country with an open wound. I'm not sure but I do believe the state department warns against travel with an open wound. There is just way too many possibilities.

That piercing will be waiting on you when you get back.

Good Luck!
Jim Smith