Re: nostril piercing

John Wesley Mullennix <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Just received a nostril piercing with 18 ga. nostril screw stud 1
> week ago. No pain, no swelling, no redness, from all appearances it
> has healed very quickly.  I've already decided I want to change the
> jewelry to a ring or another item, but the people at the shop
> suggested I wait 4-6 weeks before changing it.  Is there a particular
> reason I should wait this long, given the condition of the piercing?
> Also, if I want to go to a larger gauge, do I need to get re-pierced
> with a large needle? Thanks for any info...

NJM's answered this quite comprehensively.  I just wanted to add my
experience:

I've got a 3-week old nostril piercing.  I went for a bigger piercing in the
first place (1.6mm / 14ga) on the principle that it gives me more options;
if I want to wear a small stud later, I can, if I want to stretch, I'm
already better off.  (I wonder what makes people choose to have their
nostril pierced with such fine jewellery?  Why go tiny wee rather than just
small?  I think even on some females, those tiny nostril studs can look too
little and out of proportion, on a male they can look downright dinky and
daft.)

Anyway, I found from about day three to day 14 or so, it was very settled;
no leakage to speak of, no pain, no redness, very settled, very pretty.  It
hasn't been knocked about or abused, but after a couple of weeks or so it
started to leak a little and is now nice and crusty.  No pain or infection,
so I see it as part of the healing process and am not worried, but don't
assume your piercing is always going to be so neat and tidy.  In my limited
experience, I've found that my nipples and my lobes gave me the same false
sense of security.  Change jewellery now and you could fuck it up big
stylee.

Got a nice steel nostril screw at 1.6mm, with a 4mm ball set with a dark
blue crystal, on order.  I will probably be ready to change jewellery by
about Christmas, all things going well.