Ask Body Candy is our weekly advice column for pierced, inked, and amazing individuals (and everyone else too!) who might need a nudge in the right direction. Relationships, mods, or whatever, Body Candy's got you covered :).

Disclaimer: Body Candy is only here to give you fun and helpful advice and information when it comes to getting pierced. Always consult a professional piercer to make sure a new piercing is right for you!

Dear Body Candy,

When I got my septum pierced it was very painless - almost just a weird sensation of the needle going through my skin. But when it got pierced on the exit side, I felt a strange almost pop like sensation. It was very subtle and not crunchy and didn’t hurt so I don’t think it went through the cartilage. But now, a few days after it’s been pierced, that same side feels more bruised than the other. Why could this be?

I also have my nostril pierced from last year and that never ever felt bruised. Is it normal for septum to feel more bruised?

- Christionna C

Body Candy: Hello Christionna!

First of all, you had your piercings done at two different times. Were they also different piercers? Your choice of piercer can make a vast difference in your experience. They may have had different techniques or methods of gripping the tissue. Some piercers use a much firmer grip than others while some may have a much lighter touch. This could easily account for the bruising. You also mention that you had gotten your septum pierced in the past. It’s possible that when it was done the second time, the piercer hit some scar tissue from the first piercing. Scar tissue has a different texture and different qualities than unmarked skin. This could account for the popping noise you heard and possibly even the bruised feeling. Scar tissue is simply harder to get through. Congratulations on your new piercing!

Love,

Body Candy

Dear Body Candy,

Hi! I got my belly pierced 2 weeks ago but it looks short! Can I change the barbell? The piercer told me not to until 9 months but won’t change the barbell

- Tayla

Body Candy: Hi Tayla!

So, your piercer is correct. Under normal circumstances, two weeks is WAY too early to change the jewelry in a new piercing. Is the skin beginning to engulf the ball ends on your jewelry? Any new piercing is going to have swelling that can take weeks – sometimes even months – to go down. This is totally normal and nothing to be alarmed by. However, if the ball ends appear to be sinking into the skin, then it’s time to worry. If that is not the case but you’re still concerned, your best bet is to go get a second opinion from a different piercer. While your piercer is the professional in this situation, it’s still your body and your piercing and you have the right to feel comfortable and well taken care of. If the ends of your jewelry are fully visible above the skin, your original piercer was probably correct. But if the ends appear to be sinking into the skin or you simply want to have your original piercer’s advice confirmed, go get a second opinion. Two weeks after the initial piercing isn’t long enough for any substantial healing so they may be understandably reticent to change the jewelry so early and potentially damage the fragile new cells growing inside the fistula. Best of luck and happy piercing!