The appointment is only the beginning of your piercing journey.
A fresh piercing needs time to heal, and the process depends on the placement, your anatomy, jewelry, and aftercare.
General aftercare principles include washing your hands before necessary contact, following your piercer's instructions, and using sterile saline wound wash when appropriate.
Avoid unnecessary touching, twisting jewelry, sleeping directly on a healing cartilage piercing, or changing jewelry too soon.
If you experience worsening pain, spreading redness, unusual warmth, fever, or concerning discharge, seek medical assessment. Do not remove jewelry from a potentially infected piercing without appropriate medical advice.