Conch piercing
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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.
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, a large-diameter CBR (captive bead ring), or a single-flare plug or tunnel. 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.
Ear
The ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system....
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.
Inner conch piercing
The inner conch piercing is located in the center ear cartilageEar
The ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system....
, adjacent to the ear canal
Ear canal
The ear canal , is a tube running from the outer ear to the middle ear. The human ear canal extends from the pinna to the eardrum and is about 35 mm in length and 5 to 10 mm in diameter....
.
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
Body piercing
Body piercing, a form of body modification, is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewelry may be worn. The word piercing can refer to the act or practice of body piercing, or to an opening in the body created by this act or practice...
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
Conch
A conch is a common name which is applied to a number of different species of medium-sized to large sea snails or their shells, generally those which are large and have a high spire and a siphonal canal....
shell.
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, a large-diameter CBR (captive bead ring), or a single-flare plug or tunnel. 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.