Sideburn Piercing

Also known as vertical tragus piercing, the sideburn piercing is a variation of the typical tragus piercing usually done vertically within the edges of the ear part known as the tragus, hence the name of the piercing. Tragus piercings are relatively new having being introduced in just the past 10 years. However, they have become so popular because of the inherent look and ease of application.

A vertical tragus piercing may pass through the ear cartilage but a surface piercing version of it does not pass through cartilage. Surface piercing tends to be more susceptible to migration or rejection as the jewelry is pushed by the body out of the skin. Even in the best of piercing conditions, for example, having an experienced piercer, using a surface bar, and having an ideal ear or tragus anatomy, it is still possible for the piercing to migrate or get rejected by the body. You therefore need to discuss with your piercer to know whether you are a good candidate for the piercing or not.

Celebrities like Jessica Biel, Scarlett Johanssen, and Rihanna have inspired many into having tragus piercing. The craze is really trending now and the reason is that tragus piercings are less painful and super easy. They are also more pleasing compared to other ear piercings. Tragus piercing or sideburn piercing is given its name after the location of the ear where it is done. It is even possible for you hide the piercing with your hair or clothing such as a scarf.

Tragus is the small triangle part that connects a person’s face with the outer part of the cartilage. It is located on the front part of the ear canal and it is the portion of the ear that helps people hold their ear phones.

Tragus Vs. Anti Tragus Piercing

 You may have heard of the term ‘anti tragus piercing’ and you are asking what it is. Well, it is a piercing that is done on the elevated fold of a person’s ear located just opposite to the tragus. The cost and care is almost the same considering the nature of the location where the piercings are done. Unlike other piercings, there are no many places to do the piercings and that the piercing has been known to have a tough healing process.

Tragus piercing as we have said is done on the that small triangle part that connects a person’s face with the their outer part cartilage.

 

Vertical Vs. Surface Tragus Piercing

With these two types of tragus piercing, they are described based on how they are done. The vertical tragus piercing mainly runs vertically on a person’s tragus. It runs from the outside through to the inside then again to the outside. Because with vertical tragus, also known as the sideburn piercing, you are making two channels, it means that a person will experience more pain when compared to ordinary or plain tragus piercing. The side burn piercing goes well with tragus that is properly developed.

Looking at surface tragus piercing, it is similar to sideburn piercing or vertical tragus piercing, however, the difference is that it passes through the flesh within the cartilage without actually making a hole or getting deeper into the cartilage. It is considered one of the most painful types of piercings. The surface tragus piercing allows a person to use a broader range of piercing jewelry and it also allows the user to be able to wear studs.

 Procedure

When receiving the piercing, you will need to lie on your back so that the piercer is able to easily access the piercing site. Because the cartilage is a thick tissue, more pressure may be needed to create the puncture or channel for the jewelry. The piercer will need to place a piece of cork inside the canal of the ear to prevent any accidental damage occurring considering that some more pressure may be needed to work on the thick cartilage. The piercer will then push a needle through the skin and then a barbell will be added.

A curved barbell is most preferred for people receiving this kind of piercing. Because of the curve, you may find that not any kind of jewelry may be used here. There is also a chance of having an injury or an infection if the right jewelry isn’t selected.

Healing Time of Sideburn Piercing

With proper aftercare, it is expected that the vertical tragus piercing or sideburn piercing takes around two to three months to heal completely. Sometimes, it may take longer depending on an individual and how a person takes care of the piercing.

 Aftercare of Vertical Tragus Piercing

Once you have had your sideburn piercing, you will need to ensure proper aftercare. Tragus piercings tend to have higher infection rates, but you can void the infections by following the piercer’s home care instructions. Sometimes, having extreme care can surely worsen the infection.

You should clean the site and the surrounding at least twice a day using saline solution. You may also use sea salt water for cleaning. Before you touch or clean the site, make sure that you wash your hands using an antibacterial soap. Clean the hands again after you have touched the piercing site. Always tie the hair up and ensure that it does not get in contact with the site of piercing. It is recommended that you change your pillow cover on daily basis, at least for a couple of weeks.

There are also things you may want to avoid when doing the aftercare of your vertical tragus piercing. You should not change or remove the jewelry by yourself, wait until the piercing heals completely. If you remove it before it heals, you may trap infection that spreads to other parts of the body. When cleaning the site, you should not use any dehydrating solution like alcohol or products containing alcohol. Even when the piercing irritates, do not touch it with bare hand to prevent infecting the site with microbes. You should also refrain from answering calls using the ear on the side of piercing. Also, you should not sleep on that side until the piercing heals.