Septum Piercing: Complete Guide to Pain, Healing, Smell, Sizing & Gold Rings

What is a septum piercing?

A septum piercing passes through the thin membrane between your nostrils — not through the hard cartilage wall that divides your nose. This thin area is called the columella, or the “sweet spot” as piercers call it. When placed correctly through this membrane, the piercing heals faster than almost any other facial piercing (6–8 weeks) because membrane tissue has better blood supply than cartilage.

The septum ring hangs between your nostrils, creating one of the most versatile piercing looks available: bold and visible when worn down, completely invisible when flipped up inside the nose. This hide-ability is the septum’s defining advantage over every other nose piercing. A nostril piercing is always visible; a septum piercing is visible only when you choose.

Septum piercings have a history spanning thousands of years across Indigenous Australian, South Asian, African, and Central American cultures. In contemporary fashion, they gained mainstream popularity through celebrities like Rihanna, Zoë Kravitz, and Jessica Biel, and are now one of the most requested piercings at UK studios.

The sweet spot — anatomy that determines everything

Pinch the bottom of your septum between your thumb and forefinger. Feel around — you will find a thin, flexible area toward the tip of your nose where the tissue gives easily. Behind it, closer to your face, the tissue becomes firm and rigid (that is cartilage). The thin, flexible membrane in front is your sweet spot.

This is the only area that should be pierced. The sweet spot is membrane tissue with reasonable blood supply — it heals in weeks, not months. The cartilage behind it is dense, avascular, and heals like any ear cartilage piercing (6–12+ months). The difference in pain and healing between hitting the sweet spot and missing it is dramatic:

Deviated septum — can you still get pierced?

A deviated septum is when the cartilage wall between your nostrils is not centred — it leans to one side. It is surprisingly common (some estimates suggest up to 80% of people have some degree of deviation). In most cases, a deviated septum does not prevent you from getting a septum piercing. However:

Mild deviation: An experienced piercer can work around it. The jewellery may sit very slightly off-centre, but this is usually imperceptible.

Significant deviation: The piercing may be noticeably asymmetric — the ring hangs lower on one side. Some people are comfortable with this; others are not. Your piercer should show you the planned angle before piercing so you can decide.

Severe deviation or previous nasal surgery: If you have had rhinoplasty, septoplasty, or a broken nose, consult both your surgeon and your piercer. After rhinoplasty, most surgeons recommend waiting at least 8–10 weeks (some recommend a full year) before getting a septum pierced, because the nasal structure is still healing and soft.

How much does a septum piercing hurt?

3–4 out of 10 when pierced through the sweet spot — comparable to a nostril piercing and significantly less than any cartilage piercing. The actual needle pass takes 1–2 seconds. Most people describe it as a sharp pinch followed by immediate eye-watering (the trigeminal nerve reflex, same as nostril piercings).

What actually hurts the most: Many people report that the clamps (the tool that holds the tissue in position before the needle) are more uncomfortable than the needle itself. The clamping creates a firm pressure on the septum that lasts several seconds while the piercer aligns the needle. The needle pass after that is almost a relief by comparison. Not all piercers use clamps — some use a freehand technique or a receiving tube instead. If you are anxious about the clamps, ask your piercer about their technique beforehand.

After the piercing: Expect a dull ache for a few hours, watery eyes for 5–10 minutes, possible sneezing, and a “stuffy nose” feeling for 1–2 days. Tenderness at the tip of the nose for about a week. By week two, most people report no discomfort unless the ring is accidentally bumped.

Healing timeline

6–8 weeks for initial healing — making the septum one of the fastest-healing piercings. This is because the sweet spot is membrane tissue (not cartilage) with better blood supply. Full maturation of the internal channel takes 3–6 months, but most piercers consider the piercing healed enough for a jewellery change at 6–8 weeks.

Flipping your septum ring up and down

The ability to hide a septum piercing by flipping the ring up inside the nose is its most unique feature. But there is a right way and a wrong way to do it, especially during healing.

Can you heal a septum flipped up?

Yes. Contrary to popular belief, you can heal your septum piercing in the flipped-up position from day one. The key is not which position you choose — it is how often you change position. Every time you flip the ring, you rotate the jewellery inside the healing channel, disturbing the forming tissue. Healing flipped up permanently is fine. Healing flipped down permanently is fine. Flipping back and forth three times a day is not fine.

When can you start flipping freely?

Week 2–3: You can flip if necessary (e.g. for work), but do it once and leave it. Rinse with warm saline before flipping to soften any crusties and reduce friction.

Week 4+: Flipping becomes easier and less tender. You can flip once or twice a day with minimal irritation.

Week 6–8 (healed): Flip as often as you want. The channel is formed and stable.

Which ring size flips up best?

8–9mm inner diameter rings are the easiest to conceal when flipped up. They sit snugly inside the nostrils without poking out. 10mm works for most people but may show a slight curve at the bottom of the nostrils depending on anatomy. 11–12mm rings are harder to fully conceal and may be visible from certain angles when flipped up.

The septum smell — “septum funk”

This is the topic that no guide warns you about, but every septum piercing owner discovers: sometimes, your septum piercing smells. The smell is often described as cheesy, funky, or similar to body odour. It happens when the jewellery moves and releases trapped buildup from the piercing channel — and because the piercing is inside your nose, the odour goes directly into your nostrils.

Why does it happen?

Your body continuously produces sebum (natural skin oil) and sheds dead skin cells. Inside the piercing channel, these substances accumulate along with bacteria. When the jewellery shifts, it disturbs this buildup and releases the odour. This is completely normal and happens with every piercing — but you only notice it with septum piercings because the source is literally inside your nose.

Key reassurance: Nobody else can smell it. You only notice it because the jewellery is millimetres from your olfactory receptors. It is not a sign of infection (unless accompanied by pain, swelling, and coloured discharge).

How to minimise septum funk

Regular saline cleaning: Even after healing, spray saline 1–2 times per week to flush out buildup from the channel. This is the single most effective prevention.

Remove and soak (once healed): Once your piercing is fully healed, you can periodically remove the ring, soak it in warm water with mild soap for 2 minutes, and gently clean the piercing channel with saline. This removes the accumulated sebum and dead cells.

Use non-porous, high-quality jewellery: This is where material matters enormously. Porous materials (acrylic, low-grade alloys, coated metals) have microscopic surface irregularities where bacteria colonise and thrive. 14K solid gold is non-porous — its smooth, dense surface does not harbour bacteria the way cheap metals do. Customers who switch from surgical steel or plated jewellery to 14K gold consistently report a significant reduction in septum funk.

Jewellery types for septum piercings

Size guide: gauge & diameter

Gauge (wire thickness)

16G (1.2mm) is the standard gauge for septum piercings. Most professional piercers use a 16G needle for septum piercings because the slightly thicker wire is more stable in the septum, less prone to migration, and provides a more visible, substantial look that suits the septum’s position between the nostrils.

Diameter (ring size)

Septum ring diameter is measured as inner diameter — the distance from one inner edge of the ring to the other. The right diameter depends on your nose width and how you want the ring to sit:

Gold colour options

Both colours are 14K solid gold (58.3% pure gold) with nickel-free alloys. Both are equally biocompatible, equally tarnish-proof, and equally suitable for the moist nasal environment. The choice is purely aesthetic.

Aftercare

Septum aftercare is identical to other piercing aftercare with one unique consideration: your piercing is inside your nose, exposed to mucus, bacteria, and constant moisture. This makes consistent cleaning more important, not less.

Septum vs nostril: comparison

Frequently asked questions