Bridge piercings are a type of facial piercing done in the area between the eyebrows, also known as the bridge of the nose. They are also sometimes referred to as an “Erl” or “Earl” piercing.
Bridge piercings are a type of nose piercing that is done in the area between the eyebrows.
Bridge piercings are also known as eyebrow piercings. These piercings are usually done with a needle and a thread. The procedure is not as painful as other types of piercings because it is done on the skin that has already been pierced before.
There are only two ways to get a bridge piercing: you can either go to an experienced professional or you can do it yourself at home.
Surface piercing is much more complicated as compared to normal piercing, and the chances of rejection are very high. A bridge piercing is quite complex, and a properly done piercing should last up to a few months to several years.
What is a bridge piercing?
A bridge piercing is performed by piercing through the skin on the bridge of the nose, directly between the eyes. This area usually has enough skin for piercing, unlike an actual cartilage piercing on the nose.
Bridge piercings are a type of surface piercing, which means they are done on a flat part of the body. Other common surface piercings include nape, neck, corset, and Madison piercings.
Straight barbells or curved barbells are the most commonly used bridge piercing jewelry. Curved shapes tend to have higher success rates and minimize rejection risk.
Can I get a bridge piercing?
To get your bridge piercing done, you need to make an appointment at a piercing parlor and make sure that you are getting the service of a trained professional.
Take some time to look at the photo albums in the shop so you will have a better idea of how you would look like after the procedure is finished.
Suitable Jewelry Types for Bridge Piercings
- Curved Barbells: These put less tension on the piercing compared to straight barbells. Recommended for initial and long-term wear.
- Straight Barbells: Can sometimes be tolerated if the piercing is well-established. Higher risk of rejection.
- Captive Bead Rings: Generally not suitable for unhealed bridge piercings. Higher chance of rejection.
- Surface Bars: Surface-specific jewelry that can work for some established bridge piercings.
How is bridge piercing done?
If all is set, then you are ready to prepare yourself for the session. The piercer may use the forceps to accurately hold the flap of the skin, or he or she may simply use his or her fingers to hold the skin in place.
The procedure only takes a minute or two to complete and is generally not painful while being performed.
You need to have this procedure done by professionals. The piercer will use a hook or needle to pierce the skin to make a hole through which the jewelry is inserted.
While the piercing is being performed, the flap of the skin on the bridge of the nose is held with the help of either a forceps or skin clamp.
Not everyone who wishes to have a bridge piercing is compatible with the process since there are people who don’t have enough free skin on their bridges.
Piercers don’t recommend the procedure to that group since irritation is more likely to occur.
Pain and Healing Time for Bridge Piercings
Healing time for most bridge piercings is between 8-12 weeks. Some residual soreness or pain is normal for the first week.
While getting the piercing causes momentary pain, bridge piercings are not considered to be highly painful piercings. The skin is relatively thin in this area compared to cartilage or bone.
Proper aftercare can help minimize any potential infections and speed up the healing process.
How painful is a bridge piercing?
Given the circumstances, this procedure can become very painful and may not be compatible with anybody’s face as one needs to have enough loose skin on the bridge of your nose to get this type of piercing; otherwise, the bridge piercing may grow out. This can be very painful because of the scrapping that will happen against the bone and the cartilage in your nose.
This procedure is not advisable for people who are constantly wearing eyeglasses because the bridge of the glass may rubbed-up against the piercing, which will cause irritation or, worst, infection.
When you decide that it is time for the bridge piercing, make sure that your contact lens is ready and make sure to contact the right person to do the job.
Risks and Potential Issues
Like many surface piercings, bridge piercings carry a higher risk of rejection and migration than fleshier areas. Rejection rates can be up to 80% without proper placement and aftercare.
Signs of rejection include inflammation, swelling, redness, and localized pain. Seek help from your piercer if you notice any of these symptoms.
Where should a bridge piercing be placed?
The most common areas for this type of piercing are between the sides of the nose or on the side of the face, etc. Usually, surface piercing requires the person to have additional skin on the area to be pierced and can be quite painful when compared to other forms of piercing, ear, lip, etc.
If you’re wearing spectacles, you may want to avoid heading in for this form of piercing. As it is, the spectacles rub against the nose bridge, and any piercing on that particular area will only serve to irritate the skin further.
Make sure you do the required online research before opting for this form of piercing. And double-check with your physician to ensure that you’ve no infection to worry about.
Self-expression or deeper meaning to it?
Bridge piercing is considered an act of self-expression. To others, they want to have this done to join the bandwagon, but there are some deeper meanings to some of why they choose to put jewelry on that part of their face.
There are no serious complications recorded so far in relation to bridge piercing.
The most common misconception is that this will make you cross-eyed. However, until now, there are no reported involuntary eye-crossing caused by bridge piercing.
For some who have had this for quite some time now, they would say that you will almost forget that the piece is even there. It does not interfere with your day-to-day activities, and having it does not make you any less of a person.
Aftercare Tips for Bridge Piercings
- Clean the piercing site daily with a saline solution, especially after touching the area.
- Avoid playing with or rotating the jewelry during the healing period.
- Do not change the initial jewelry until the piercing has fully healed.
- See a professional immediately if you suspect an infection – do not remove jewelry yourself.
Bridge piercing rejection
The problems with bridge piercing are mainly related to the issues of rejection and migration. Since there is a sufficient amount of skin present in this area, the bridge piercing is typically understood as a surface piercing. Like all surface piercings, there is an approximate chance of 80% that the bridge piercing would get rejected or migrated.
In order to nullify these chances, you would have to ensure that the bridge piercing aftercare is proper and careful. Any kind of disturbance in this region should be avoided as it can lead to severe consequences. Further, the selection of bridge-piercing jewelry should be done carefully.
Although there are no problems with bridge piercings that are brought about due to the use of glasses, there are some base problems with bridge piercings that exist in all cases.
Since a bridge piercing is a surface piercing, the regular issues of rejection and migration apply to it. The tissues in the skin are not able to hold these bridge piercings in place, and they tend to migrate away or get rejected altogether. Therefore, in order to ensure that the bridge piercing aftercare is proper, you would have to take some precautionary steps.
Other than the steps during bridge piercing aftercare, you would have to ensure that the right bridge piercing jewelry is selected.
The right bridge piercing jewelry is usually in the form of a curved barbell. It is known to give the best results, is better than a straight barbell, and works fine with all bridge piercings.
Bridge piercing jewelry plays a big role in the healing and outcome of the piercing, and it is essential that these aspects are considered with care.
A small curved barbell is considered to be the best bridge piercing jewelry as it ensures that the tension in the region is minimized. With a straight barbell, the stress in the area can be too much, leading to rejection and migration.
While problems with bridge piercing and glasses are not related at all, people have unnecessarily linked these two conditions and sparked rumors that bridge piercings cannot work well with glasses.
Can You Wear Glasses with Bridge Piercings?
Contrary to popular belief, most properly-placed bridge piercings will not interfere with wearing eyeglasses or sunglasses. The piercing sits flush between the eyes, while glasses rest lower on the nose.
However, wearing glasses during the healing period may irritate or prolong healing. Switching to contact lenses for a few weeks while the piercing initially heals is recommended.
Types of bridge piercings
Corset Piercing
Corset piercing is done at the back in such a way that it would seem like the knots of a corset. Corset piercings are very difficult to carry out, as each set consists of two piercings, which have to be parallel and diagonally opposite each other. The corset piercings are generally thought to be temporary. Corset piercings cannot be worn for more than a few hours and may be one of the temporary types of piercings.
Madison Piercings
Madison piercings are almost always temporary; they are carried out at the base of the neck. When it comes to surface piercing, the type of accessory also used matters. For example, one can use captive beads as a piercing accessory, but that will usually be rejected. The type of accessory that has worked is the barbell piercing.
Nape Piercing
Nape piercing is another type of surface piercing that carries a large chance of rejection. Nape piercing is carried out at the back of the neck, and the accessories that are used are barbell-shaped accessories. Using any other type of accessory for nape piercing is quite rare. While nape piercing has a large chance of failing, there is no chance of nerve damage, as popularly said to be.
Neck Piercing
Neck Piercings are piercings at the side of the neck, and they are also called vampire piercings because of their proximity to the side of the neck. The best bet for neck piercings is surface bars, as the skin will reject straight barbells more than ninety percent of the time.
These are the four most famous types of bridge piercings and other surface piercings.
Locating a Reputable Piercer
Take the time to find an experienced professional piercer in your area. Look for studios that have training certificates and check reviews. Avoid getting bridge piercings done with a piercing gun.
Be sure to ask your piercer questions about jewelry, aftercare, and risks before getting your bridge pierced. And always follow your piercer’s detailed aftercare instructions.
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
