Orbital piercing

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Orbital piercing, second from the top Left ear.jpg
Orbital piercing, second from the top

An orbital piercing is a combination of two ear piercings connected by one piece of jewelry. [1] [2] While usually located in the helix region of the ear, an orbital piercing can be done anywhere on the body including the earlobes. [3] The piercing uses a hoop, and is not to be confused with an industrial piercing, a conch piercing or double cartilage piercing.

Contents

Process

A professional piercer will use a sterilized hollowed gauge needle, a captive bead ring for jewelry, and a pair of pliers.

The piercer will take a marker and mark the placement of the desired piercing. They will then take the hollow gauge needle and insert it through the marked position. With the needle still inserted, ear the piercer will take the captive bead ring and slide in the hollow part of the needle, gently pulling the needle through the rest of the ear with the captive bead still in the needle. Once the jewelry is placed correctly, the piercer will repeat the process, except this time they will not insert a new captive ring. Using the newly made second hole, the piercer will take the bead ring in the first hole and place it through the second hole. They then close the ring until there is very little space left for the bead to fit in the ring. Once the bead is placed and secured in the ring, the piercing is completed.

Types

There are many types of orbital piercings, as an orbital piercing is simply two or more piercing sites connected by a single piece of rounded jewelry, usually a ring. Three of the most common types are:

Some orbital piercings connect three or more piercing sites with a single ring, such as an orbital piercing that connects the daith, rook, and forward helix.

Aftercare

Orbital piercings are generally considered to be difficult to heal. They require a strict care regimen and careful attention. Orbital piercings through cartilage usually take more than one full year to heal fully.

The first and most important step to proper healing is to begin by getting pierced by a qualified, licensed, experienced piercer. They will provide detailed instructions on aftercare, as well as advice and guidance should problems arise.

Current mainstream recommendations for piercing care are as follows.

If your piercing or the surrounding skin becomes swollen to a concerning degree; starts seeping red, black or green colored fluid; becomes red, hot, and/or shiny; bleeds continuously; or causes any problem with your hearing, seek urgent medical care to be evaluated for infection and treatment. Milder concerns may be assessed by your piercer, but when in doubt, it is advisable to seek medical care.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clitoral hood piercing</span> Type of body piercing

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nose piercing</span> Piercing of the skin or cartilage of the nose for wearing jewelry

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dydoe</span> Genital piercing

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tragus piercing</span> Cosmetic perforation of part of the ear

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rook (piercing)</span> Type of body piercing

A rook piercing is a perforation of the antihelix of the ear for the purpose of wearing jewelry. It is located just above the tragus on the ridge between the inner and outer conch with the piercing passing from the underside to the top of this ridge, differing from many ear piercings that essentially span between a "front" and "back" surface. Erik Dakota, a well known professional piercer and the individual responsible for originating and popularizing the rook piercing, is said to have named this modification after a shortened version of his first name. The piercing was first named in issue #4 of the magazine Body Play and Modern Primitives Quarterly around 1992 alongside the first printed reference to the industrial piercing, then termed "industrial ear project".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corset piercing</span> Multiple body piercings in two roughly parallel rows

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daith piercing</span> Type of ear piercing

A daith piercing is an ear piercing that passes through the ear's innermost cartilage fold, the crus of the helix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antitragus piercing</span>

An antitragus piercing is a perforation of the outer ear cartilage for the purpose of inserting and wearing a piece of jewelry. It is placed in the antitragus, a piece of cartilage opposite the ear canal. Overall, the piercing has characteristics similar to the tragus piercing; the piercings are performed and cared for in much the same way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hip piercing</span> Type of piercing

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A cartilage piercing can refer to any area of cartilage on the body with a perforation created for the purpose of wearing jewelry. The two most common areas with cartilage piercings are the ear and the nose. Outside of the body modification community, many people commonly refer to a helix piercing as a "cartilage piercing." The cartilage ear piercing is known to be more sore than the lobe as in the cartilage there is less blood so it takes longer to heal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Body piercing</span> Form of body modification

Body piercing, which is a form of body modification, is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewellery may be worn, or where an implant could be inserted. 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. It can also, by metonymy, refer to the resulting decoration, or to the decorative jewelry used. Piercing implants alter the body and/or skin profile and appearance. Although the history of body piercing is obscured by popular misinformation and by a lack of scholarly reference, ample evidence exists to document that it has been practiced in various forms by both sexes since ancient times throughout the world. Body piercing can be performed on people of all ages, although most minors are only permitted to have earlobe piercings.

References

  1. "Conventional Piercing Guide". About.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  2. "Orbital". BME Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  3. "Orbital Piercing Pain, Aftercare, Jewelry, Pictures | Body Piercing Magazine". bodypiercingmag.com. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
  4. "Orbital Piercing Pain, Aftercare, Jewelry, Pictures | Body Piercing Magazine". bodypiercingmag.com. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 2016-11-09.