Facial Piercings
Professional facial piercings — nose, septum, eyebrow, lip, and more — with implant-grade titanium jewelry and expert aftercare at five ATS studios.
Facial piercings are the most visible statement in body modification — which is exactly why they deserve a professional studio, precise placement, and implant-grade jewelry from day one. At American Tattoo Society, every facial piercing is performed by an experienced piercer with single-use sterile needles (never piercing guns), in a studio held to strict hygiene standards, with jewelry selected for your anatomy and healing.
Facial Piercings We Offer
- Nostril — the world's most popular facial piercing; subtle with a stud, bold with a hoop after healing. Typical healing: 4–6 months.
- Septum — pierced through the soft “sweet spot” below the cartilage; famously flippable, so it can disappear for work or drill weekend. Typical healing: 2–3 months.
- High nostril — a nostril piercing placed higher on the bridge line for a distinctive stacked look.
- Eyebrow — a curved barbell through the brow line. Typical healing: 2–3 months.
- Bridge — a surface-style piercing across the bridge of the nose; anatomy-dependent, and we'll assess honestly.
- Lip family — labret, vertical labret, side lip, Monroe, Madonna, Medusa (philtrum), snake bites, and more. Oral piercings heal fast (6–8 weeks typically) but need diligent aftercare because of eating and drinking.
- Cheek/dimple piercings — a high-commitment piercing we discuss thoroughly in consultation due to anatomy and long healing.
Not sure what suits your face? Come in — placement consultations are free, and our piercers are honest about what your anatomy supports. (Some piercings simply don't fit some anatomies, and a good piercer tells you that up front.)
Jewelry and Materials: Why It Matters
Initial jewelry quality is the biggest controllable factor in how a piercing heals. We pierce with implant-grade titanium (ASTM F-136) or equivalent-quality materials — hypoallergenic, nickel-safe, and appropriate for fresh piercings — in sizes chosen for your anatomy with room for initial swelling. Once healed, the fun begins: downsizing to fitted jewelry and exploring gold, gems, and hoops.
Healing and Aftercare
Facial piercings heal well with a simple, disciplined routine: sterile saline, clean hands, and patience — no twisting, no alcohol, no ointments. Full instructions live on our piercing aftercarepage, and every piercing at ATS includes an aftercare walkthrough before you leave. Bumps and irritation happen even in perfect healing; come back in rather than consulting the internet — troubleshooting checkups are what we're here for.
Facial Piercings and Military Life
We serve five military communities, so let's talk about the elephant in the room:
- In uniform, facial jewelry is generally a no-go for service members — and policies on retainers and unfilled piercings vary by branch and command, and change over time. If you're active duty, know your branch's current standards and your command's interpretation before piercing your face. When in doubt, ask — removing jewelry from a healing piercing daily usually causes it to fail.
- The septum exception (sort of). A healed septum flipped up into the nose is invisible, which is why it's the most popular facial piercing among service members we see — but “healed” is the key word, and daily flipping during healing is a common cause of irritation. Plan accordingly.
- Spouses, dependents, and veterans make up the majority of our facial piercing clients — no restrictions, full jewelry wall, and yes, we do piercing parties for milso friend groups. Here's more on choosing a piercing shop in a military town.
- Timing around military schedules. Fresh facial piercings and gas mask seals, ruck straps, or field hygiene don't mix. Give any new piercing a clean healing runway.
Age Requirements and ID
Valid government-issued photo ID is required for all piercings. Rules for minors vary by state and by piercing — some facial piercings aren't available to minors at all, and parental presence plus documentation is required where they are. Call your local ATS studio for the specifics in your state, or check our FAQ.
Frequently Asked
Do facial piercings hurt?
A quick pinch and pressure, over in seconds. Most clients rate nostril and lip piercings far lower than they feared; septum feels strange (watery eyes are a reflex, not crying — promise) but brief.
Can I hide a facial piercing for work?
Septums flip up invisibly once healed; other facial piercings can use flat retainers after healing. During initial healing, jewelry should stay put — plan your timing around that.
How much do facial piercings cost?
Pricing is piercing + jewelry, and varies by jewelry selection. Walk in or call your studio for current pricing — quality initial jewelry is the part not to economize on.
Can I swap the jewelry myself?
After healing, yes — and we’ll happily do your first downsize or swap in-studio so you can learn the mechanism. During healing, leave it alone.
What if my piercing gets a bump?
Don’t panic and don’t remove it — irritation bumps are common and fixable. Come in for a free checkup; usually it’s a jewelry fit or snag issue we can solve same-day.
Pierced by Professionals, Not a Mall Kiosk
Walk into any of our five studios — facial piercings are walk-in friendly — or book ahead below.
