The Tragus Piercing (also called a “tragus”) is a unisex type of ear piercing that is visible yet discreet and very popular.
Since it is a delicate area and at the same time an area of fairly thick skin, the popular belief is that the tragus piercing is dangerous.
Let’s debunk these urban legends that have developed around this piercing: the tragus does not cause headaches, hearing damage, blindness, or facial paralysis. These are incorrect beliefs that have been discredited for years. However, it is important to pay attention to some key aspects.
What is a Tragus Piercing
The tragus piercing is performed by perforating that cartilaginous area (called the tragus) located on the outer surface of the auricle, in front of the external auditory canal.
The classic commercial tragus piercing is the central one performed with a classic titanium barbell.
There are also those who have enough cartilage to accommodate 2 piercings on the same tragus, one below the other. This is a less requested and known variant, but it has a great visual impact.
Risks Related to Tragus Piercing
As with any other piercing, for the execution of a Tragus Piercing, it is essential to turn to expert piercers who work in professional studios.
This way, you can be sure of getting a safe job, performed with a needle and perfectly sterilized tools in compliance with all mandatory health and hygiene regulations.
Among the most common risks related to Tragus Piercing, if not performed correctly, is the possibility of tearing the skin (if the hole is too far out) or seeing the piercing deform over time, resulting in an unpleasant aesthetic effect.
Another risk is that of infections, especially if aftercare and maintenance advice is not followed during the healing period. In this case, healing can be relatively long and there is a risk of allergic reactions if the chosen jewelry is not titanium.
Turning to qualified piercers allows you to avoid these complications, minimize the risk of irritation and allergic reactions, and get all the useful care and maintenance tips, including:
- do not touch the area with your hands to avoid transmitting germs or bacteria (or only do so after washing your hands thoroughly)
- care for the hole with a cleaning to be performed 2/3 times a day
- limit the use of cotton swabs and cotton wool, preferring sterile gauze and paper towels
- do not move the jewelry and avoid accessories that could bump it
- avoid sleeping on the new piercing
Errors to Avoid During Tragus Piercing
As we mentioned, the first mistake to avoid during the execution of a Tragus Piercing is using a gun instead of a needle.
In this case, in addition to the risk of tearing the skin, there is a high probability of localized problems such as pronounced swelling, pain, and infection.
Furthermore, you may encounter incorrect placement of the jewelry, which will cause problems during healing and possible rejection.
Choosing unsuitable jewelry is also a mistake to avoid: not only for the material but also for its shape.
The area where the Tragus Piercing is performed tends to swell, and if a long enough piece of jewelry is not initially inserted, the skin can swallow it and ruin the entire job.
Ultimately, it is important to choose titanium jewelry for both the initial piercing and the replacement.
Finally, a mistake absolutely not to be made is removing and replacing the jewelry before the piercing is completely healed as it could lead to the hole closing.
How to Correctly Perform a Tragus Piercing
The correct procedure for performing a Tragus Piercing consists first of all of a preliminary analysis of the area, in order to observe the structure and anatomy of the tragus for correct positioning.
After that, the area must be prepared, marking the exact point to be pierced, and then proceeding to pull the cartilage using sterile forceps.
Once this is done, the actual piercing is inserted: the part is pierced using a grey cannula needle, piercing the cartilage and immediately inserting the jewelry, then quickly removing the plastic cannula and screwing on the ball.
This type of piercing requires great manual skill, extreme attention, and maximum technique.
The Importance of a Certified Professional Path for Piercing in Delicate Areas
Performing piercings is a passion that requires great skills, especially when it comes to working on delicate and high-risk areas.
For this reason, it is essential not to improvise, but to obtain certification and acquire all the indispensable skills, techniques, and tools.
To do this, it is recommended to follow a certified path, which provides the mandatory and necessary training to become a professional piercer.
A professional course provides the best hygiene and safety practices crucial for knowing how to sterilize tools and minimize the risk of infections, complications, and injuries.
Furthermore, it ensures that the future piercer has the useful knowledge to offer consultation and assistance to the client before, during, and after the procedure, as well as knowing how to manage any complications.
Finally, thanks to internships and training placements, certified professional courses allow you to:
- Gain direct experience in the field
- Test the skills acquired
- Interact with expert and specialized professionals
- Learn firsthand what the complete management of a piercing studio entails
How to Become a Professional Piercer and Create Perfect Tragus Piercings with Milano Tattoo School Courses
Milano Tattoo School is a Leading School in the training of future piercers and offers two different professional courses for those who want to enter this world.
- 1500-hour Piercing Operator Course: a high-level training path, divided between classroom lessons and laboratory sessions. The course allows you to master piercing techniques for all types of holes, develop an in-depth knowledge of the basics, equipment, and jewelry used, and perform more than 50 piercings on people. Furthermore, it issues a Regional Certification valid in Italy and many European states.
- 30-hour Technical Piercing Course: a 4-day path that offers intensive training for piercers of all levels. Specific lessons, practical demonstrations, and the execution of piercings on people are provided. In addition, the specific problems and care of all the most common commercial piercings are addressed.
Do you want to become a professional piercer?
Discover all the Milano Tattoo School courses