Anti-Tragus Piercing [50 Ideas]: Pain Level, Healing Time, Cost, Experience

Looking for an exotic option that’s a step above an earlobe piercing? The anti-tragus piercing may be your next piercing investment!

Below you’ll find all you need to know about anti-tragus piercings, including piercing cost, procedure details, pain level and healing time. Aftercare product recommendations and an extensive photo gallery will ensure you’re ready to make your anti-tragus piercing all your own.

What is an Anti-Tragus Piercing?

Anti-tragus piercings puncture the thick inner ear cartilage right above the earlobe. This piercing is opposite of the standard tragus piercing, hence the anti-tragus name.

This piercing stands out as far as ear piercings are concerned. However, because it is a cartilage piercing, the procedure is more painful than many other ear piercings.

Read about standard tragus piercings.

Should You get an Anti-Tragus Piercing?

As with any piercing, anti-tragus piercings come with their own risks and rewards. Peruse the pros & cons below to see if this piercing is right for you:

Pros

This piercing is unique and offers plenty of jewelry options to play around with after healing.
The anti-tragus piercing procedure is relatively quick and only requires one puncture.

Cons

Anti-tragus piercings are one of the most painful cartilage piercings. Make sure you’re ready to deal with this before getting pierced.
Infection is a risk with any piercing. However, proper aftercare helps to drastically minimize these risks.

Piercing Procedure

The most important part of any piercing is finding a reputable piercer. Once you arrive at the piercing shop, your piercer will go over the procedure with you and you’ll fill out some paperwork. Your piercer will then clean your ear cartilage after they’re done setting up. A surgical pen will be used to mark the location of your new piercing. Make sure you are confident in this location before moving forward!

A clamp will be used to hold your ear firmly in place for the procedure. Your piercer will puncture the cartilage with a needle and promptly change the needle out for your chosen jewelry. Before leaving, your piercer will go over aftercare methods with you. Make sure to ask any lingering questions before you leave.

Check out the videos below for more details on the anti-tragus procedure:

How Much do Anti-Tragus Piercings Hurt?

6-8 out of 10

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The anti-tragus piercing is ranked as one of the most painful piercings. This piercing ranks anywhere from a 6 – 8 out of 10 on the pain scale. The actual pain level will depend on the thickness of your cartilage and your individual pain tolerance. Remember that the initial piercing pain is over quickly.

Your piercing will most likely be swollen and tender for the first few days after the procedure. Cold compresses and anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen can help to make this process more tolerable. Contact your piercer if you have concerns or if swelling lasts longer than one week.

Healing and Aftercare

Initial anti-tragus healing time usually takes 8 to 16 weeks. Complete healing can take up to one year depending on the methods used.

Proper aftercare can cut down on healing time and help with swelling. Follow the guidelines below to get started:

Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing.
Sleep on your opposite side or back to avoid putting pressure on your piercing.
Objects like phones & pillowcases should be cleaned frequently to avoid infections.
Avoid wearing over-ear headphones during healing.
Make sure your piercing is fully healed before removing your jewelry. Early jewelry removal can cause full piercing closure.
Wear fitted jewelry after initial healing to reduce the risk of piercing bumps.
Clean your piercing twice per day as described below.

How to Clean Your Piercing

Saline solution is ideal for cleaning any piercing. Grab some from your piercing shop or make your own by dissolving 1/4 teaspoon sea salt in 8 oz of warm water. Pour some solution on a clean pad or towel and hold it on your piercing for a few minutes. This helps soothe the area and loosen any debris that may be stuck. Gently clean off your jewelry and discard the pad. Repeat this process once in the morning and once at night to ensure your piercing regularly stays clean.

Read more about proper aftercare technique.

Recommended Aftercare Products

Sea salt

This piercing sea salt is an excellent choice for making your own saline solution.

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Piercing aftercare spray

Saline spray is a great option for anyone on-the-go. Throw it in your bag and clean your piercing anywhere!

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Best Jewelry for Anti-Tragus Piercings

Your initial jewelry will be longer than usual to account for swelling. After healing, you can switch your jewelry out for different options and a proper fit. Fitted jewelry reduces the risk of pulling and scarring later on.

Many jewelry types can be used with anti-tragus piercings. Curved & circular barbells, as well as rings of all styles, are ideal for this piercing. Labret studs can also be used for a dainty look. Explore what’s right for you and build your jewelry collection!