A septril runs from inside a stretched septum channel out through the fleshy tip of the nose, so a single bead sits on the front of the nose below the tip.
It is the most demanding piercing on this site in terms of prerequisites, and almost everything worth knowing about it happens before the septril itself is booked.
You need a stretched septum first
This is the part people miss, and it changes the whole proposition.
A septril does not create its own channel end to end. It uses the existing septum fistula as one half of its path: the needle passes from inside that stretched channel forward and out through the tip of the nose. Without a stretched septum there is nothing for it to start from.
That means the sequence is:
- Get a septum piercing. Heal it fully, which is two to three months.
- Stretch it, slowly. Most piercers want at least 2 gauge or 0 gauge before a septril is workable, and stretching is done in small steps with months between them.
- Then, and only then, the septril.
Realistically that is one to two years before the septril appointment, and rushing the stretching is how people damage a septum permanently. The gauge chart explains what those numbers mean in millimetres.
If a studio offers you a septril and you do not have a stretched septum, they either misunderstand the piercing or they are proposing something else. Ask them to explain the path the needle takes.
Not every piercer should do this
A septril depends on assessing an existing stretched fistula: how thick the remaining tissue is, where the channel sits, what angle will work. That is judgement built from having done it before.
Ask to see healed examples of their own work, not a portfolio of other people’s photographs. This is a reasonable question and a good piercer will not be offended by it. If they have not done one, find someone who has, even if it means travelling.
Pain
About 6 out of 10, the highest of the nose piercings here. The tip of the nose is thick, fleshy and sensitive, the angle is awkward, and it takes longer than a nostril.
Your eyes will stream. That is a reflex, not a measure.
Healing
Three to six months for the septril itself, on top of everything that came before it.
- Weeks 1-3: swelling at the tip of the nose, tenderness, more crusting than a septum.
- Weeks 3-12: gradual settling.
- Months 3-6: the channel matures.
Downsize at six to twelve weeks, and expect the sizing to be fiddly. The jewelry has to sit in a path that runs from inside a stretched channel out through the tip, and getting the length right usually takes a follow-up visit rather than a single guess.
Aftercare
The standard nose routine, with one complication: the piercing has an opening inside the stretched septum channel as well as on the front of the nose.
- Saline spray twice a day on the front, and into the nostrils so it reaches the inner opening.
- Pat dry with clean paper towel at the front.
- Keep the septum jewelry clean too, since the two share a channel.
Expect more crusting than you are used to from the septum itself, and be patient with it rather than picking. The nose cleaning guide has the routine.
Living with one
- Tissues and colds. A bead on the front of the tip of the nose is exactly where a handkerchief goes. A cold during healing is unpleasant.
- Sleeping face-down presses on it.
- Towels catch it.
- It is very visible. Unlike a septum, which hides completely with a retainer, a septril sits on the front of your face and cannot be concealed. Factor that in before starting a two-year project toward one.
Jewelry
Sizing is individual, because it depends on your stretched channel and the thickness of your nose tip. Expect 14 gauge or heavier, matched to the fistula, in implant-grade titanium. A curved barbell or a labret-style piece is typical, and your piercer will size it to your anatomy rather than from stock.
Threadless or internally threaded only. See the materials guide.
Problems
Irritation is common in the early months and is usually a sizing issue rather than an aftercare one. On a piercing this individual, a follow-up fitting is normal.
Migration is worth watching, as with any piercing through mobile tissue. More jewelry showing than there was, or thinning tissue over the channel, means see your piercer promptly. See piercing rejection.
Infection on the face needs prompt attention. Heat, spreading redness, thick coloured discharge or fever means a doctor the same day, with jewelry left in. See infected nose piercing.
Cost
$60 to $150 for the septril itself in a US studio, plus jewelry, and expect the upper end because few piercers do them. That figure excludes the septum piercing and the year or more of stretching that has to come first.
Tip 15 to 20 percent, and consider that on a placement this specialised you are paying for experience rather than time.
Frequently asked questions
What is a septril piercing?
A piercing that runs from inside a stretched septum channel out through the tip of the nose, so a single bead sits on the front of the nose below the tip. It uses the existing septum fistula as one half of its path, which is why it cannot be done on its own.
Do I need a stretched septum for a septril?
Yes, and this is the point people most often miss. The septum has to be healed and stretched, usually to at least 2 or 0 gauge, before a septril is possible. That alone is typically a one to two year project before the septril is even booked.
Does a septril hurt?
About 6 out of 10. The needle passes through the fleshy tip of the nose, which is thick and sensitive, and the angle is awkward. It is a step above every other nose piercing on this site.
How long does a septril take to heal?
Three to six months for the septril itself. That is on top of the healing and stretching time for the septum, which is the larger part of the timeline.
Can any piercer do a septril?
No, and you should not let one try if they have not done it before. It is a technically demanding placement that depends on assessing an existing stretched fistula. Ask to see healed examples of their own work.
What does a septril look like?
A single bead sitting on the front of the nose, below the tip and above the upper lip, roughly where the underside of the nose meets the front. From the front it reads as a small stud floating below the nose.
Sources
- Association of Professional Piercers - Suggested aftercare for body piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Jewelry for initial piercingshttps://safepiercing.org/jewelry-for-initial-piercings/
- Association of Professional Piercers - Body Jewelry Verification Programhttps://safepiercing.org/body-jewelry-verification-program-2/
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This article is for education only and is not medical advice. If a piercing is hot, swollen, spreading redness, oozing yellow or green discharge, or you have a fever, see a doctor today.