Patience is a virtue! While everybody heals differently, most piercings shouldn't be changed for at least 2–3 months (and much longer for cartilage). Changing it too early can cause the channel to collapse or irritate the tissue.

We initially use a longer bar to account for initial swelling and drainage. Once the swelling goes down (usually 4–8 weeks), you must come back to swap for a shorter bar. A bar that is too long can snag or begin to tilt, causing permanent "angle" issues.