by B. Leslie Baird

Created on: February 14, 2011   Last Updated: February 17, 2011

A rook piercing is one of many ear piercing alternatives to standard lobe piercing. Similar to tragus and industrial piercing, a rook piercing is done through cartilage. The difference is that the piercing goes through a very thick layer of cartilage and really should be done professionally.

Location:

A rook piercing is done on the anti helix portion of the ear. This is an inner area of the ear, above the ear canal. It is not the small protrusion above the tragus closest to the head but just above that area. The area can be found at the top of the inner curve of the ear and will feel somewhat like a folded double layer of cartilage.

For the most successful rook piercing the anti helix area should protrude outward enough to accommodate a piercing and jewelry. If the area is too thin there will not be enough cartilage to hold the jewelry in place. Cartilage piercings do have a tendency to migrate, or move, as they heal so this must be kept in mind before having the procedure done.

Healing time and care:

Various types of cartilage piercing can take from eight weeks to over a year to fully heal. During the healing process extra care must be taken to ensure the piercing is kept clean and no unnecessary handling is done. Follow all cleaning directions provided by the piecing specialist and watch for any signs of infection. Some swelling and pink coloration may be normal but redness and excessive discharge is not.

Jewelry used in cartilage piercing should not be changed or removed until the piercing is fully healed. Choose the jewelry type before the rook piercing is done and leave it in place. Excessive handling of a new cartilage piercing not only increases the risk of infection but contributes to migration. It should also be noted that a rook piercing is significantly more painful than tragus or septum piercing and will continue to be painful for several days.

Jewelry:

There are several types of jewelry that can be used in a rook piercing. Horseshoes and captive bead rings are popular. Horseshoes have an added advantage with the ability to change the ball ends to other styles and colors without removing the jewelry itself. Curved barbells, or eyebrow pieces, also work well for rook piercing and the actual end pieces can be changed without disturbing the jewelry. No matter what type of jewelry is chosen it needs to be a quality material, preferably 316L surgical stainless steel.

Due to the thickness and size of the anti helix area a rook piercing is one of the more difficult piercings to have done and maintain properly. Do choose a reliable professional and follow all instructions that are provided. If a cartilage piercing rejects it can be almost impossible to repair and can result in a cauliflower appearance due to damage.

References:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/rook-piercing-pain.ht ml

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/rook-piercing.html

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