If you have a deviated septum, you may wonder if you can still get a septum piercing. I had the same question when I looked into this topic. A crooked septum does not always mean you have to skip the piercing.
The main thing I would look at is your nose anatomy. A good piercer needs to check the inside of your nose and see if there is enough soft tissue for a safe and well-placed piercing.
Your septum may also affect how the jewelry looks. So before I got one, I would want to know what I could expect from my own nose rather than compare it with someone else’s piercing.
Can You Get a Septum Piercing With a Deviated Septum?
Yes, you may be able to get a septum piercing with a deviated septum.
A deviated septum means the wall between the two sides of your nose is not straight. Some people have a small deviation and never notice it. Others may have trouble breathing through one side of the nose.
Having a deviated septum does not automatically mean you cannot get pierced.
What matters is your own nose anatomy.
A piercer needs to check:
- Where your septum sits
- How much it bends
- Where the soft tissue is
- Where the piercing can safely go
- How the jewelry may sit
- Whether the result is likely to look straight
I would always get an in-person check before making the decision.
What Is a Deviated Septum?
Your nasal septum is the wall that separates the left and right sides of your nose.
A straight septum sits close to the center. With a deviated septum, this wall sits more to one side.
Some people are born with it. It can also happen after a nose injury.
A small deviation may cause no problems at all. A larger one can sometimes cause:
- Trouble breathing through the nose
- A blocked nose
- Nosebleeds
- Snoring
- Facial pressure
- Problems with your sense of smell
So, having a deviated septum does not always mean there is a health problem.
For a septum piercing, though, the shape of your septum can affect where the jewelry can go.
Does a Deviated Septum Make a Septum Piercing Impossible?
No.
A deviated septum does not automatically rule out a septum piercing.
Some people have a mild deviation and plenty of soft tissue for the piercing. Others may have a stronger bend that makes placement harder.
This is why I would not decide based only on how my nose looks from the outside.
The inside of the nose matters more.
An experienced piercer can check the area and tell you if there is a good place for the piercing.
If the piercer says your anatomy is not suitable, I would take that advice seriously.
How Does a Deviated Septum Affect Septum Piercing Placement?
This is one of the biggest things I would think about before getting pierced.
A deviated septum can affect:
- Where the piercing can go
- The angle of the piercing
- How the jewelry hangs
- How centered the jewelry looks
- How the jewelry looks from different angles
- Which jewelry size works best
The piercer has to work with the shape of your nose.
The goal is not to force the jewelry into a spot just because it looks good on another person.
Every nose is different.
I would ask the piercer to show me where they plan to place the piercing and explain why that spot works for my nose.
Will a Septum Piercing Look Crooked With a Deviated Septum?
It can, but this is not always the case.
A deviated septum can affect how the jewelry looks. Your piercing may look straight from the front but slightly uneven from another angle.
That does not always mean the piercing was done badly.
Your natural nose shape can affect the final look.
This is why I would keep my expectations realistic.
If my septum is already uneven, I would not expect the jewelry to look perfectly straight from every angle.
Why Can the Jewelry Look Uneven?
There are two things to think about.
The first is your natural nose shape.
The second is the piercing placement.
These are not the same thing.
A person can have a crooked septum and still have a well-placed piercing. The jewelry may simply look a little different because of the way the nose is shaped.
On the other hand, poor placement can also make jewelry look crooked.
That is why choosing a skilled piercer matters.
Can a Piercer Make a Septum Piercing Look Straight?
A good piercer may be able to place the piercing so the jewelry looks straight from the front.
But I would not expect a perfect result from every angle.
Your nose has its own shape, and a deviated septum can make perfect symmetry harder to achieve.
I would tell the piercer what look I want and ask what is realistic.
For example, I would ask:
Can you make the jewelry look straight from the front with my nose shape?
That gives the piercer a chance to explain what I can expect before the piercing.
Can You Still Find the Septum Sweet Spot With a Deviated Septum?
You may still have a suitable septum piercing sweet spot even if your septum is crooked.
The amount of usable tissue can vary from person to person.
Some people have an easy area to pierce. Others have a smaller or harder-to-find area.
I would not try to find the sweet spot myself.
A trained piercer can check the inside of your nose and decide if there is a good place for the piercing.
If you want to learn more about the sweet spot itself, I would keep that information in my separate Septum Piercing Sweet Spot article instead of repeating the whole topic here.
Does a Deviated Septum Make a Septum Piercing Hurt More?
Not always.
Pain can be different for every person.
Your nose anatomy, the piercing location, the piercer’s technique, and your own pain level can all affect how it feels.
I would expect some pressure or a quick pinch rather than assuming it will be completely painless.
I also would not use pain as a way to judge the piercing.
A painful piercing does not always mean something went wrong. A piercing that barely hurts does not always mean the placement is perfect.
Can a Septum Piercing Fix a Deviated Septum?
No.
A septum piercing is a body piercing. It is not a treatment for a deviated septum.
If your septum is badly bent and causes breathing problems, a healthcare professional can check the problem and tell you about treatment options.
I would never get a septum piercing because I thought it would straighten my nose or fix my breathing.
The piercing and the medical problem are two separate things.
Can a Septum Piercing Make a Deviated Septum Worse?
I would not assume that a piercing will change the shape of your septum.
A deviated septum is a change in the structure of the wall inside your nose. A piercing does not straighten that wall.
However, if I already had major nose problems, I would get them checked before getting pierced.
I would especially be careful if I had ongoing pain, breathing problems, or a recent nose injury.
Can a Septum Piercing Affect Breathing?
If you already have breathing problems, I would deal with that concern before getting pierced.
A deviated septum can sometimes make it harder to breathe through one or both sides of the nose.
I would talk to a healthcare professional first if I had:
- Constant nose blockage
- Trouble breathing through one side
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Major congestion
- Trouble sleeping because of breathing
- Ongoing pain or pressure in my nose
I would not use a piercing as a way to treat these problems.
Should You See a Doctor Before Getting a Septum Piercing?
Not everyone with a deviated septum needs to see a doctor before getting pierced.
If I had a small deviation and no breathing problems, I would start by having an experienced piercer check my nose.
I would be more careful if I had strong symptoms or a known nose problem.
I would also talk to a healthcare professional if I had:
- Recent nose surgery
- A serious nose injury
- Major breathing problems
- Ongoing nosebleeds
- A health problem that affects healing
A piercer can check if your anatomy is suitable for a piercing.
A healthcare professional can check if you have a medical problem with your nose.
Those are two different things.
What If You Had Septum Surgery?
If you have had septoplasty or another nose surgery, I would tell your piercer before getting a septum piercing.
Surgery can change the shape of the inside of your nose. It can also leave scar tissue.
I would tell the piercer:
- What surgery I had
- When I had it
- Why I had it
- If I still have symptoms
- If I know about any scar tissue
If the surgery was recent, I would wait until my nose has healed.
I would also ask my healthcare professional when it is safe to have a new piercing.
What If Your Deviated Septum Came From a Broken Nose?
A broken nose can change the shape of the nasal septum.
If my deviated septum came from an old injury, I would tell the piercer about it.
If the injury was recent, I would wait until my nose had healed before thinking about a piercing.
I would also get medical advice if I still had:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Trouble breathing
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Ongoing tenderness
I would not add a new piercing to a nose that was still recovering from an injury.
What If Your Nose Looks Crooked From the Outside?
A crooked-looking nose does not tell me exactly what is happening inside.
The outside of your nose and the nasal septum are connected, but they are not always shaped in the same way.
I could have a nose that looks a little crooked but still have good anatomy for a septum piercing.
I could also have a deviated septum that is not very obvious from the outside.
That is why I would let a professional check the inside of my nose.
What If My Septum Piercing Looks Crooked After Getting It?
I would not panic right away.
A new piercing can have some swelling. This can change how the jewelry sits at first.
I would also remember that my natural nose shape can affect the way the jewelry looks.
If I was still worried after the early swelling settled, I would have an experienced piercer look at it.
I would not push, pull, or twist the jewelry to try to make it straight.
I would also avoid taking it out on my own if I thought there was a problem. I would get professional advice first.
How I Would Prepare for a Septum Piercing With a Deviated Septum
If I had a deviated septum and wanted this piercing, I would take a little extra time before booking.
1. I would find an experienced piercer
I would look for a piercer who has done many septum piercings on different nose shapes.
2. I would ask for an anatomy check
I would want the piercer to look inside my nose before agreeing to the piercing.
3. I would explain my concerns
I would tell the piercer if I was worried about:
- Crooked jewelry
- Pain
- Symmetry
- Breathing
- Jewelry size
- Hiding the piercing
- Previous nose surgery
4. I would ask what result I can expect
This is one of the most useful questions I would ask.
I would rather know before the piercing that my jewelry may look a little uneven from some angles than be surprised afterward.
5. I would listen if the piercer says no
If the piercer told me that my anatomy was not suitable, I would not try to find someone who would do it anyway.
A piercing is optional.
I would rather wait than get a piercing that may not work well with my nose.
Questions I Would Ask My Piercer
Before getting my septum pierced, I would ask these questions.
Can you work with my deviated septum?
This would be my first question.
Where would you place the piercing?
I would ask the piercer to explain the planned spot.
Will my deviated septum affect the jewelry?
This can help me set realistic expectations.
Will the jewelry look straight from the front?
If appearance matters to me, I would ask this directly.
Will it look different from the side?
This is worth asking because the jewelry may look different from different angles.
Can I flip the jewelry up?
If I need to hide my piercing at times, I would ask about this before getting pierced.
What jewelry would work best for my nose?
The size and shape of the jewelry can change the final look.
Do you think I should see a doctor first?
I would ask this if I had breathing problems, previous surgery, or another concern about my nose.
When I Would Delay a Septum Piercing
I would wait if I had:
- A recent nose injury
- Recent nose surgery
- An active infection
- Major swelling
- Ongoing nose pain
- Frequent unexplained nosebleeds
- Serious breathing problems
- A health issue that could affect healing
- A piercer who says my anatomy is not suitable
I would rather wait than rush into a piercing when my nose is not ready.
Can You Still Have a Good-Looking Septum Piercing With a Deviated Septum?
Yes, you may be able to.
I would just keep my expectations realistic.
The goal is not to make the inside of my nose perfectly straight.
The goal is to have a well-placed piercing that works with my anatomy and gives me a look I like.
Some people with a deviated septum may have jewelry that looks almost perfectly straight from the front.
Others may have more visible unevenness.
The result can depend on:
- How much the septum is deviated
- Where the usable tissue is
- Piercing placement
- Jewelry size
- Jewelry shape
- The natural shape of the nose
That is why I would judge the result based on my own nose rather than compare it with someone else’s septum piercing.
My Final Take
If I had a deviated septum, I would not automatically rule out a septum piercing.
A crooked septum does not mean you cannot get one. The bigger question is whether your nose has suitable anatomy for the piercing and whether you can get the look you want.
I would start with an experienced piercer and have them check my anatomy before making a decision.
I would also be honest about my expectations. If my septum is uneven, the jewelry may look a little different from some angles. That does not always mean the piercing is badly done.
If I had serious breathing problems, recent nose surgery, a recent injury, or other nose problems, I would talk to a healthcare professional before getting pierced.
For me, that would be a much better approach than trying to judge my anatomy in the mirror or copying another person’s piercing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get a septum piercing with a deviated septum?
Yes, you may be able to. A deviated septum does not automatically stop you from getting a septum piercing. An experienced piercer should check your nose before piercing it.
Will a septum piercing look crooked if I have a deviated septum?
It can look a little uneven from some angles. Your natural nose shape can affect how the jewelry sits and looks.
Can a piercer work around a deviated septum?
Sometimes. It depends on the shape of your nose and the amount of usable tissue. A piercer needs to check your anatomy in person.
Does a deviated septum make a septum piercing more painful?
Not always. Pain can vary based on your anatomy, the placement, the technique used, and your own pain level.
Can you pierce a very crooked septum?
It may be possible for some people, but there is no simple yes or no answer. An experienced piercer needs to check your nose first.
Can a septum piercing fix a deviated septum?
No. A septum piercing does not straighten or fix a deviated septum.
Can a septum piercing make a deviated septum worse?
A piercing is not a treatment for a deviated septum. If you already have major breathing or nose problems, I would get them checked before getting pierced.
Can I get a septum piercing after septoplasty?
You may be able to, but surgery can change the inside of your nose. I would tell the piercer about your surgery and make sure the area has healed before getting pierced.
Can I get a septum piercing after breaking my nose?
Possibly, but I would wait until the injury has healed. If I still had pain, swelling, breathing problems, or frequent nosebleeds, I would get my nose checked first.
What if my septum piercing looks crooked after I get it?
I would give the new piercing some time to settle and have a professional check it if I remained concerned. I would not try to force the jewelry into a different position.
Should I tell my piercer that I have a deviated septum?
Yes. I would tell the piercer before the anatomy check, especially if a healthcare professional has diagnosed the deviation.
Can I still flip up my septum jewelry with a deviated septum?
You may be able to, but it depends on your anatomy, placement, and jewelry. I would tell the piercer that I want this option before getting pierced.
