Ear Piercing & Helix Istanbul

Which ear piercing types do you offer?

We offer lobe, second/third lobe, helix, forward helix, tragus, daith, conch, rook and industrial. We recommend the best placement for your ear anatomy.

How long does ear cartilage take to heal?

The lobe heals in 6-8 weeks, cartilage (helix, tragus) in 4-9 months. Proper care and suitable jewellery during healing are very important; we give you detailed aftercare instructions.

Which Piercing Suits Your Ear Anatomy?

Every ear is different — and this isn't a matter of aesthetic preference, it's a matter of technical suitability. Some piercing types require a specific cartilage structure; when applied to an ear whose anatomy isn't suitable, they don't heal properly, migrate, or get rejected by the body.

Placements that require the right anatomy:

Daith — the cartilage in the ear's inner fold needs to be pronounced enough. In some people this fold is quite shallow; in that case the jewellery won't sit at the right angle. This is the first thing we check during assessment.

Rook — the thickness of the upper fold is decisive. If the rook cartilage is thin, the jewellery puts pressure on it and healing takes longer.

Snug — the most selective one. If the inner fold at the edge of the ear isn't pronounced, it can't be done. Suitability rates are relatively low in the Turkish population; we don't recommend insisting on it.

Conch — inner or outer conch is chosen based on how flat the cartilage is.

Placements that don't depend on anatomy: Lobe, second/third lobe, helix, forward helix, tragus (if thickness allows).

Gizem examines your ear by hand during the assessment and tells you which placements suit you. We don't say yes to a piercing that isn't suitable for you — losing a client in the short term is better than dealing with a piercing that won't heal months later.

How Many Piercings Can I Get in One Session?

A common request: "let's do them all at once." It's technically possible, but not always the right choice.

Our general approach:

We recommend a maximum of 2-3 piercings on the same ear. More than that means you can't sleep on that ear during healing — and sleeping position is one of the biggest factors affecting healing in cartilage piercings.

Spreading them across both ears is a better strategy: you can sleep on one side while the other heals.

Lobe piercings are more flexible — 2-3 lobes can comfortably be done in one session, since soft tissue heals much faster.

For cartilage piercings (helix, tragus, rook, conch), the ideal approach is: one side in one session, the other side 2-3 months later.

If you're planning multiple piercings, we plan the order together — both for healing and for aesthetic balance.

I Already Have an Earring Hole — Can I Add a New One?

Yes, and this is very common. But a few things need to be checked:

Condition of the existing hole. An old lobe piercing might not be fully closed, or may have been done at the wrong angle. This is factored in when planning the new piercing — otherwise the earrings will sit unevenly.

Distance. There needs to be enough distance between two piercings, otherwise blood flow to the tissue weakens and both heal poorly.

Symmetry. The two ears are rarely perfectly symmetrical. The goal isn't "the same spot" but "the spot that will look the same" — this takes visual judgement and experience.

Jewellery in the existing piercing. If you're wearing an old earring containing nickel, we recommend switching it to implant-grade titanium along with the new piercing.

What You Need to Decide Before Getting It Done

Things to clarify before coming to the studio — having these ready speeds up the process considerably:

When do you want to get it done? If you have plans like swimming season, a wedding, or exam period, timing should be chosen accordingly. Cartilage piercings take 6-12 months to heal; pools and the sea should be avoided for the first 4 weeks.

Which side? Your sleeping position matters. If you sleep on your right side, starting with the left ear makes healing easier.

Any jewellery preference? The initial jewellery must be implant-grade titanium. You can switch to gold or gemstone jewellery once healing is complete. Knowing this upfront avoids a mismatch in expectations.

Any known metal allergy? Nickel allergy is common in Turkey. Since we use titanium, it isn't an issue, but it's good to mention beforehand.

For more on aftercare, see our ear piercing guide.