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Orbital Piercings

Let’s start at the beginning: 

What is an orbital piercing? An orbital is a double piercing connected by a single ring. 

Not to be confused with Industrial piercings (aka Scaffold piercings), which differ in that the piercings are connected by a barbell instead of a ring. 

Where can we place an orbital? Practically anywhere on the ear! We can even connect healed piercings with rings! With a little creativity and taking the right measurements, the options are almost endless!

Orbital with a CBB and a captive bead, by Rae George at Ethereal Aesthetics

There are different ways to place an orbital in a piercing and to decide which is the right one, we must do a study of each case with several points to take into account: the person’s daily level of physical activity, sleeping habits and posture preferences, profession, use of glasses/phone/headphones/headwear etc. 

Helix Orbital by Jess Farrar at Golden Fern

What jewellery is suitable for an orbital? We have several options: We can use a BCR (ball closure ring), we can use a circular barbell, or a seam ring.

Orbital by Cale Bedford at Oleander Piercing

Should orbitals be made with the hoop directly, or do I have to heal the piercings with straight jewellery before wearing a hoop? The answer is “YES” to both questions. It will depend on the piercing and the anatomy of that area. We cannot generalise with a universal rule for everyone, when everyone is different in terms of sizes, shapes, lifestyles etc. Every detail counts. 

Some people can wear a ring from the beginning because their anatomy allows it, and other people will be recommended to have two standard piercings, and connect them with a ring once healed. 

What kind of problems are common in orbitals?  At Rogue we don’t usually encounter problems with orbitals, because it is a super stable piercing, the range of movement of the jewellery in the piercing is practically zero and this facilitates healing a lot because there is hardly any mechanical stress.

Lobe orbital with seam ring by Cale Bedford at Oleander Piercing

Still, and as with any other piercing, it can cause scarring, piercing bumps, irritations, lumps and rejection. We always recommend coming to see us for a check-up if you have any issues at all. Most of the time, the problem is a small detail that is easy to fix. 

What size should the jewellery be?

Like most piercings, the size is something we can also choose. We can use fine and delicate jewellery or we can make it ambitious and chunky. The options are almost endless!

Orbitals are piercings that require dedication and attention.

One of the biggest advantages of this double piercing is that if it has been done with a ring from the beginning, you will not need a downsize!  The size of the ring you got pierced with will be the size you will always need. 

If you would like to make an appointment for a consultation, we are open 7 days a week, we look forward to hearing from you!

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