Does ear piercing hurt?

Most clients describe it as a quick pinch that is over in seconds. Your piercer talks you through each step first, so nothing about the process is a surprise.

How old does my child need to be?

We pierce younger clients with a parent or legal guardian present to give consent. Rather than going by age alone, we talk with you and your child at the visit about whether they are ready, and we explain every step before we begin.

Can I bring my own earrings?

For the initial piercing we use starter jewelry from our own pre sterilized selection, which is sized and finished for a fresh piercing. Once the piercing has fully healed you can wear whatever you like.

How long does an ear piercing take to heal?

As a general guide, lobe piercings take about 6 to 8 weeks and upper lobe or cartilage placements take about 8 to 12 weeks. Healing varies from person to person.

What is included in an ear piercing appointment?

Placement marking and your approval, the piercing itself, your starter jewelry, saline for cleaning, and a full aftercare walkthrough before you leave.

A pink gloved clinician holds an ear piercing instrument to the earlobe of a smiling client in a white robe during an ear piercing appointment at Catara Med Spa in Algonquin, IL.

Professional Ear Piercing

Ear Piercing Near Me in Algonquin, IL | Lobe Piercing at Catara Med Spa

Looking for ear piercing near you in Algonquin? At Catara Med Spa our trained team places lobe, second lobe, and upper lobe piercings using single use sterile equipment and quality starter jewelry, with clear aftercare guidance before you leave.

Book Now

Treatment Time

15-30 min

DownTime

minimal

RESULTS TIMELINE

Pierced during the same visit; lobes generally settle in about 6 to 8 weeks

Result Last

Piercings stay open with continued jewelry wear once fully healed

BEST FOR

First ear piercings, second and multiple lobe piercings, upper lobe placements, and children's ear piercing with guardian consent

How Ear Piercing Works at Catara

Your piercer marks the placement with you first, then uses single use sterile equipment and pre sterilized starter jewelry to place the piercing. Each ear takes only a moment.
Piercings We Offer

First and standard lobe piercings, second and multiple lobe piercings for symmetrical or stacked looks, and upper lobe placements that sit higher on the ear.
What Your Appointment Looks Like

We talk through placement and jewelry, mark the spots for you to approve in a mirror, prepare the area and equipment, place the piercing, then walk you through aftercare before you leave.
Healing and Aftercare

Lobe piercings generally settle in about 6 to 8 weeks, and upper lobe or cartilage placements generally take about 8 to 12 weeks. You clean with the saline we provide twice a day and keep the starter jewelry in for the full healing period.
Choosing Your Starter Jewelry

Starter jewelry is pre sterilized and comes in hypoallergenic options including surgical grade stainless steel, titanium, and 14k gold. We ask that you wear jewelry from our sterilized selection for the initial piercing.

About This Treatment

Ear piercing at Catara is a short in studio service covering first piercings, second and multiple lobe piercings, and upper lobe placements. Every visit starts by marking the placement with you, so you approve exactly where your new piercing sits.

Treatment Pricing

View our full med spa price menu

*Pricing is subject to change.

Who Ear Piercing in Algonquin, IL is For

Good Candidates? Is This Right for You?

What Ear Piercing at Catara Covers

First lobe piercings, second and multiple lobe placements, upper lobe piercings, and children’s ear piercing with a parent or legal guardian present. Every visit includes placement marking, the piercing itself, starter jewelry, and an aftercare walkthrough.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Most people looking for a straightforward lobe or upper lobe piercing are good candidates. Minors are pierced only with a parent or legal guardian present to give consent, and whether a younger client is ready is something we discuss with you at the visit rather than settling by age alone. Tell your piercer about metal sensitivities, a tendency to form raised or keloid scars, or any skin condition affecting the ear so placement and jewelry can be planned around it.

Hygiene and Good Practice

Piercings are performed by trained team members using single use, sterile equipment and pre sterilized starter jewelry, opened in front of you. If a piercing is not the right call on the day, we will tell you and reschedule. Healing times and results may vary.

Contraindications & Risks / Side Effects

Contraindications

An active infection, cut, rash, or sunburn on the ear or the area to be pierced.

A known allergy to the metals in our starter jewelry. Tell your piercer when you book so alternatives can be discussed.

A history of keloid or raised scarring at previous piercings or wounds.

A condition or medication that affects bleeding or wound healing. Talk to your prescribing clinician first, and never stop a prescribed medicine without your prescribing clinician's approval.

Diabetes or a circulatory condition that slows healing. Tell your piercer so healing can be monitored.

Recent surgery, injury, or a procedure on or near the ear.

A minor attending without a parent or legal guardian present to give consent.

Feeling unwell on the day of your appointment. We are glad to reschedule.

Risks / Side Effects

Tenderness, redness, and mild swelling at the piercing site during the first days.

Light bleeding or crusting around the piercing while it settles.

Infection, which can develop if a healing piercing is handled with unwashed hands or is not kept clean. Contact us or your physician if you notice spreading redness, heat, discharge, or increasing pain.

A sensitivity or allergic reaction to jewelry metal, most often to nickel containing alloys. Tell your piercer about any known metal sensitivity before your appointment.

Raised or keloid scarring at the piercing site, which some people are more prone to than others.

Migration, rejection, or an off centre result if the piercing is knocked, snagged, or slept on heavily while it is healing.

A torn or split lobe if jewelry is pulled or caught.

Embedded jewelry if a back is fastened too tightly or the area swells. Contact us if the jewelry looks like it is sinking into the skin.

Feeling faint at the moment of piercing, which is why your piercer keeps you seated and checks on you before you leave.

What To Expect

Pre & Post Treatment Care

Pre-Care Instructions

Eat something and drink water beforehand so you are not arriving on an empty stomach.

Come with clean hair and ears, and skip heavy styling product around the ears that day.

Wear a top that does not need to be pulled over your head afterwards, such as a button front or zip up.

Tell your piercer about metal sensitivities, a scarring history, or anything affecting healing when you book.

If you are booking for a child, plan for a parent or legal guardian to attend and bring photo identification.

Post-Care Instructions

Clean the piercing with the saline solution we provide twice daily.

Leave the starter jewelry in for the full healing period so the channel can form.

Handle the piercing only with freshly washed hands, and do not twist or turn the earrings unnecessarily.

Stay out of pools, lakes, and hot tubs while the piercing is healing.

Sleep off the pierced side where you can, and keep hair, headphones, and clothing from snagging the jewelry.

How Ear Piercing Works at Catara Med Spa

Ear piercing at Catara Med Spa is a short in studio service performed by trained team members who follow the same hygiene standards as the rest of our treatment rooms. Every piercing uses single use, sterile equipment and pre sterilized starter jewelry, and the packaging is opened in front of you.

Before anything happens, your piercer marks the placement and hands you a mirror so you can approve the position, adjust it, or change your mind. The piercing itself takes only a moment per ear, and most clients describe it as a quick pinch.
Ear Piercing Services: Lobe, Multiple, and Upper Lobe
We place the ear piercings clients ask for most:
- Standard lobe piercing. The classic first piercing, placed in the soft lower lobe.
- Second and multiple lobe piercings. Additional lobe placements, either symmetrical across both ears or stacked for a curated look.
- Upper lobe piercing. A placement that sits higher on the ear and takes longer to heal than a standard lobe.
- Children’s ear piercing. First piercings for younger clients, with a parent or legal guardian present to give consent and every step explained before we begin.
If you are adding to piercings you already have, your piercer will map the new placements around your existing jewelry so the finished set sits the way you want it.
What to Expect at Your Ear Piercing Appointment

Consultation and placement marking. We talk through what you want, help you choose starter jewelry, and mark the placement so you can approve it in a mirror before we go further.

Preparation. The area is cleaned and the equipment and jewelry are prepared. Everything that touches your ear is sterile and single use.

The piercing. Each placement takes only a moment. Most clients describe the sensation as a quick pinch that passes in seconds.

Aftercare walkthrough. Before you leave we go through cleaning, what is normal while a piercing settles, and when to get in touch. You go home with saline and written instructions.
Ear Piercing Aftercare and Healing
Healing is mostly about keeping the piercing clean and leaving it alone. The routine is short:
- Clean the piercing with the saline solution we provide twice daily.
- Keep the starter jewelry in for the full healing period, because taking it out early can let the channel close.
- Do not touch or twist the earrings unnecessarily, and handle them only with freshly washed hands.
- Stay out of pools, lakes, and hot tubs while the piercing is healing.
- Watch for redness, swelling, or tenderness that is not settling, and contact us if anything concerns you.
As a general guide, lobe piercings take about 6 to 8 weeks and upper lobe or cartilage placements take about 8 to 12 weeks. Healing varies from person to person, so treat those windows as a guide rather than a deadline.
Starter Jewelry and How Ear Piercing Fits with Your Other Visits

Starter jewelry is included and arrives pre sterilized in hypoallergenic options: surgical grade stainless steel, titanium, and 14k gold. For the initial piercing we ask that you wear jewelry from our sterilized selection rather than bringing your own, because starter posts are sized and finished for a fresh piercing. Once healing is complete you can wear whatever you like.

Ear piercing is one of the spa services at Catara, alongside waxing and our facial menu. If you would like to combine a piercing with another service in the same visit, tell us when you book and we will schedule them together.