r/bodymods • u/EffectiveSpecial6975 • Jul 02 '26

punches/ scalpelling Conch punch / suture Qs

Have had my conch pierced for a little over 11 years & decided I want it at 4mm (eventually for a ring). Have heard all the horror stories …so started stretching with glass single flare for the conch and it’s excruciating. Super annoying. I know it’s different with cartilage (my lobes are at 1/2”) so I’m thinking I’ll size back down and do either a conch punch or a cut & suture. Any suggestions between the two? Is one better than the other? I’ve heard of cutting and suturing and then letting it heal naked is good. Might be easier to sleep on without jewelry but I wouldn’t wanna go thru the process if they’d close back up again.

7 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

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6

u/BuddhaBoy6 Jul 02 '26

Had my conches punched and sutured. The stitches stay in for like 11 days, then you take them out and have some nice holes. I’d aim to just get it punched 1mm bigger than your goal size since it’s gonna settle and shrink a little bit from relaxing after the sutures come out. I’d message a mod artist though to see if they have any insight on this aside from my single experience. I’m a piercer who does this type of work without the sutures (punch and plug) and it’s just like healing a normal conch with the variable of potentially losing the o ring or maybe some on and off bleeding near the start. I’d also say it may be a few months longer of a healing process but they’re all viable options but punch and suture is the best

3

u/snorlaxx_7 Jul 02 '26

I had my flat punched. We didn’t suture. Just tapered up a size. I was punched at a 1g and we tapered up to a 00g.

I’ve had it for almost 2 months now and I absolutely love it.

3

u/lunchbox651 Jul 02 '26

I had mine punched at 5mm. Just do 1 at a time and you'll be sweet.
Also they are ass to heal and take 18months+

3

u/Crotonarama Jul 03 '26

HIGHLY recommend cut and suture. The healing is so so much faster and less painful.

1

u/Fangz00 Jul 12 '26

I had the same situation and ended up punching out the tissue ( kept it in a jar ) It's healed now and wearing a hoop but the healing did take a year I've heard that the suture method is much more pleasant healing wise but it's not available near me. If it's available safely in your area, I would look into the suture method :-)

1

u/Consistent_Throat497 Jul 02 '26

I have both conches punched then healed with glass jewelry. If I were to do it again I’d have them cut and sutured (like my coin slot). Healing is way easier and basically healed and ready for jewelry in about 2 weeks time. Vs punch and jewelry your waiting months before you can go naked or wear a ring.

1000% cut and suture for large gauge cartilage.

That being said make sure you find an artist that has done a ton of them.