An industrial piercing involves two separate cartilage perforations, typically in the upper ear, connected by a single, straight barbell. The time it takes for these two holes to close after removing the jewelry is highly unpredictable, depending on several individual factors and the dynamic biological response of the body.
Closure Timeline Based on Piercing Maturity
When an industrial piercing is new and unhealed, the body’s reaction to jewelry removal is rapid because the fistula—the tube of scar tissue lining the channel—has not yet formed. If the jewelry is removed within the first few weeks or months, the tissue can swell and collapse almost immediately. For these fresh piercings, the holes can shrink and seal shut within hours, making reinsertion impossible without professional help.
Once an industrial piercing has fully matured, typically after a minimum of 6 to 12 months, the closure process becomes significantly slower. The established fistula provides a stable channel that resists immediate collapse. Even with the jewelry removed, this tube of skin and scar tissue must gradually shrink and be absorbed by the surrounding tissue.
For an established piercing, the visible hole may shrink substantially within a few weeks, but the internal channel can take months to fully contract. After years of wear, the two perforations may never completely disappear, often reducing to small pinprick-sized indentations. These marks are no longer viable for jewelry insertion but remain as permanent physical indicators. The time it takes for the channel to shrink from a functional size to a barely-there mark is highly variable, spanning from several weeks to several months.
Factors Affecting How Quickly the Piercing Closes
The dimensions of the original piercing channel play a significant role in determining the speed of closure. Industrial piercings are typically done with a 14-gauge needle. If the wearer stretched the piercing to a larger gauge, the body must produce more tissue to fill a wider space, naturally prolonging the closure process compared to a standard 14-gauge hole.
The length of time the piercing has been present heavily influences how quickly it closes. A piercing stable for five years has a much more robust and developed fistula than one that is only one year old. This older, more integrated tissue structure takes considerably longer to break down and contract after the removal of the barbell, slowing the shrinking timeline.
An individual’s unique biological capacity for healing and tissue regeneration also dictates the rate of closure. Factors like genetics, skin elasticity, and overall systemic health contribute to the efficiency of the body’s remodeling process. A person with high skin elasticity and a fast healing response may see quicker initial shrinkage than someone who heals at a more moderate pace.
If the industrial piercing had a history of trauma, such as frequent irritation bumps, migration, or minor infections, the closure process might be altered. Chronic irritation encourages the formation of dense, often uneven, scar tissue within the channel. This more complex internal structure can sometimes slow down the body’s ability to smoothly absorb the tissue, leading to a slower or more irregular closure than an uncomplicated piercing.
Residual Appearance and Scar Tissue
As the industrial piercing channel closes, the body fills the empty space with new tissue, primarily composed of internal scar tissue. This process of tissue remodeling rarely results in the complete disappearance of the two holes. The scar tissue may manifest as small, raised bumps or slight depressions at the site of the original perforations.
The visibility of the residual marks is directly related to the maturity of the piercing and the individual’s skin type. Even after months of closure, the two points where the barbell exited the skin often remain discernible as tiny, slightly discolored marks or small indents. For a piercing worn for many years, the two holes are likely to persist as permanent physical indicators of the former modification.