Flat

The flat is the broad plane of cartilage inside the upper rim, between the helix and the antihelix. It is the largest uninterrupted surface on the ear, which is why it is the one place you can put two or three pieces in a deliberate cluster.

There is no rim for a ring to close around, so this is stud territory only. Anything sold to you as a hoop for a flat is not going to sit correctly. Flat backs matter more here than almost anywhere, because the piece lies against a flat surface and anything protruding behind it will press.

If you have had a cluster done, treat each hole as its own piercing — they heal at their own pace and one can flare while the others are fine.

It is high on the ear and directly in the path of a pillow.