Normally, after getting pierced or tattooed, I'm so excited about my new mod, the first thing I do when I get a chance is write an experience. For this piercing, I decided to wait a month, because I find a lot of experiences fail to explain how things were AFTER the procedure.
At A Glance Author michelle Contact michelle@bme.anon IAM xoitoyx When A month ago Artist Dustin Sparrow Studio Stainless Studios Location Queen St. W, Toronto Ontario When I contacted Dustin about piercing me, I wasn't sure what I wanted done. I was thinking about starting an ear project, but at the same time, I wanted my tongue web done. After some discussing over IAM, we agreed on a tranverse from my anti-tragus to lobe. I had already had this done once, but it had to be removed immediately, because the piercer had no idea what he was doing and it was a mistake to have even gone to him.
This was to be Dustin's first time doing this piercing, and unfortunately, he admitted that it kept him up until the wee hours of the morning the two nights before, because he was trying to decide every last detail to make the piercing perfect. I found it reassuring that he took time to care about it, but felt bad that he lost sleep over it.
When I arrived at Stainless that morning, I wasn't too nervous. The studio has a very nice atmosphere, and the NICEST curtains. The staff is also very welcoming. Normally, Tom, who apprentices Dustin, sits through his piercings, but since Dustin is nearing the end of his apprenticeship and he felt comfortable piercing me, Tom was not there. This was good because Tom usually talks A LOT, and it makes things frustrating sometimes. Dustin has pierced me three times now, including this piercing, my tragus, and my madonna. All of which I was very happy with, and I now trust him more then anyone.
Dustin handed me the forms to sign which I now know fairly well, and he led me to the back room which I had my madonna done in this passed January. My friend Steve came back to watch and take pictures since I brought my digital camera along. Dustin and I chatted about how things went with my other piercings done by him, and we went through exactly what was going to happen.
I had told him what happened with the my last attempt at this piercing, and he said I should be fine since there was no scar tissue. He explained that he was going to use a 14g 3/4" Barbell (he was happy that my ear was perfect size for a standard tongue barbell) and that it was to be pierced with a 12g needle. This made me nervous because although I have stretched piercings (including my ears to 1/2") before, I have never had anything pierced bigger then a 14g. He had already warned me that this was a longer process and now went a little more in depth as to why. I was really worried about the pain, since last time it hurt A LOT, and it was done at 14g, but Dustin said as soon as he passed the cartiledge, I should be fine.
I was very relieved that no clamps were needed, since last time, thats what hurt the most. He was surprised to hear that the last piercer had even used clamps, since they are not needed in an area like this. He also said that the reason the last piercer had had so much problems with my ear was because he had used a 14g needle, which makes a smaller hole in cartiledge, making it difficult to insert the jewelry, which was exactly the problem that had occurred.
We spent some time marking the piercing, and I was VERY picky about where it went through on the top. I wanted it on the VERY tip on my antitragus, but didn't mind where it went through the lobe. We marked and remarked a few times, and he got on with the cleaning. As he cleaned up he mentioned some things for me to watch out for, like harsh shampoo and telephones, and reminded me to change my pillow cases and sheets as well as keep the pets out of my bed. Its little tips like these I find most helpful.
I saw the needle out of the corner of my eye and it really made my stomach churn. For someone with as many piercings as I have had, no one understands why it always takes me awhile to get myself ready for another. Dustin has a very calming way of walking me through my breathing as inserts the needle, which makes things a lot easier for me. Even still, I chickened out the first few times until I finally said, "okay, I'm ready, go."
He walked me through my breathing and on my second exhale, in went the needle. I must say, it was an intense pain, but not unbearable. I was expecting a LONG time before he said the usual "okay, the needle is through," but it wasn't near as bad as I imagined. We stopped when the needle was fully in to take a quick picture for BME, and he then inserted the barbell, which was not painful at all. We took a few more pictures and he asked how I felt. It was fairly painful, especially when I moved my face certain ways that caused my ear to move, but I wasn't dizzy or anything like I sometimes get.
We went through aftercare, and I made sure to ask all the questions I could, since I really didn't want anything to happen to this piercing. I had problems with my last piercing drying out with sea salt soaks, so he explained that I should only use 1/4 tsp of salt to every cup of water, and I can even go down to 1/8 if I still notice drying. I asked about Saline Solution and he explained that it may be hard to get ahold of, but there are some sterile saline nasal sprays in pharmacies that are convenient to carry around if I'm out and unable to mix sea salt.
We went back out to the lobby where he gave me another aftercare sheet. I found a lot of the contents extremely helpful. There were a few points I'd never seen mentioned, such as vitamins that would be beneficial, and again, reminders to stay away from public telephones and such.
I paid for the jewelry and browsed around a bit. We joked around with the counter girl about the fact that stainless-studios.com is currently a porno website, and that she hasn't finished there actual one. Dustin also got my some O rings, since I lose mine so easily, and we said goodbye.
That night it was difficult to sleep, but after a few nights, I mastered the art of sleeping on the top corner of my forehead just so that my ear is barely touching the pillow.
I've kept up with the sea salt soaks 1-2 times a day since the initial piercing. I've also been taking vitamin C in the morning to help keep myself healthy. For the first two weeks, I barely noticed any lymph or discharge, although my whole ear was red for quite sometime.
Now, after almost month, it has been "crusting" a bit more, but only the cartiledge is red, and it hurts alot less to touch. I've been warned by MANY people that this will be a very picky piercing to heal, but I intend to keep it. I often experience drying in my piercings, but so far theres been no major concerns.
I'm lucky that Dustin is so knowledgable and talented. If you are considering being pierced by an apprentice, PLEASE, make sure you know a lot about them before you take any risks. Make sure you see some of their other work, and that you trust them, as well as the person who apprenticed them. Some apprentices pierce for cheap (often just the cost of jewelry), but that should never be the reason you chose a piercer. All things should be taken into consideration, including the cleanliness and reputation of the studio itself. I made a mistake once with this piercing the first time around, and I'm just glad the second time has been such a pleasant experience.