A few days ago I got my anti tragus pierced with a 16g CBR. I had been debating getting it done all summer, but I was at home, and the piercing place I really like is at school, so I decided I would wait. It just happened that the used textbook store is right next to the piercing place. I went in there to buy some books, and decided to get pierced while I was there. I was nervous about being there by myself, cause it's always easier to get stuff done if you have a friend there with you, but I knew if I didn't get it done then, I probably wouldn't get it done for a long time.
At A Glance Author Ashley Contact Ashley@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Noah Studio Ultimate Body Jewelry and Grinder Tattoo Location Rochester, NY I had previously gotten a helix orbital at the same place, and had gone with some friends to get pierced or get tattoos there. All of the piercers I had seen were great, but I had never seen the guy who pierced my anti tragus before. But I was so comfortable with the other piercers that I figured he would be reliable too, especially after he told me he learned how to pierce from the guy who owns the place. He helped me pick out the right CBR for the size of my anti tragus. Originally, I thought the hoop was going to be too big and look funny, but I didn't want to spent the extra money for a barbell. Now I'm glad that I got the CBR, because I really like how it looks after all. After we picked out the jewelry, he went and sterilized the jewelry while I was paying for it.
When I went back in the piercing room I was pretty nervous. My anti tragus was the first real adventurous piercing I'd gotten. I have my lobes pierced 3 times (the first holes are stretched to 10g) and my helix orbital, but that's nothing too unusual. My anti tragus felt pretty thick to me, so I was thinking that this could be pretty painful. But Noah, the guy who did it, was awesome and put me completely at ease. He marked the inside and outside of my ear and showed me where it would be so that he could change it if I didn't like it. I was fine with it, so then he cleaned my ear and explained how he was going to do it. He showed me the needle and receiving tube, and explained that he had to pierce my ear from the inside and go out. He also unwrapped all of the equipment in front of me so that I knew it was sterile. At this point I had calmed down a lot and was really excited about getting it done.
He told me to take a deep breath, and when I breathed out he pierced it. The pain was minimal. I took a few seconds to collect myself, took another deep breath, and he put the jewelry in, which was no problem. I didn't bleed at all and there was very little swelling. However, I was rather lightheaded by the time all this was done. I got lightheaded when I had my orbital done too, so I think I must just be prone to that happening. He got me water and candy (so that I got some sugar in my system) and just hung out with me until I felt well enough to drive home.
Once I wasn't lightheaded anymore he went over aftercare with me. I was told to do sea salt soaks twice a day (morning and night) and to wash it with unscented antibacterial soap in the shower to get any shampoo or conditioner out of the piercing. He also explained what you shouldn't specifically shouldn't use (ex. Ear care products, peroxide, etc...) and that I shouldn't touch or play with it. Pretty common sense stuff, but it was nice that he went over it all. I was also given a little pamphlet that had his name, the name of the studio and it's phone number, and written after care instructions.
Getting my anti tragus pierced was much easier than I thought it would be. I've been able to clean it without any pain, and I can even sleep on that side already. It doesn't get caught on stuff as often as my cartilage does either. I remember when I first got that pierced, every time I changed my shirt or brushed my hair I seemed to catch it on something and it really hurt. My anti tragus doesn't seem to be interfering with anything though. The swelling and redness are barely noticeable. I only got it done two days ago, and people don't believe me when I say I got it done that recently. You can only tell it's a new piercing if you really look. Anyone who is considering it should get it done, because it was so much easier than I ever imagined, and I love how it looks!