For some time, I've been getting my ears pierced, but mostly on one side. With my tragus, anti-tragus, custom curved industrial, and 6g lobe on my left, and only a matching lobe on the right, I decided it was finally time to start working up my left ear. For my first new piercing on that side, I decided on my conch. Also, my best friend Dan (IAM social irregular) had a couple problems with our previous piercer. I'd liked the guy well enough but never would have gone to him alone. So when Rob at Artistic Creations was recommended by a friend of Dan's, we both went.
At A Glance Contact gothicphoenixx@hotmail.com IAM gothicphoenixx When A month ago Artist Rob Studio Artistic Creations Location Toledo Originally, I'd wanted my conch at12g, with a ring, and about mid-way up my ear. All three of these things ended up changing, I think for the better. First, I found out that Rob's shipment hadn't come in, so he had no rings. Besides, he said, a barbell would heal better, faster, and when he had his conch done he'd slept on it the same night without a problem because of the barbell. So, I conceded on that, figuring I could always put a ring in later. (From previous cartilage piercing, I can say he's been right so far).
Then, he said he had no 12g barbells, but he did have a 10g. Well Dan had had his done at that, and almost passed out. (Granted, that was his first large gauge, and I'd already had my lobes at ten, and he hadn't eaten first-a mistake I was sure not to repeat-but, still, I wasn't sure I wanted it that big). I also though, my ears being smaller than Dan's, 12g would suit me better.
Rob asked if I thought the ones I have in my left ear (my tragus and anti tragus) hurt really bad, and I said no. (Of course, those are also 16g). And he said that I'd probably handle it fine. Dan said "come on, you can take it," and I said "okay." Rob asked if he could talk me into 8s and I said I'd stick with 10. Rob said he'd cut me a deal since the barbell was 25 and do the piercing for 5, which was fine with me.
We weren't the only ones who'd heard he was good, as we ended up waiting for quite a few people before we got our turns. Since popularity in piercing is generally a good thing, I didn't mind the wait. When I got my turn, I went into the booth and he said I could either sit or lie down. I'd never actually gotten the choice before, always had to sit up. I chose to do so again, but it was nice to have the choice.
He then marked three spots and went through why he'd marked each with me looking in a small mirror up close. Once again, something I'd never had done. Our other piercer would mark the spot and ask if it was okay, but other than looking I'd have no idea. Rob actually explained that the lowest would be best, because it would sit in there perfectly, that the middle would be okay too, and he'd really stay away from the top because it would heal okay but might be easily irritated, wouldn't sit properly, etc.
I was kind of disappointed, because the top dot was really what I'd been thinking of, but I said I'd stay away from it if he recommended against it. I could see his point with the lowest hole, but it looked too close to being an anti-tragus, and a ring would be pretty much vertical in it. He said he could draw another one, in between the first and second. It still looked a little low to me, but Rob thought it was a good spot and Dan conceded, so I figured what the heck and went with it.
Rob said he liked to pierce without clamps whenever possible, and asked if it was okay. Again, I'd never been asked my preference before. I told him to do whatever will work best for him, because that'll work best for me, but it was nice he took into consideration that someone might rather have it done another way. He told me to take a deep breath and when to let it out (something I've always done anyhow when getting pierced and find it helps me to kind of center). Apparently, I made a face (which doesn't surprise me) but that was about it. The pain where there and gone, slightly worse than my anti-tragus (which was, so far, the most painful I'd had), but not unbearable by any means.
Rob told me I took it better than someone he'd asked to let him do one on who'd agreed but been really nervous and complained later about how much it hurt. And then he decided that he wanted a picture for his portfolio (which makes me happy, though I really don't know why-that he's proud of it I guess). And he said he really likes the way it looks. Dan did too. I wasn't quite sure about it at first, mostly because the ball on the barbell is pretty large for my ear. But I've come to like it, and think I may even ditch the idea of the ring for now. Rob said if the larger barbell is irritating, I can get a micro barbell later.
Right afterward, my ear started to feel achy, but not where the hole was. It sort of felt like an ear infection-or like right after a concert. But that didn't last all that long, and it hasn't given me much pain since, except that Dan keeps bumping it when he hugs me, and a couple times I've snagged it changing clothes (the only reason I'd consider the microbarbell at this point).
The only real trouble it's given me so far is that it dried out, a lot, which makes it itch and I have to try to restrain from touching it. Rob had said to wash it three times a day with Dial (which I wouldn't because I've found it irritates me and Softsoap works better), Bactine it twice for the first week, and use triple antibiotic at night. Once it started to dry out to the point of flaking, Dan said he'd cut it to twice a day, keep 2x Bactine and the ointment. Still, it dried out, so I cut the Bactine to one, which seemed to help. I got a crack in my skin right behind the piercing though, which I put ointment on but not the piercing
I went back to Rob at the two week mark, and he looked at it and said that basically it's fine but irritated, and that his one healed up well but the other still gives him problems, so it may take awhile. He asked what I was doing and said to just keep it at that-washing twice a day and using ointment at night, especially because I got that crack. At the three week mark, I went in for a tongue piercing and he asked to look at the conch. The front of it's doing well, but the back is still dried out. Otherwise though he says it's healing well and nothing to worry about.
Overall, I like it. I don't mind that it's larger than I expected, or that it's a barbell. I've come to like it sitting on the inside. Also, Dan had gotten keloids on the back of both of his conches, both of which had been done with rings. And so far, I haven't had that problem. (We found out when I got my tongue pierced and Dan his labret that Vitamin E oil on it should help that, which I'll keep in mind if I start getting them.)Whether I haven't had that problem because of my body, or the barbell, I can't be sure-but I do think the barbell may have something to do with it. I've got a new piercing on its way to healing, and a new piercer, and I have to say, I recommend both.