I have always been into body modification in its various forms my entire life but decided to wait till I was 18 before I started getting any work done. While searching for a shop I came across a place with a very impressive looking door and decided I would look into the place. Turns out it was very reputable and I decided this would be where I got my first piercing, a pair of stretched lobes. I started visiting the shop and thinking very seriously about the consequences and lifestyle changes that my decision would likely bring on for about six months before my birthday
At A Glance Author shaungardner Contact shaungardner@bme.anon When A year ago Artist Hamish Studio Fleshwound Location Wellington, New Zealand I had been in to the shop at least a half dozen times over the months before, getting to know the staff and getting completely comfortable with the idea that my lobes would be like this permanently. I had known for some time I wanted to stretch my un-pierced ears to a large size, and I finally decided this is what I wanted to get done a month before my 18th birthday.
I went into the shop on a Thursday and booked an appointment for the following week, the staff told me I would need to eat at least two hours before I came in for my appointment,
I came into the shop the next week in the afternoon and said to the tall heavily pierced dude behind the counter that I was booked in and ready to go, he handed me over to his assistant who took me through all the forms and payment, while he went out the back to prepare his equipment and jewellery. Reading through the checklist of precautions I began to get very nervous and was on the verge of backing out, I knew I would always regret It if I did, so I swallowed my fear and handed over my cash. Hamish, my soon to be piercer came out with the 8mm single flare jewellery and asked if I was happy with my choice, I gave it a moments thought and replied that I would like 10mm flesh tunnels instead, he got the 10mms I gave the OK and we proceeded out the back.
He asked me to sit down on a long black seat/bench, I was feeling quite uncomfortable and nervous at the beginning but Hamish slowly talked me through the procedure and calmed me down very quickly. The back of the shop was brightly lit, a bit small but not cramped, with very clean surgical looking benches walls and cupboards. The atmosphere was one of cleanliness and professionalism that was very impressive for a newcomer such as myself.
He had laid out a small movable tray in the centre of the room, on which he had all the equipment laid out on white disposable clots with a plastic sheet underneath everything. He had a scalpel, taper, disinfectant, lubricant, clamps and rubber bands, jewellery and some ink and a toothpick.
He started by lubing the taper and setting it aside, then he dabbed a medical cloth in some disinfectant, and cleaned my lobes. He dabbed the toothpick in the ink and started marking my right ear, then my left. Once finished he asked me o take a look in the mirror and check the placement. I turned to the mirror and saw that he had marked a horizontal line across each lobe with the deep purple ink, each marking being about the width of the jewellery across. I said the placement looked fine, and he told me he would scalpel my right ear first, and that he would clamp it, He picked up the scissors looking device, wrapped a rubber band across the handles for tension and eased it into place on my lobe. The cold metal was slightly starling and the pressure was slightly tight but not uncomfortable. Hamish picked up the scalpel and said he would cut on the count of three, and that he wanted me to breathe in on two, out on three, he asked if I was feeling comfortable and if the clamp was too tight, I said "No I feel fine" and he moved the scalpel up to my ear.
I could feel the sharp point as it rested against my flesh, ONE .. ... . I exhaled all the air in my lungs, anxiety filled my body, I could almost taste it . . . . TWO . . . . . I took a deep breath in, the anxiety turning to nervousness, fear . . . . THREE . . . . I slowly exhaled as the feeling of the scalpel against my lobe suddenly sharpened, I could feel it slicing through my skin, move along the marking he had made, it was a very intense feeling, my whole mind was centred on the feeling emanating from my bleeding earlobe.
He quickly unclamped my ear and eased a thick looking taper through the incision, matched the jewellery up to it, stuck the jewellery in, and squeezed the O-ring on the front of the flesh tunnel.
Once he had finished that he wiped up the blood, and told me to take a look in the mirror. I did and was impressed at the shiny new adornment hanging in my lobe. "Ready for the next one then?" He asked, I nodded my approval and he repeated the clamping and cutting on my left ear, which didn't bleed much at all and was a total breeze compared to the first cut.
When he had finished both ears, and had wiped up the remaining blood he pointed me to the water and comment book, I was glad for the water grabbed a cup write my comment and took a seat for a few minutes before Hamish went through the aftercare (clean twice a day and sea salt compresses regularly) gave me aftercare supplies and I started walking home. Within half an hour they felt very sore and tight, that feeling went away after a few days but was mildly uncomfortable.
Sleeping was easy, there was a little blood around the wounds every morning for a week or so but nothing major, they healed up in about a month.
In conclusion I was extremely happy with my decision to get scalpelled, and the overwhelmingly positive reactions I have received since, I have now gone up to 19mm and am aiming for 25mm. I give a big ups to Hamish and his extraordinary standards and professionalism.