I got the anti-tragus piercing spontaneously, as always, two days ago. I went to House of Freaks on Melrose with my pal Matt because I ran out of Provon to clean up the Tragus piercing I got a month ago.
At A Glance Author Tracy Chabala Contact chabala@usc.edu When It just happened Artist Matt Studio House of Freeks, Melrose Ave. Location Los Angeles, CA I knew I'd be tempted to get another piercing, and was considering the rook or daith, but decided on the anti-tragus because the excellent piercer at House of Freaks (another Matt, who's damn cool)said he a)loved doing anti-tragus piercings, b) hadn't done one in years, (they are that unusual in mind-numbing Los Angeles), and c) he thought it would look great with my ear shape.
So, I decided to go for it. Pain is never an issue with me, I don't even really think about it before deciding on a specific area to pierce. I've had an industrial barbell in my cartilage pierced at the same time as an orbital and THAT one hurt, never mind the fact that I was drunk. But I didn't stick it out with the healing process and jumped ship (had my boyfriend remove them, which was a really stupid idea). But, I did not go to a quality piercer in the first place.
Always, always, always go to the TOP piercers, even though it may cost you more. If you live in the Los Angeles area, I recommend House of Freaks on Melrose, even though it's like $10 more per piercing than the hole-in-the-wall tattoo places, where I've been pierced before and had crappy experiences.
Matt at House of Freaks on Melrose (between La Brea and Fairfax) is not only hot and cool, he's also an EXCELLENT piercer and the owner of the studio. I've been seeing him on-and-off since I got my nose pierced in 2001.
So, I after I had laid down on the chair and he began prepping me, he said I had a very difficult ear to work with. My cartilage is super-thick and not bendable; I knew that before I got my tragus pierced. That also hurt like a bitch, and because I went to a shitty hole-in-the-wall tattoo parlor on Hollywood Blvd. at 3:00 am.
Anyway, he decided to bend the needle to make it more pleasant and also used a clamp, even though he said he usually did anti-tragus piercings free-hand. Something hurt real bad before he even pierced it, I think he started to pierce it but then decided to use the clamp. The clamp doesn't really bother me that much, it hurts, but it's more of a pinch. BUT, when he said breathe in breath out, it was like Wooooah. Fuck. I'm not one to wince or express pain, so I didn't. Didn't frown, didn't even grit my teeth. It killed, but part of me likes the pain, the rush, and the chance to be brave, so it wasn't a horrible experience. I knew it'd be over in a few moments, so I just kept breathing.
He used an appropriately long, 14 g. curved barbell which he recommended instead of a ring (and it cost me $25 more than if I had it pierced with a ring), but in my experience the barbells have far less complications during healing. Though you can't move them around, I've found just spraying the cleaning crap on them and soaking the area in water and Provon is enough to keep it nice and clean the first week or two weeks. After that, when it's healed a bit more and easier to move around, you can jiggle it to get the crust off. Forcing it to move when it's fresh (like with my navel and tragus) it only worsens it.
Anyway, the piercing looks phenomenal and it is very subtle, which is my style. It's bruised and swollen right now, but doesn't throb nearly as much as my Tragus did the first week. Plus, barbells always are easier (to me) in the healing process 'cuz it doesn't get bumped and stuff.
I think this is a great piercing to get if you want something subtle, or something to balance out the regular Tragus piering. I don't have any upper cartilage piercings, and I also have a chin-length bob hair cut, so the lower piercings show more anyway. It's classy and funky and hard-core all at the same time, because, fuck, everyone can tell that it took guts to go through so much cartilege.
I love it. I love it love it love it and would recommend it to anyone if you know a great piercer. Take it from someone with stubborn, thick cartilage. A good piercer will know how to place it to look good and go with your ear shape. They also will know how to make it as pleasant and pain-free as possible. Don't get nervous, or at least try not to. Curiosity is always the best approach to the whole thing, just be curious. A new type of pain, a new type of piercing that's definately worth it.
And I'm not in much pain at all, after two days!