My Dermal Punch. Well it all started when I went in to see Claire at Hepcat. Anyways I went in one day and she seemed quite excited and asked me if I was up for doing a Dermal Punch. Anyways me being me was quite up for it, but I wasn't 100% sure and that I would have a look around on BME. That when she said that I wouldn't be anytime soon as she still needed to research it more and order all the bits and prepare herself for anything that could go wrong. So she said to go away and think about it for a bit and do my own research and have a look for myself.
At A Glance Author Emma When Three months ago Artist Claire Negus Studio HepCat Tattoos Location Chelmsford Essex So go forward a few weeks and I have found myself to be quite morbidly fascinated with the idea of having some part of my ear punched out. That's when Claire hit me with it, I went in again it think this was to get my surface piercing's done above my collar bones, after much arguing lol because Claire wanted to start work on my ear projects (two industrials and some orbitals). Anyway Claire said, you gotta do the Dermal Punch now, because Tom (who was the other guy who was supposed to suffer with me) has started backing out. So I ask when she's thinking of doing it, and I got a not sure in a few weeks answer. After weeks of thinking about it I pretty much decide that I couldn't really back out now that that it looked really cool so I wanted it done.
Fast forwards a few weeks its after the new years (only just January 2nd or some thing) and I'm round a mates house. When I get a phone call from Claire, asking if I wanted to do it this week....hmmm alright then said I pop in later to work out dates times and all that jazz, because I wanted Vanessa to be there as well to take photos. So I go home getting stupidly muddy on the way. With a parting comment from Sam saying that I would never hear the end of it if I wussed out of getting it done.
So go home, shower, and after a second thought eat something (I know Claire to well by now ) and head off to HepCat. As soon as I got in hung round while Claire sorted some people out chatted to Katie for a bit then Claire ask if I wanted to do it today, ( in a way I was kind glad other wise I would have talked myself outta it because I was really nervous as it was) so I answered so long as I can get Vanessa down then yeah. I love V as she hurried down as soon as I rung her there's friendship for ya! Claire runs off the shop to get extra kitchen roll....(incase I uber bleed which was not really something I really wanted to think about)
So again fast forwards a couple of hours shops closed, doors locked...the times counting down I'm feeling even more sick at the prospect. Claire says you can back down at any time (...yeah like I'm going to be able to live that down.) Any ways I never back down from a challenge. Off Claire goes up the stairs to set it all up, up V and I go after Jade (V's other friend) decided it would be better for the toilet bowl is she stayed down stairs. Awwww Claire even had a can of coke and a bottle of water sitting up stairs for me.
After much messing around with the camera ( no one could work it) we started with the nitty gritty. We were only punching at a 3.5 ( Don't think my stomach could have handled much more lol) and then stretching it straight up to a 5mm. I'm going to add in now that, Claire is so efficient everything clean and sterile and gloves changed billions of times.
Claire gloved up and marked out the area we decided on the inner conch mainly because I have veins that messed up all Claire plans (sorry) so inner conch it was. After tucking a lot of tissue around me and in my ear she got the freezy spray out now I hate this stuff most areas its ok but when its in my ear....well I hate it, its like getting a snow ball thrown in your ear its horrid. After a serious amount of gloves were used up, the numbing down Claire asks if I'm ready, well now or never. Yeah I'm ready and one, two three and its weird really first bit didn't hurt but then it soon made up for it because OUCH! Oh and I did hear the crunch that every one goes on about, but I wasn't too bad. Claire said its weird because you can feel the punch going through all the layers (like I really wanted to know that right then)
Claire checked to see if it was though all the way, which it was (go Claire) and then she corked it. Did I want to carry on, did I hell. So we stopped for a bit my ear didn't hurt at all do I got some pics done and had some more coke, which was good as I was a bit shaky now. Then Claire asked if I was ready to go on I was so out came the taper, off came the cork, out came the punch (V got a pic of the hole which Claire is obsessed with) and in went the taper and I kid you not it hurt...a lot and I swore a lot....and then in went the jewelry a silver bullet thingy and woo hoo I had done it more pictures!!!
So we sat a round for a bit to make sure I wasn't going to fall over or anything and Claire cleaned me up and guess what...no blood what so ever go me!!...ok well there was a tiny weeny bit. Claire and V looked at all the pics, I said I would pass for the moment because right then I really didn't feel up to it but I still wanted my piece of cartilage that got punched outta me, so I could hit people round the face with it....(which I managed to do repeatedly now it resides in the freezer)
So a few more pics and comments on how Tom is a big fat wuss. An then Claire tied up and off the pub we went were I looked at the pictures and I had to laugh at some of the faces I was pulling it was rather funny as you I was scrunching up in my face and pulling some odd expressions.
All of this happened in January sometime, and sides from a small flair up, it is the best piercing I have ever had going home I was able to listen to my iPod thingy with no problems and I could even sleep on that ear at night ( though I really should not have)
Actually I quite fancy getting another one done because Claire did this one so well. Also if you are ever in Chelmsford go and see Claire, just because of her uber greatness, but honestly she is the best piercer in the damn place and all the work she has done on me has be fantastic! SO GO THERE....and ways sorry about the length of this but hey it would have been crap otherwise...