One day my friend and her sister decided she was getting a nose piercing, so out of the blue I decided that I wanted to get something too. My mom wouldn't approve of a facial piercing, and I was thinking about industrials for a while (not seriously) and decided to ask if I could have it done. My mom was a little iffy on the idea, but my dad seemed to understand that what it's like to want to stand out a little. So he decided that next weekend I'd be able to have it done. I figured it was the perfect piercing, it was different (no one i know has one)but wasn't too extreme, also could be easily hidden and was just an ear piercing.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When A week ago Studio second skin Location meriden, ct I read stories on this site about the terrible pain, which started to scare me a little. But i decided nothing would scare me out of it. Fast foward a week. It was friday night and I was planning on getting it done the next day. My friend and her sister who wanted the nose piercing went to second skin, and last minute her sister changed her mind. She got an industrial instead since she does sports that wouldn't allow her to wear face jewelry. She called me up to tell me that they said she used the last industrial bar, so I'd have to call in first to see when they'd get more. I called, and they said they wouldn't have more for two weeks. I was so pissed! I tried calling other places that would do it, but I was 15 at the time and they wouldn't allow it. Second skin was my only option, so I decided to wait.
Two weeks DRAGGED by. I couldn't wait. Finally it did, of course, and my dad, my friend, and I made our way to the place. I sat there for about 15 minutes as a man had his tattoo done and waited. When he was finished, the guy asked what I wanted done and I told him. He asked if someone else would do it, because he was busy, but they didn't have paper towels. SOO they had to go and get more paper towels. The longer I had to wait the more fear set in. They came back with the paper towels and then i was freaked. He asked me what I wanted done, and measured my ear. Then he went to clean up a station which took about 15 minutes, which made me feel good that it would be nice and clean. THIS WAS IT. Or so I thought, he said he needed a quick break so I waited for about 10 more minutes. Total wait time about an hour, but I didn't mind. It just made it more suspenseful.
Finally it was time to put myself in the chair. He slid on some gloves, taped my hair with scotch tape (hah) and drew on dots to show me where it would be. It looked just the way I wanted. I closed my eyes and gripped my friend's hand to prepare for the pain. It didn't hurt nearly as bad as I had expected, and I couldn't even tell which hole he was working on because it really didn't hurt. When the needle went through the top I heard a nasty crunch but it wasn't so painful. So then I guess the needle was in, and it was time to put the bar in which was probably the least painful part. I asked if he was done, and he said no, that the worst part was he had to put on the balls. I got scared because i had heard a lot of horror stories, but he rolled them on with no pain or problems. The most painful part of the ordeal was probably when he pulled the tape off my hair.
After he was done, i felt extremely nauseous, like I was going to throw up any second. I guess it was adrenaline and the taco bell i ate beforehand(BAD IDEA.) He told me not to get up and just to sit still, and he got me a wet cloth for my head and a soda. I felt fine after about 5 minutes and stood up. We paid and tipped him and left.
I got home and it really didn't hurt at all. It was as if it wasn't there. I took advil to reduce swelling if it happened for two days. I slept on it that night without any difficulty. After about a week it started healing so it hurt more and got itchy occasionally and was redder than before. It hurts to push on it after about 3 weeks but no more than expected. Its crusty in the morning, but thats normal. I wash it with salt water and antibacterial lotion soap a few times a day and it looks just fine. So now it's been 3 weeks exactly and i love it. No regrets at all, and hardly as painful as most people describe it.
If you want it done, go for it. Just make sure you go to a good studio and clean it regularly afterwards.