So I've wanted a scaffold/industrial piercing for a long time, however I have been scared of having a piercing through what to me feels like bone! I've enquired in many piercing places about the way they do their piercing and having a look around their studios to see if they were up to standard and if they had all the equipment I wanted to have.
At A Glance Author Anna Contact Anna@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Luke Studio Physical Poetry Location Leeds I was in Leeds and I had to go to Headingley to pick up a CD from the other campus, the bus goes past Physical Poetry and I always thought that I would get off one day and get a piercing and Thursday 3rd May was that day! I got off the bus feeling scared and nervous. As soon as I walked in I was told to take a seat and that Luke was dealing with a customer and would see me in a minute, and he did, he was helpful and friendly. I was put at ease and given the advice, 'if I really wanted it, I wouldn't let the pain put me off', too true...
I decided I would get my Tragus done first instead of an industrial as I wanted to see how much it would hurt getting cartilage pierced and I didn't want to get one hole done in case I couldn't brave out the other hole! Anyway I stayed and filled in the forms. I got talking to a girl who had, had hers done already and she told me her story it didn't sound so bad and she had also had the same piercer as the one I was using and she recommended him.
I sat on the chair while Luke put on his gloves and cleaned the ear, making sure I definitely wanted the Tragus doing, then he marked on where the needle would go through and I said that place was where I wanted it. He unpeeled the body bar from the packet and took out a clean needle. He changed his gloves again and this is the point I had expected some form of wipe to make my ear cold/numbed like another studio had done when I got my lip done but there was nothing of that sort... hardcore!!
After checking the mark in the mirror he positioned the headrest to the right position. I laid on the chair and feeling very nervous he told me to take deep breaths and to do them slowly, he told me once more to breathe in hard and to exhale, this time he put through the needle and it hurt a lot, although not as much as I expected but still a hell of a lot! I think I shouted a bit as it hurt, I think I may have moved too which wouldn't have helped my case. It started to burn and I almost forgot to start breathing again!
I laid still in shock I think! Then he told me not to move while he put the bar through as this would cause me unnecessary pain, although I seemed to be frozen anyway. I can't remember this part of the procedure hurting at all maybe just still burning. I felt something drop into my ear and I thought he had dropped the ball. (However as I was told after there was blood I assume it was blood that dripped in) Between putting the bar in and putting the ball on he changed his gloves again, he went through several pairs, so I guess this was hygienic! He then placed the ball on as well and I was done! He told me it was bleeding and told me to sit up slowly, and then let me sit for a while to make sure it didn't start again. He cleaned me all up and then he went through how to care for it, and how to make the sea salt water, he gave me the number for the studio and his mobile number in case of emergency saying it was available 24 hours too. This I think is very good as it made me feel if anything was to go wrong then I have some where to go for advice.
I paid my £20 and then I was away! I was out within half an hour of going in! It took years of courage for half an hour of piercing, although it did take longer than two lip piercings I got done at the same time and also hurt more, although I thin it was worth it! And I haven't ruled anymore cartilage piercings out I guess the first one will always be the worst!
I hadn't told my boyfriend about my plans so when I got back to my university campus and showed him he was shocked I had got the guts to finally get cartilage pierced but was pleased for me as he knew how much I wanted to overcome it! My ear ached for a couple of hours after, but after that it was fine, I've been cleaning it with very mild salt water. He said it would be uncomfortable to sleep on and the first night I had to keep moving my boyfriends hand away from me when we were sleeping in case he caught it. For the last couple of days I've had the bed to myself so I've not had to worry so much about it and I managed to sleep on that side when I positioned my head carefully on the pillows.
I'm so glad I had it done, and I am considering going to get an industrial but getting the holes done at separate times as I'm unsure I could get 2 holes at the same time!! I would definitely go back to the same studio as well.