A couple of months after getting my first surface piercing (nape), I got the piercing itch and didn't know what to get. My work only allows for 1 pair of sleepers, so anything in the ear or face is out of the question. However, I was due for 6 weeks off, so decided to get something in my ear anyway. I've always liked the look of Industrials, but they are common as a hat-full so I decided against that. I'm also very scared of cartilage piercings, so after looking around BME for a while I came across Transverse Lobes and decided that was it. I had never seen one in real life and really liked the appearance, so decided to get it after my last shift for 6 weeks.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When Three months ago Studio Hairhouse Warehouse Location Marion, Adelaide, Australia.
Of course I did all the research I could online and asked my piercer about it and went right ahead. Initially I thought about getting both sides done, but on the side of caution opted for one just in case it didn't work out. Plus I needed one side to sleep on. Firstly I signed all the appropriate paper work and he asked me if I'd eaten in the last few hours etc etc. He measured my ear and selected the 14 ga Titanium bar, marked the entry and exit points and got me to look and approve. I gave him the go ahead and felt the prick and then a VERY SLOW DRAGGING sensation when the needle went through all of my fleshy lobe. It was incredibly painful and I (still) can't fathom how others can say it was a piece of piss. Eventually he got it through after asking many "Are you OK's" (I must have looked like a shocker! Plus I was very silly and lied about eating. I hadn't had a chance to and was in a hurry). He popped the jewellery in and I already knew the aftercare, so all was good. For my nape I did sea salt soaks 2-3 times a day and hot compresses once a day. I did the same for my ear (minus the hot compresses) and it was much easier as I could just dip my lobe into a shot glass. Anyway, my ear looked bloody awesome and I was excited.
On the way home I could feel the swelling and it was really tender and painful. Over the following days the entire lobe swelled more and turned a lovely shade of yellow, to purple, to blue. Very unattractive and still quite painful. In my usual post-piercing-panic I visited another store closer to home and he said it was looking normal, but if it swelled anymore, to go back in. The swelling still wasn't going down much about a week later and I felt like the bar was too short, so I went back in and got a longer bar put in (free of charge). I guess the first guy didn't anticipate how much it could swell up and didn't warn me either. Anyhow, the original bar slid out really easily and he said it was healing fine. Also, for an easier alternative to soaks I started using Protat Sea Salt + Tea Tree spray 2 times a day. It worked really well and I'll probably use it next time.
4 Days Old
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f311/tidy_girl/trans4days.jpg
A few weeks later the swelling went down quite a bit and most of the bruising had faded, but left a yellow tinge.
2-3 Weeks Old
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f311/tidy_girl/trans14.jpg
I didn't sleep on that side for as long as possible, but after a few weeks I felt like I'd kill someone if I didn't change my sleeping position. Even now after 3 months the lobe can still flare up if I sleep on it wrong or try and put my standard earring in. I don't know why it gets so irritated by that. Below is a pic of my new balls, but I changed them back to the originals as these stood out too much for work. Luckily they haven't made me take it out, but I take out the others for my shifts so I don't push my luck! I'm not changing them again because I realised how uncoordinated I am and the bar comes out so easily and doesn't go back in the same way.
3 Months Old
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f311/tidy_girl/transcoloured.jpg
I really LOVE my Trans Lobe, despite all the pain and general headf***. I haven't seen anyone else with one and whenever people see it, they ask how it works. They can't believe it's a whole bar going through there and it kind of freaks them out. It feels so weird having a hard ear lobe and it's difficult not to play around with it. I doubt that I'll get the other side done any time soon, but if I do get it done again, I wont be as naïve and will know what to expect. I'm not trying to put anyone off of getting a trans lobe, but I just want to say that it hurt (but looks great) :D