The Idea
At A Glance Author birdtail Contact xxsoapbox@hotmail.com When Six months ago Artist D.A Risner Studio D.A. Risner Body Piercing and Tattooing Location Fairbanks, Alaska
I had wanted a tragus piercing for probably a year before I had it done. I had seen a girl i rode horses with who had her tragus and rook done, and i had to have it. I begged my parents, pleaded, but the answer was no. I accepted the fact that I wasn't going to get it, and moved on in life.
Now, when my sixteenth birthday rolled around in December, I asked for it again- as sort of a "tribute" to myself, you know? My mom agreed, but I had to pay for it myself. Immediately after Christmas, I was on the phone. We only have three body piercing studios here in Fairbanks (that Are in the phonebook, at least). The first was Body Piercing Unlimited, but their piercer was on vacation until January 23rd. I couldn't wait that long! I called Good Karma Tattoos, and there piercer was gone a week. So I called the final name, D.A. Risner, who had "25 years experience". It couldn't go wrong, right? I called and left a message, and he called back that night and told me a bit about the procedure and such. My mom wasn't pleased that I was rushing, but I figured that he had experience, right? I was set for New Years Eve- December 31st, 2007.
The Studio
Showing up, i was scared shitless. I had brought an adult friend with me to hold my hand, so me, my friend, my mother, my 7 year old brother, and 14 year old sister walked in. We were in a Bike shop! I was like "o.O um, we're looking for the body piercer." And this large, rather plump, greying man steps up and says "That's me." and I'm like "oh shit, what an eyesore." But whatever, that's not the point. He walked us upstairs, where D.A. Risner photocopied my mom and i's license and had my sign a waiver. The piercing room was small, but clean. There was a dentist-like chair that he had me lean back in, and cleaned my ears several times with iodine (wearing gloves, of course), and marked my ear. It looked a little close to my cheek, but I didn't know any better, so I let him do his thing. I asked him for a CBR, and he said he didn't like to use them, and said he was going to use a plain silver horseshoe. I was bummed, but figured i could change it after it healed.
The Piercing
He had me face to the left, since he was doing my right tragus. I gripped my friends hand, and he had me exhale and shoved the 12g curved needle through. The pain wasn't unbearable at all, but the crunch and pop was sickening. Mom said my face went red, then white, and I looked at my friend, who was trying to contain her laughter. There was some tugging on my ear as he put in the horseshoe and screwed the ball on, and then wiped the spot of blood off my ear. I sat up slowly and regained my composure, and went to check in the mirror. It was a giagantic horseshoe, but i was thrilled. I paid my $50 and left (at the time, i didn't know you should tip a piercer- but he didnt deserve one anyway)
The Aftercare
Caring for it was a breeze. It made me crabby that first night, but i cleaned it religiously and twisted it in the shower. It healed completely, and I first changed it to a green titanium CBR. it was a little tough to put in, but once it was, I was so happy. We began to notice that my hoops stuck out from my ear a little, and It was a little annoying. I learned myself that he had pierced it crooked, the back hole coming just a sliver away from the edge of my tragus. I was pretty pissed at this point, but shrugged it off. I traded through hoops and barbells for a month or two.
I went to the body jeweler in town, Desert Passage. The owner, Laura, has a wide selection of all kinds of jewelry, and she is a extremely knowledgeable. I went in looking for a smaller hoop, but Laura took a look at my tragus and told me that he had completely messed up, and a smaller hoop was only going to "piss it off" and rub against my ear. I was extremely bummed, because I don't like a piece of metal hanging perpendicular to my head. She said I was lucky it didnt get infected, because he has 25 years of experience, but she said 90% of the bad piercings that come in for her advice are by him. She said he buys the cheapest, .99 jewelry he can find. I was less the pleased with this, so I currently have a little gold CBR in it, but I will be returning to The Desert Passage again shortly to buy more. If you live in the Fairbanks Area, (or even out of town), take the trip to see this woman if you have ANY questions. She unfortunately doesn't do piercings herself, but she has very knowledgeable if you have any problems with your body piercings.
Overall kiddos, don't rush to get a piercing. Ask around, get opinions, see examples. I was lucky that my ear didn't get infected, but I have a bad piercing, and it was too uncomfortable for me to do it again.