This modification experience began as most of mine have: surfing BME's galleries. I was thirteen, about to turn fourteen, which would make me of legal age (with parental consent, of course) to get needle-pierced. So guess what I wanted for my birthday? The idea didn't appeal to my mom after a mishap I had with an industrial piercing, but my dad said yes right away, with one condition - the hole would have to be in my ear. I expected that and didn't really have a problem with it because I knew that there are plenty of places on an ear to stick a needle through and I had one in mind. So, while my dad worked on gaining my mom's permission, I began looking through the "ear" gallery.
At A Glance Author Alicia Applecore. Contact njstreetscum732@aim.com When Two years ago Artist Jey, I believe. Studio Adrenaline Location Brick, NJ A week or two before my birthday I was in full piercing-mode. Someone said "orbital" in science class and I immediately jumped...that kind of thing. I had decided on an anti-tragus piercing. I thought that they looked cute and weren't all that common. When I told my friends what I was getting pierced, they said, "Your anti-what?!" so I pinched the flap of cartilage and they winced. "You know that's going to hurt, right? That's a thick piece of ear." Of course I knew. I was expecting it.
At home, I kept doing my research via BME and talked to my mom about it some more. She finally cracked and said I could get it done as long as she wasn't there to watch because she'd probably strangle my piercer...yaknow, the whole motherly instinct thing. As I had already planned on going with my dad, that wasn't a problem.
The day finally arrived. I think it was a Thursday. I ran around the house looking for my school ID that I had buried beneath piles of clothes etc. (it was that bad) while I sent my mom on a quest for a birth certificate or some other legal document. I made sure my dad had at least forty-seven types of ID with him (exaggeration, but not by much) because I wasn't sure what the studio would need in order to pierce me. I think all we needed was my ID and my dad's license, actually. When my dad said it was time to leave, my heart started racing and the butterflies flew into my stomach. Normal reaction for me. I was excited!
We pulled up to Adrenaline and my dad asked if I was sure I wanted to go through with it. Obviously, I said yes. We walked in and the girl at the counter asked what I wanted done. "My anti-tragus," I said nervously but with a smile. The girl that was working the desk asked for our identification and made some copies. Before I knew it, a ton of forms miraculously appeared in front of me and my dad. I don't remember what they all were, but I signed where she told me to.
I think she talked to my piercer, Jey, at that point, and while he set up, the girl gave me a bag with Satin soap and aftercare info. Oh, and I got an Adrenaline hat cause it was my birthday. Ahem, anyway, she proceeded to explain to me the aftercare instructions. When Jey was ready, he asked which side I wanted pierced (left) and asked if I wanted a ring or a barbell. I picked the barbell. He led me into the piercing room, which was hospital-clean and had some cool art on the walls. I was told to sit in the big dentist-esque chair while he made some final preparations. He and my dad talked about tattoos or something while my mind raced.
Finally, the piercer cleaned my anti-tragus with something and put a dot on it. He told me to check it out and I approved. Jey told me to tilt my head to the side. Between the cleaning, marking, and now the process of removing the needle and jewelry from the packages, he must have changed gloves a million times. As he took the needle and barbell out of their baggies, he showed them to me and my dad so we knew they were clean.
Jey moved from the little rolly tray that held his equipment to my head. I felt the clamps well...clamp onto my anti-tragus. It didn't hurt as bad as some people say, at least for me. I think I closed my eyes at this point, but I knew my dad was watching me to see if I would flinch or something. I started taking deep breaths to chill myself out a little bit. After what seemed like a half hour, Jey told me to take "the" deep breath in, as far as I could, and I felt the poke of the needle as he was talking. It wasn't going through easily, that was for sure. My friends were right – that IS a thick piece of ear. And it hurt quite a bit. As my mind was flooding with pain, I heard my piercer say, "And take another deep breath in...aaaaaand out." This time the needle was through, having passed through the other half of my ear. From what my dad told me, my face stayed stone-still during the entire process. But don't let that fool you, this wasn't a painless piercing.
Most people will say that having the jewelry put in a piercing is very uncomfortable. Let me confirm that. Yeah, it's uncomfortable. Especially since the anti-tragus is such a weird chunk of ear in a weird spot. Finally the end of my barbell was screwed on. I slowly sat up and felt my ear throb. Ouch. After looking in the mirror and a few rounds of "OH MY GOD IT'S GORGEOUS!", I thanked Jey and told the lady at the counter good night. I was happy, so I smiled – big mistake. Smiling made my ear hurt. Not going to lie, this piercing was a painful one.
After a night of trying not to sleep on my left side, I headed to school the next morning with a swollen, red new piercing. In all its grossness, I still thought it was awesome. I ran around showing my friends and teachers, most of who shook their heads, and almost punched my friend out for hugging me around the head before she realized I had a fresh hole in my ear. Yeah, the head-hugging sucked.
Saturday morning, I asked my mom to help me clean it because I was worried about bacteria from the acrylic nails I had on messing it up, and also because it hurt really badly at that point and I didn't want to touch it. So...I had her do it. After going through the steps of soaking it and putting a drop of Satin soap stuff on it, she turned the barbell. All of a sudden, I broke out into a cold sweat and my stomach did a summersault. I felt like I was going to throw up or faint or do both simultaneously. I sat down on my bathroom floor and put my head pretty much in the toilet in case I decided to puke. My mom freaked out of course and told me to take it out. I said, "FUCK NO!" and laid down. After about ten minutes, I felt completely fine again and had her rinse the soap off.
That cleaning experience freaked me out a lot, but it never happened again. Since it's a cartilage piercing, it took a while to heal. I still get the occasional red bump on either side but I think I just need a longer bar...I'll get right on that, chief. Even though it acts up a lot and it hurt like a bitch, it was worth it. I've only seen one other person in real life with one. So if you're thinking about getting your anti-tragus pierced, go for it. I hope this helped you make your choice and if you have questions, feel free to e-mail.