I had wanted my septum pierced for around a year before I actually got it done. I decided to do as much research as I could before doing it, so I'd know exactly what I was dealing with! I got my tattoo done at Modern Body Art and I was impressed with their friendliness and cleanliness at the shop so I decided to go back there for my septum piercing. I have been to the piercers in the bottom of the Oasis market and whilst I thought the place was clean enough, the staff at Modern Body Art seemed more friendly (and also it wasn't underground - there's something weird about the one at the Oasis that I can't quite place). It was mid June 2007 when I finally got around to going through with it.
At A Glance Author rach Contact rach@bme.anon When Six months ago Artist Rosie Studio Modern Body Art Location Birmingham I called them up and spoke to a guy (I didn't take his name at the time), and asked him if I wanted my septum pierced that day, would I need to make an appointment. He said no, so I got ready and headed off to wait for a bus into the city centre. I had a few errands to run before I could go to Modern Body Art, and I stopped for a sandwich on the way (I knew it was best to eat something first, this is a mistake I have made before so I knew this was important), but when I turned up about 90 minutes later they were all booked up for the day. I was disappointed but I didn't let it put me off.
I spoke to the person on the counter and decided it'd be best to book an appointment for the following Saturday. In order to book an appointment they ask for a deposit to be paid, but I decided to pay the whole amount because then I would have no excuse to chicken out of it! It cost £25 which I think is a reasonable cost for this procedure.
So the following Saturday I got myself ready and turned up a bit early! They seemed to be quite busy with tattoo enquiries (I saw a lot of body part stencils and photographs being done!), so my appointment time ran over. I didn't mind because there were plenty of tattoo flash folders to have a look through, and also my boyfriend was there so we had a chat as well! Finally when she was ready, Rosie (who I think also is the receptionist) called me through to the piercing room at the back.
She offered to numb the area first, but I decided against it. In the past when I have had things numbed in order to be pierced, the ache when it wears off is worse than the short sharp pain of the piercing itself. She was quite shocked that I had declined it and asked me a few times if I was sure, but I definitely was!
My septum was pierced with a 14ga stainless steel retainer. The piercing didn't hurt as much as I had been led to believe (a lot of experiences I read said that it was their most painful piercing ever - I suppose it is true that pain is different for everyone). There was a bit of trouble separating the cannula bit from the jewellery, which meant Rosie had to tug a little bit on it, but it wasn't too bad. It hardly bled at all which I was very impressed with. The retainer itself was quite a wide U shape which tended to be a bit annoying to flip up and down. When it was sufficiently healed I swapped it for a 14ga niobium retainer which is a narrower U shape. I found it a lot more comfortable and I would recommend one that size to anyone having a problem with the larger ones. Once I stretched up to 10ga I bought some glass pinchers to wear. Now that I am at 8ga I tend to wear SF glass plugs as the legs on retainers began to irritate inside my nose. I plan to buy a stainless steel SF eyelet and/or silicone earskin to see if that feels any comfier for me.
Sometimes I feel that my septum is pierced quite high up and it can be a bit fiddly putting in new jewellery that I'm not used to wearing. I was quite impressed with myself when I managed to take out AND put back in my SF glass plug whilst highly intoxicated in a dark club (I had taken it out to show someone, I was quite surprised that I hadn't dropped it or just put it in my pocket)!
I was given an aftercare sheet and made my merry way home. I have since stretched my septum piercing to 3mm/8ga and it is my favourite piercing. Most people are shocked when I show it to them, because otherwise I look like any other office professional, but it educates them that being modified does not make you any less professional/intelligent etc.