Let me start with a brief background of myself.
At A Glance Author XskagirlX Contact skagirl241@excite.com Artist Crazy Dave Studio Alien & Co Location Sioux Falls, South Dakota I'm 20 years old and have had the pleasure of having many facial piercings beginning when I was 18. My bridge piercing was my third piercing. Since my bridge, I have had a labret and medusa done, my septum done, a madison done, and my lobes stretched to a 2ga.
I had my bridge piercing done in the summertime and the procedure was really no different than my eyebrow. Crazy Dave, the piercer, ran through all the aftercare, took the clamps, pinched (you'd be surprised at how elastic that area is), ran the needle through, and fastened the barbell (14ga straight barbell). It didn't really hurt, and being able to turn to my sister and boyfriend with a needle sticking out of the bridge of my nose was a very tribal experience. I did find that it initially bled quite a bit as compared to my other piercings and that I had a nice headache for the rest of the day. I took my bridge out approximately a year and a half after having it done (my labret and madison were quick to follow).
What was it like having my bridge pierced?
Well, I didn't see the balls when I looked (so that dispels the myth that you could go cross-eyed). I usually forgot that I had it pierced until I looked into the mirror most times. I also had to deal with people staring and asking questions EVERY DAY. I know that it's to be expected with any piercing that is visible and especially one that is visible when eye-contact is being made. I also happen to live in the Midwest where most people live on farms. The people I dealt with on a daily basis were people who couldn't even IMAGINE how a barbell could end up in your nose. Some of the frequent questions:
"How does that work?"
"Does that go THROUGH the bone in your nose??!"
"OW. Didn't that hurt?"
"Can you see the balls?"
"What do your parents think of you doing something like that?"
Those questions don't seem so bad, but try answering them on a daily basis. I was attacked with questions everywhere I went. School, shopping, working, anywhere and everywhere. As previously mentioned, I work retail and it happens to be in a high-end department store that allows personal expression. However, most of our clientele didn't understand the need to be different and therefore didn't appreciate it. I received all sorts of comments, looks, etc.
I also think I caught everyone off guard because I'm the same person appearance-wise that I was before I began getting into piercings (I've grown a bit spiritually). I've always dressed nicely and have taken great care with my looks so I think people were surprised to see facial piercings on someone "like me". I have difficulty saying that because I don't think I'm any better or worse than the next person and I hate the stereotype of the average person with piercings. I'm not a "freak". I actually believe that no one is really a "freak". We're all beautiful people and no one deserves to be treated otherwise. Anyway...
It was also difficult because you begin to realize that everyone is staring at you everywhere you go. I take that back. Here, people aren't that polite. Here, people just outright GAPE at you. It was getting to the point where I couldn't hardly look up because I was making eye contact with EVERYBODY. It was exhausting. I also had to deal with people staring at me and then pinching the bridge of THEIR noses after passing me (I could see their reflections in whatever I happened to be walking past at the time, that's how I know this). Some people wouldn't even wait to pass me. I know that having a bridge piercing is quite odd, but it was even stranger being surrounded by a group of strangers in the mall who are all pinching themselves. It got to the point where I began to feel embarrassed for these people and that was quite exhausting also. It's difficult going through your day avoiding eye contact and feeling embarrassed for everyone.
I also had some healing problems with my bridge.
As it turns out, I use a lot of makeup and hairspray. I'm a girl, I can't help it. I'm also extremely lazy. Before I knew it, my bridge had developed hypertrophic scarring on each side of my nose. They looked like little reddish/brownish/purplish bumps right near the entrance and exit of the barbell. This happened approximately 5 months into having the piercing. I spent the next 7 months trying to get the scarring to go away. I discovered that sea salt soaks twice a day and tea tree oil rubbed into each bump at night worked wonders. I also took great care in covering my bridge before spraying hairspray and perfume and washed my pillowcases every other day.
Pretty soon, my scarring was gone. I was then able to enjoy my piercing for another 5 months until I realized that it was rejecting. Unfortunately, the scarring had also helped to hold the barbell in and without it my barbell was pushing out. I didn't notice any unusual redness, but I did notice that the length of the barbell sticking out from the sides was getting longer every day. So out it came. The good part is that I can always have it repierced and the scar tissue left will help to hold it in.
Time to wrap it up...
Basically, the bridge piercing is an easy piercing to GET. There's minimal pain, etc. involved. However, the aftercare is tedious and the social problems it causes can drive you up the wall. I've noticed that I'm no longer stared at when I go out (although I still have my medusa and ears stretched). I've also noticed that people are a lot nicer and friendlier towards me. Friends that I haven't spoken to in over a year seem interested in talking to me again. Realizing that makes me feel kind of sick because I'm the same person with or without the piercing.