So I decided to get my eyebrows pierced. The only mod I had prior to this was a lip ring that I had gotten a couple months earlier. I decided that I wanted both eyebrows done (I have an issue with symmetry) so it seemed like a good idea to get both at the same time. So I walked into the shop, sans appointment, and luckily they had an opening for me right away. So they asked me all the standard questions and I filled out the standard forms, and now, it was go time. What I didn't know was that an apprentice was going to do the markings. I didn't have a problem with this, but it took forever. I had a specific angle that I wanted them to be at so it took her a little while longer than it might usually have taken. Once we were both satisfied with the placement, one of their experienced piercers came in and took over. She inspected the placement, was satisfied and told me to lay down on the table. The clamp went on the right eyebrow...."breathe in....breathe out....S**T!...that stung a little bit". No worries. She put the barbell with the spikes that I had picked out and it was on to the left. Now, this was the first time I had two piercings done at once and I had heard that getting the second one hurts more, and you know what....IT DID! It was by no means unbearable, but there was a significant increase in the pain factor. Everything worked out fine so I paid and went on my merry way.
At A Glance Author Brayton Contact dirk_powder@hotmail.com When A year ago Studio Ritualistics Location Edmonton, Alberta A couple days later Ozzy was coming to town and I had floor tickets. So I'm at the show, enjoying a few party favors when in the middle of one of the opening acts set the lights and heat started to get to me. After a few intense strobe light bombardments, I had to go sit down. I started to walk to the bleachers when SMACK! I hit the ground. One of my buddies said it was really creepy to watch because I fell right on the side of my face. So after getting hauled out to the lobby where a paramedic was treating me, I reached up the left side of my face to find blood and a big bandage where my new eyebrow ring used to be. Shit. I can't believe that just happened. I just got that done. I felt pretty mad at myself for letting that happen. It was weird, even though all that stuff had just happened I wasn't in pain. It was a little bit unsettling because I kept thinking, "my head should be killing me right now, so why isn't it?" Other than the eyebrow, I was fine so the paramedic let me go back onto the floor. Ozzy had just got on stage and proceeded to put on an amazing show.
When I got home that night I went to the bathroom and took off the bandage to inspect the damage. It was swollen, bruised and cut up a little bit but it could have been worse. Upon further inspection, I saw that there was still some metal inside the wound. Turns out that I didn't knock the piercing out; the top spike got knocked off but the rest of it (including the bottom spike) was jammed farther inside my face. I thought that it probably wasn't healthy to leave it like that so, after a little bit of work, I managed to get the remnants of my piercing out. I'd have to say that hurt a lot more than the initial piercing.
The next morning I wandered back into the studio to see what could be done to fix the problem. After explaining what happened and receiving a few scornful looks I went into the back so she could take a look. Turns out there was no severe damage, so she said that she could put a new one in right there but it would have to be a longer barbell to accommodate the swelling. After it was done I received a somewhat more extensive lecture from the piercer on cleaning and after care. TAKE CARE OF YOUR PIERCINGS!! was the last thing I heard when I left.
It's been about a year (I think) and its still holding up fine. I had the jewelry downsized and replaced a spike and its completely healed. The only bad part is that when it was re-healing the bar migrated slightly, so now the left side is at a slightly different angle. Not a huge deal but every once in a while it kind of annoys me (the whole symmetry thing). I healed up well; it didn't take that long and it didn't get infected. The experience sucked but in no way did it deter me from getting more body mods. I've had a few more mods since then and plan to get many more in years to come.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR PIERCINGS!