You probably wouldn't know it by first glance or even by meeting me for the first time, but I have a bit of an addiction to body mods... I am 21, a student at a VERY liberal university just out of Boston, and come from quite the conservative family... However, I have loved the look and the appeal of piercings and tattoos on others and myself, since I turned 18 anyway, for a very long time.
At A Glance Author kittie Contact kittie@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Aaron Studio Tribal Ways Location Boston, MA I have 4 piercings in each ear, a tragus in the left, a cartilage pierce, and my nostril (that was about a month ago and almost healed!) and a purple rose tattoo on my lower back, with probably several more to go.
I work in healthcare, in an office and emergency medicine, so any other facial piercings are out. Even the nose was a bit of a stretch to say the least, so, I knew that my next would have to be more discreet... So I contemplated what it would be, debating between a vertical hood or my nipples. Both seemed very appealing and still do. I settled on nipples first and did my research everywhere online and from friends about aftercare, where to go, etc. I finally decided to do it over my break at Tribal Ways because I had heard such great things about them.
I called them up that morning that I finally had gotten up the nerve to do it... The guy who answered said, "Come on down!" So... I take my sister who is the only other person who knew about my plans at the time.... Get on the T and make my way to Newbury Street. When I got there, I was greeted and 2 other people came in soon after for various other piercings... I am definitely glad to have been the first one in, otherwise I may have chickened out and had way too much time to think about what I was doing. Aaron went over the aftercare in detail... Bactine and salt soaks, yadda yadda, I know the drill. But, I was glad that they take aftercare seriously. They took my $102.50. Hey you are going to pay for quality work!
Then for the actual piercing! Being topless in a room with a guy with sharp objects about to go through my nipples should have been intimidating, but it wasn't at all. Aaron is very professional and has a great bedside manner. He cleaned me off, marked me, and clamped the left one and told me to take a deep breath and when I exhaled he pierced. Everyone complains about the clamps, they don't bother me a bit. I do have a high pain tolerance and do tend to like a modicum of pain from time to time, some may even say masochistic tendencies, so not surprisingly I didn't scream or curse or jump 10 feet in the air. I could feel the needle pushing through, but the whole process was very quick. I actually think my nostril was worse, since I couldn't open my eye for a bit. Before I knew it, he was on to the right one. Definitely, this one was worse, probably since the adrenaline was wearing off. But, not too bad, still not swearing. Aaron put the CBRs in, cleaned me off and I was ready to go! I thanked him, tipped him, and went on my back to the T.
The train ride home was interesting, with lots of bumps, but no real pain, just a little achy. In the last few days, I haven't had any pain at all. I have been somewhat achy in some bras, actually a push a bra is not so optimal (I'm a 36D, I don't really need it anyway). But a regular old underwire and those shelf bra tanktops have been great! If I have a pen in my pocket it irritates them and so does a stethoscope around the neck, for all you healthcare-minded piercees! All in all these little twinges have just reminded me about the metal on my chest. I love them and they are my little secret that I will hopefully keep with me long after college and into my ultra-conservative career in medicine!
It hasn't been that long, but I don't have much swelling, a little bruising on the left but it is resolving. They are nice and straight and the jewelry is perfect size/diameter. It's always better when the piercer picks for you. I am always very diligent with aftercare especially because I don't want to pick anything up at work from the disease-vectors (aka Patients) I deal with every week. A little ibuprofen should resolve the swelling, if it bothers you. Saline soaks make them feel really good, and gets all the nastiness out.
My advice is to research your piercer/studio, be prepared to spend a good chunk of change on them, do both at the same time (Lopsided is not a great look on a woman) and take care of them!
For now, they will be my and my partner's little secret.... He hasn't seen them yet and didn't know that I had decided to get the girls pierced, so they've sort have become a little present for him...
I am sure that they will be very fun to play with in a few weeks. So many new possibilities!