I had my second piercing today – an assisted self-piercing of my frenum. If you're interested in genital piercings or self-piercing, this might be a good story for you.
At A Glance Author Tyler Moore Contact overtoneworship@cox.net When It just happened Artist Emily Studio Under the Surface Location Baton Rouge, Louisiana My first piercing was my left nipple, but it hadn't even healed before I was dying to pierce below the belt. It didn't take much research to decide a frenum piercing was what I wanted; many of the joys of a Prince Albert without having to sit while peeing. It sounded good to me!
However, I wanted more than to simply pierce my penis. I had learned from my nipple piercing how much of an emotional and spiritual learning experience it could be. I found out who in my life truly accepts me for who I am as well as who was just trying to make me fit a mold. So what could I do to learn something about myself?
I read about self-piercing on BME and it intrigued me, but everyone sounded like such an experienced pro that it rather took the wind out of my sails. I thought that perhaps there was an alternative to the risk of completely botching the job on my own. I knew I wanted to do it but wasn't sure how to go about it, so I decided to talk to Emily at Under the Surface.
Emily had pierced my nipple and was absolutely fabulous. I couldn't have asked for more sanitary environs, a better piercing, or a friendlier person. She had all the qualities BME writers and other sources said should be looked for in a good piercer. When I asked her about a frenum, she suggested a 10 or at most 12 gauge piercing. She explained that a smaller piercing would tend to slice through tissue, while a larger 10 or 12 gauge would hold better, having more tissue to keep it in place. I grimaced and agreed. Then I brought up what I knew would be the difficult thing: me pushing the needle. I figured she'd probably hesitate. When she remembered my nipple piercing which had been a few months earlier, she seemed more at ease and gave it a go (my good friend Trang who had been present for my previous piercing was there to testify to the fact that I did not kick OR whine when I was pierced). I scheduled an appointment a few weeks later.
The weeks before the piercing I imagined what it would be like to pierce myself. I stretch and do a lot of relaxation type exercises because I'm a serious singer, and that kind of relaxation is required. It came in handy for my nipple, but I knew it would be imperative for my frenum if I were going to do it. I imagined my instincts would be the hardest thing to fight, let alone the infamous "Moore hand shakes" that run in my family, but expected it would be no sweat and I would push it through without even flinching. Ha.
I went in for my piercing in no time. Trang came with me to take pictures and for moral support. After Emily explained healing procedures and healing time, sexual health advice, and all that good stuff, we laughed as she filled out the legal documents because she put my name down as the name of the piercer. I was surprised to find out that in all her years of piercing, I was the only one to come in for help with a self-piercing. To the chair we went. She did all the sterile stuff, with the exception being that I had to put gloves on as well. Emily walked me through all the procedures for the piercing. Put the dots where I wanted them and applied the clamps. Then she put the needle in my hand and the Moore hand shakes started. The breathing and the mantras and the meditation were invaluable at this point because I went to my "place" of tranquility and my mind was okay. Emily and Trang might not believe this since I probably looked like I was going through withdrawal, but I wa s actually not shaking all that bad for a Moore. Push time came. I started to apply pressure, and everything seemed to be going in slow motion. It was a moment in time like no other. I was the most removed from my own body as I've ever been. I was aware of pain, but it was like I wasn't feeling it. I was aware of the needle going through the skin, but it was like I was the needle and the skin at the same time, but Tyler Moore had been left behind somewhere. I remember stopping for a moment, though I'm not sure if it was to get a better hold on the needle, take a break, or because something in me didn't want that bubble to burst, didn't want that unique moment ever to end. Regardless, Emily's encouragement got me through. She told me I had to get the head of the needle all the way through quickly. One more hard shove and it was through. I'm not really sure, but I think I got the needle through in somewhere between 4 and 8 seconds. The initial plan was that Emily would take o ver at jewelry transfer, but she said I'd done well enough to give it a whirl. A quick push with Emily steadying the needle's exit and the jewelry was in.
I was completely unaware of Trang taking pictures the whole time. I'm glad she skipped her class to come, though, because now I've got a priceless collection of 40 photos. If you'd like to see them, e-mail me at OvertoneWorship@cox.net – I'll be happy to share.
P.S. (The next day):
I adore my piercing. Emily said bruising and swelling would be bad, but I've noticed very minimal bruising and no detectable swelling. There has been no soreness or pain. Briefs are definitely the way to go. Salt soaks and cleaning are a cinch.
Thanks for the support Trang – you're the only one who's crazy enough to take pictures of my penis! And I don't think I can thank Emily enough for being so good at piercing, so nice about everything, and for giving me a chance to have such an awesome experience. Definitely a moment I'll remember for ever!