My fascination with the body mod culture began right about the end of high school. Probably typical of a lot of people, my sheer interest outweighed my intentions to dive right in, but nonetheless I was intrigued and most of all impressed by the individuality of everything. Jetting off to college after that, my interest in human behavior manifested itself in a Psychology degree, and I am now working on a PhD in experimental psychology. Needless to say, the intricacies of human behavior have captured my life's attention.
At A Glance Author Brendan Contact Brendan@bme.anon When A week ago Artist David Studio Piercology Location Columbus, OH While I have been engrossed in studying the more extreme mods and love to witness suspensions and other displays of the culture, I have personally kept a more low-level approach of piercings and tattoos for myself. In my younger days I had my tongue pierced, kept it for about three years, and have since removed it. Recently, however, I have rekindled my fascination with piercing.
For personal reasons, I turned my focus to genital piercing. I felt that it was primarily an expression to myself because very few people would ever come to find out about it. A year ago, I would not have even considered any type of below the belt piercing, but perhaps I am growing older and wiser. The more I thought about it, the more I saw the aesthetic quality to certain male genital piercings. My primary drive, however, was for pushing forward into a new era of my life. Finally, the sexual side of genital piercing was relevant, but certainly not my main focus.
Researching these piercings, I was very intrigued by the Apadravya as well as the Frenum. I had decided on the Apadravya and sat on it for a few months. Last week, my mind was again flooded with the urge for the piercing and I took an opportunity to go talk to some piercers about it. I felt that my knowledge, however well researched, needed to be rounded out with some professional opinion. I couldn't have been more right.
Doing some Internet based research, I settled on Piercology in Columbus, OH. This was primarily a decision based on referrals, testimonials, and the history of the particular studio. Arriving at the shop I found their entire staff to be extremely helpful. The two piercers I talked to (including the owner) were even able to talk me out of my ambition. Now, before you start to think that this is bad, let me continue.
The staff provided me with information that I had not gotten anywhere else. They took over an hour to explain everything to me and respectfully answer all of my questions in a manner that made me feel like a person, more than I can say for other places I had been in previous years. In the course of our conversations, they explained to me that the Apadravya was perhaps the most intense male piercing that could be performed in terms of depth, healing time, and immediate blood loss. They were also quite adamant about not performing this piercing on someone who had never had a genital piercing before, and after a little bit of Devil's Advocate from me, I understood why. The Apadravya has an intensity that not many other piercings have, and I am certain I could have gone to a few other shops that day and found one that would take my money and perform the procedure, but I was much more willing to discuss other options with a shop that breaths an air of honesty and concern for its potential clients. For this, I am ever grateful, and if I decide to continue on to the Apadravya in the future, I will not go anywhere else.
After talking and debating on other piercings, I decided that the Frenum was a good starting point. I was particularly fond of the aesthetics of the piercing and felt, from my conversations with the employees, that it was a good starting point for a foray into genital piercing. I will admit that the primary motivation for this as opposed to a PA was the subtleness of it. The look of just being able to notice it as I stood in the mirror, and how it appeared as I lay on my back was perfect after it was said and done. In my opinion, the Frenum is an extremely powerful piercing in its subtlety; adding a very nice contrast to the natural form of the penis. It is also a really good way to enter into a world of more intense body piercings in general.
As with all of my decisions pertaining to this piercing, I took some time to mull it over. Even though I had pretty much made up my mind right there in the shop, I decided to go to lunch and just let it settle for about an hour. Knowing I was on my way back, I returned to Piercology ready to go for it. I thought up a few more questions just to talk a little more and settle my nerves, but I set in motion everything to go ahead. Waiting for the autoclave to finish sterilizing the equipment seemed like an eternity, but within twenty minutes of walking back through the door I was on my way back to the room. My piercer, David, was phenomenal as a person and a professional. He seemed to have an uncanny ability to cut tension with jokes and be as serious as I needed at all the right times.
Entering the room, I sat on a medical exam table and immediately felt as if I was back at the pediatricians office. Except, this was going to be one intense shot! David told me to relax and wait just a few minutes while he got set up. To make everything as comfortable as possible, he told me that I only needed to pull my shorts and boxers down to about my knees and lay back, however at that point I really would not have cared if they were there or not at all. David explained everything he was doing, from feeling around for blood vessels to marking the entry and exit points. This whole process lasted about five minutes. Placing the clamp over the marked spot, the visions of some sort of metal attached to this portion of my body started to make me tense up. David started to instruct me on taking a deep breath in through my nose and exhaling audibly through my mouth in a forceful, but steady manner. After going through one or two breaths he just looked over at me and said, "Relax". "Easy for you to say," I thought, but I tried. Obviously I didn't try hard enough because he paused again and started telling me to relax my body from my feet on up. When he said each body part, I eased the tension in my muscles that I didn't even realize was there and all of the sudden felt much more comfortable. The next instruction was for another deep breath and as I exhaled, the needle went through!
Although the actual piercing was a bit more than the pinch they said it would be, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. David told me to wait just a second while he screwed the balls onto the end of the bar, and alas I was done. Feeling like I had already spent enough time today exposing myself, I took a quick look and zipped back up. I figured I would get the full inspection when I got home in a few hours. Walking out of the room and back into the main lobby of the shop, I found the whole staff milling around. They all turned and looked at me with big smiles and asked how it was. I gave a big thumbs up and probably the biggest smile I think I have given out in a long time. Although the tip jar in the room I walked out of had mostly five dollar bills in it, I felt like the time that everyone took to patiently answer all of my questions and give me the advice that I needed instead of the advice that their business wanted warranted a bit more.
A week after the experience, I couldn't be happier. I have had this urge to tell everyone I know, but have obviously had to hold back on that. Every aesthetical reason I had to get this piercing has been exceeded in my satisfaction with it. The healing time so far has been a breeze. Per the instructions of the shop, I have done the salt soaks and washing every day. Some minor soreness here and there, but nothing that would make me not want to repeat the process. As I have not yet felt ready to "try it out" I cannot yet attest to the stimulation side of everything, but have actually been enjoying the feeling of it there in general.
Overall, I am infinitely happy with the advice of Piercology and the experience. I feel that I made the best choice I could have with their advice, and that there is value to easing your way into these types of piercings. I also do not contend that these are not for everyone. A year ago, I would have not considered the procedure at all. I have felt that it was very important to me that I did some research, slept on the idea for a month or two, did a little more, and made sure that my interest was not a spurious decision based on a general feeling I had that day. Altogether, I have felt that I have made a really good decision for myself in an otherwise roller-coaster time of my life. My early twenties have proved quite interesting in the life lessons I have gathered so far. My knowledge to be passed on to anyone from this excerpt of my experience is not to do anything until you are ready, but not pass it by when you are.