When I turned 18, I had many modifications done in the following year. I began with my septum, continued with my nipples, took a big leap into genital beading and finally came around to having a second genital modification performed: A pair of Frenum piercings.
At A Glance Author Stephen DeToma Contact Stephen DeToma@bme.anon IAM Sacred When Ten years ago or more Artist Unknown Piercer Studio Rites of Passage Body Piercing Location Allston, Ma My most recent mod prior to this decision was 3 8g implants I had done at a shop in Providence, RI. I felt as though I had hit a milestone and some of that fear that came from inexperience was beginning to dwindle. In its place, I found much optimism and excitement and a strong desire to do whatever I could.
I decided on a pair of Frenum piercings after reading Modern Primitives. In my mind, I had an evolution or order of operations in which I was ready to proceed with (odd that, subdermal implants were below Prince Albert on that evolution) and sticking with the exterior tissue seemed like a good bet for me. I did have questions, as I am not circumcised, regarding placement and comfort that I was unable to answer on my own, so I was looking for someone trustworthy to answer those questions.
Recommended to me was a shop in Allston, Ma, called Rites of Passage (a name that was not lost on me). I had received nothing but positive reviews and seen beautiful work out of the shop on people that I knew. So it was with little hesitation that I made an appointment over the phone to get my piercings.
Days later, as I drove into Boston, many thought flew through my head. Still there was the fear. I recognized the fear being there, but it didn't deter me from what I had set out to do. If anything, the fear became almost as much of a motivating factor as the piercings themselves. Since my decision to begin getting genital work performed, I felt as though I had stepped into a much larger world, not only physically, but spiritually.
Once I arrived at the studio, I was struck by the interior. It was a beautiful representation of a Modern Primitive culture. The combination of lovely stainless steel and glass display cases in conjunction with bamboo and grass mats displaying hand made jewelry from around the world was amazing to me. I had never seen anything like it. The one thing that sticks in my mind even today is seeing the certificate of completion for the Fakir Musafar Body Piercing Intensive that hung on the wall among others. Having only a year of experience under my belt and the majority of my information coming from only books, Fakirs name stood out as a beacon. It made me feel as though I had finally found what I had been looking for.
My piercer was introduced to me by the receptionist. His name escapes me, but his appearance does not; tall and slender, he had a large, full beard and 2 full sleeves of Hawaiian tribal tattoos extending from under his natural cotton shirt. After a brief conversation about what I was looking to have done, I began to pepper him with questions regarding the placement of the piercings in relation to my foreskin. He explained that with jewelry of the proper size, they should roll back up inside with little discomfort. Everything I had seen and we had discussed had put me at complete ease, so, once the preliminary paperwork was completed, it was with confidence that I strode into the small piercing room.
I jumped up onto a medical table and chatted lightly with the piercer as he began to set up. Soon it was time to get started. I opened my pants and the familiar process began; cleaning, marking and discussion regarding breathing. The marking took the longest portion, which I understand now, but at the time seemed a bit odd to me. Moments later I was having the clamps explained to me as well as the jewelry size, 12g 5/8th stainless steel barbells. The realization that this was becoming very real was hitting me full in the face.
I settled in to the chair. If there was anything that I had learned in my previous experiences, it was that not breathing caused a signifigantly greater ammount of pain than not. The clamps were extremely sensitive on my skin. I remember that being pretty bad, but I toughed it out and kept on breathing in long deep breaths. The initial piercing was unlike anything I have ever felt. It was such a precise, centralized pain that emanated from the point and washed over my body. Before the wave could subside, the claps were removed and the jewelry was through. Setting up for the second went quickly and by the end of the second piercing, I felt spent. The sensation quickly changed into a feeling of serenity, as though I had just woken up from a long nap.
With my new jewelry installed, the skin was rolled back and everything felt pretty good. Oddly enough the barbells actually crossed making an X as they rolled up and inside. We discussed aftercare (which, at this point I was well versed in) and things I should be expecting in the coming days. We discussed extended healing, the downsizing of the jewelry in the future as well as sexual activity.
On the ride back home, I reflected on what I had just done. It was great to be wearing the jewelry now, but it was also a huge personal accomplishment for me as well. In the coming days the pain was minimal, just a bit of tenderness. I dealt with the expected spots of blood or the occasional scabbing, but that was the extent of it. Sex was another story. It took a few practice runs before everything fell into place, but after that, things worked quite well. The only issue I had with them was slight tears I would develop in the tissue between the barbells during particular rough sexual encounters.
After years of wear, I retired them. Once deciding to pierce my PA, there was just too much going on in the area, so I opted for the more comfortable of the choices. I still have the fistula for both piercings and I consider opening them often, but then, something more exciting always comes down the pike. I learned later that Rites of Passage closed its doors. My searches for the whereabouts of the piercers have yielded no information.