The first six parts of this epic detail my first 17 piercings (of which 16 are still in place, after I abandoned a migrating nipple piercing a couple of weeks ago), This, part 7, is a testament to not being afraid to give up halfway...
At A Glance Author GothPaul When Five years ago Artist Lee Studio Artline Location Bedford, UK June '99, nine months after my second navel piercing. I was approaching my 30th birthday and decided to give myself a present.
I had a chat with Lee (my piercer from 'Artline') one Friday night and we decided that he would open the studio for me the next Sunday and install a guiche and twin vertical nipple piercings. (Not sure what made me choose those particular piercings; I know Lee didn't suggest the guiche, because he doesn't particularly enjoy performing them. Can't say I blame him! The verticals just seemed like the right thing to do, so...)
The Sunday rolled around and I arrived at the Artline studio with the MOTHER of all hangovers.
I signed the disclaimer and Lee made coffee while the tools and jewellery were autoclaving. While we were waiting, Jim, the other tattooist/piercer arrived with a couple of his friends to do some tat-work. General conversation ensued and most of the guys winced and/or cringed when they heard what I was there for.
Eventually, the equipment was ready and Lee ushered me through into the piercing room, where the small, folding table was set up and covered in paper towels.
Lee told me he wanted to do the guiche first because it would be the easiest of the three. Fair enough, so I dropped my pants, laid on my belly on the table and spread my legs.
I felt the clamp being placed (Lee rarely pierces free-hand), a slight pinch from the needle and it was done; a 1.6 (14G) x 12mm CBR now adorned a part of me that I've never seen.
There was a knock on the door at that point and Jim stuck his head round and asked Lee for an opinion on a tattoo he was drawing up, so Lee told me I could get dressed, have another coffee and a smoke and he'd be back ASAP.
About twenty minutes later, Lee returned and apologised for taking so long. He asked if I still wanted to continue, warning me that the nipples would be significantly more painful than the guiche had been and would "hurt like a bitch. That's why I did the guiche first; 'cos you're not going to want any more today after I do these!" That's what I like about Lee; he doesn't sugar-coat the pill. As he says, what's the point in lying? If he told me it wouldn't hurt and it did, I'd never trust him again.
We moved back to the piercing room and Lee washed his hands, cleaned the chair, washed his hands again and we were ready.
I took my shirt off and Lee marked up my nipples.
I had expected him to remove my existing rings before the piercing, but he said he'd rather try with them in, so he could get the placement right.
The first clamp went on my right nipple (not as easy as it sounds when there's a 1.6mm ring in the way) and Lee asked if I was ready.
I nodded and closed my eyes, then opened them and swore; my nipple felt like Lee was trying to pierce it with a burning pencil. This HURT!
I looked down to see Lee straining to push the needle through my flesh; the skin above the exit mark was stretching around the needle but refusing to let it through.
Cold sweat broke out all over me and I grunted as Lee shifted the point slightly and it popped through the skin with an almost audible rip.
Lee gave a relieved laugh and apologised; apparently this piercing doesn't normally take that long and the skin of my nipple seemed to be particularly tough.
He installed the jewellery (a 1.6 (14G) x 12mm BB) and asked whether I was OK, to which I replied "yes, but I think we'll forget about the second nipple for now!"
Lee was OK with this and agreed that we could do the other one another day (Six years later and that day still hasn't arrived!)
I paid for the work he had done (£30, I think) and went home.
Aftercare of the guiche was a little tricky; I still haven't actually seen this piercing (and without lying down, with my knees up round my ears and a mirror between my butt cheeks, I don't think I ever will), so cleaning, soaking and later, jewellery changes, have all been done by touch alone. That said, it was probably one of my fastest healing piercings, being solid and free from tenderness after about 2 weeks. The nipple also healed well with my standard regime of sea salt soaks and LITFA.
With hindsight, I think Lee had a problem with my vertical because of the scar tissue from the horizontal pierce in the same nipple (see 'One Man's Journey pt 5). I also think that forward pressure from the vertical bar probably contributed to the eventual migration and removal of the horizontal ring.
Still, you live and learn, don't you? I know I do and my education will continue in the next experience.
Enjoy