Today is my second day with my Prince Albert, a piercing that I never really envisioned myself getting. But here's the story behind it.
At A Glance Author duke Contact ddutrem@gmail.com When It just happened Artist David Studio The Museum of Living Arts Location Charleston, SC When I got home from college, I got a job with the intention of saving all the money I made there for a sleeve. Well, one night after dinner I was a little too drunk, and the subject of said money came up in a conversation with my mom. Conversation omitted, the basic gist was 'wait until you're 21 and going to grad school'. So I made a compromise with her that if I waited until then, I could pierce my ear NOW (which I've wanted to do since I was 3). Long story short... I found a GREAT little shop here (The Museum of Living Arts), got my left lobe pierced, and that was it for then.
Fast forward 5 weeks to Saturday, June 28. My lobe was healed, and I was ready to change out my jewelry. I had to go back to the Museum to get my CBR taken out, and, since I wanted an industrial, I figured I'd get that done, too. But mom came with, only to drop the 'no more piercings' bomb. I was pissed. So I dropped her off back at the house, told her I was going for a ramble, and went straight back to my piercer.
I told David that I was sick of being told what to do with my body, had planned on getting pierced that day, and that I needed something easily hidden. I wanted a Prince Albert. So I handed over my ID, my money, signed my life away, and went back into the studio. We talked about his PA, his ears (stretched REALLY large), his career as a body mod artist, etc. Really cool guy - he made it less awkward to have my dick out in front of someone I'd known for a grand total of 5 minutes, which was really the only thing I was worried about. I knew about the procedure, and I have a pretty high pain tolerance, so pain wasn't an issue.
I sat in the chair, he explained the procedure - basically, the underside of your penis is cleaned, a receiving tube gets shoved into your urethra, he marks where he's going to stick the needle, which will then go into the receiving tube and out the tip of your head, where a cork is put on it so no one gets stuck (again), and the needle is pushed out by the barbell. Simple stuff.
So I whip it out, he makes it nice and squeaky clean, marks it, and inserts the receiving tube. Worst part of a PA procedure, I swear. Feels kind of like peeing through a urinary tract infection. Quick pinch on the underside of your dick (that's the needle), and then the receiving tube is out ("I know how uncomfortable that is, so I do it quick" - suddenly I'm glad my piercer is a guy), and the needle is corked. Barbell in, needle out, pants back on... I've got a new hole!
Aftercare is explained (antibacterial soap 1-2x a day, pee afterwards so you don't get any soap trapped in the urethra), first pee will hurt like a BITCH, expect blood anywhere from 1 day to a week... the usual healing instructions.
Well, first pee DID hurt like a bitch. It dribbled blood most of that night (I got pierced around 3 PM and had to throw out 2 pairs of boxers because of the blood spots), and the first pee the next morning it GUSHED blood, but that's normal for me. My piercings bleed when I get them, gush the first cleaning, then they're fine. I put a latex glove over it, which was filled up by the time it stopped bleeding. Then I picked off the dried blood with a Q-tip, and its been fine since - no blood (thank God). Today, no problems.
I didn't get my Prince Albert because of the sexual aspects (nothing against anyone who does!), I didn't get it for the aesthetics (although that's growing on me now that I've had a barbell through my penis for a day and a half), but because I don't believe anyone has the right to tell me what to do with my body any more than they have the right to tell me what to do with the most private part of myself. Anyone thinking about getting one, go for it! The worst part is the procedure (receiving tube), and the first pee. After that, its a cake-walk. If you're in Charleston, SC, go check out The Museum of Living Arts. They're the only piercers I will use in Charleston, and I'll be going to see them again for my future work when I'm home from school.