For a long time now I've been interested in body piercings in general, and the process of getting them done and living with them. My interest extended to researching and writing an essay on the body-piercing culture for my university cultural studies course (for which I got a Distinction grade, so it must've been half-decent). It was around that time that I committed to either getting my nipple(s) pierced, or getting a pubic piercing done. So, time went on, and eventually I decided that for my first piercing, the pubic would probably be the better of the two decisions. This was mostly because my parents aren't exactly pro-"mutilation", and as such wouldn't approve of any piercing - which would make the more-visible nipple piercings hard to live with. My significant other was, of course, fully in favour of the idea, which made it all the more easy (: After many perusals of BME's pictures and stories archive, I had no reservations about getting it done, and I was confident that I'd be able to take care of it as well as possible.
At A Glance Author Cam Contact Cam@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Rob Studio Polymorph Location Newtown, Sydney, Australia With the decision of a pubic piercing made, it really was down to the simple effort of making an appointment and actually getting it done. I didn't have much of a decision to make on where I went: My friends have always gone to Polymorph in Newtown, and on the majority of piercing occasions I've come along to watch, purely for my own self-gratification... and maybe to hold a few apprehensive hands, as well (: So anyway, one dreary afternoon went by, and after a quick trip to Polymorph to get my significant other's lip piercing checked up on, I was suddenly booked in for the following weekend. Rob offered to do it there and then, but I didn't think I was ready at that instant to get stabbed... Anyway, I hadn't eaten for a couple of hours (a convenient excuse, huh?).
I spent the course of the next week alternating between incredibly keen to get the piercing done and to see what it looked and felt like, and slightly apprehensive. It wasn't apprehensiveness about having a relatively unknown, if friendly, person up close and personal with my penis (I've never been particularly self-conscious) - it was more a physical apprehensiveness. I'd read pretty much every pubic piercing story on BME, so I considered myself pretty well-informed, but I still didn't know exactly what to expect in terms of pain and discomfort from both the initial piercing (I have a small fear of needles; the needle-pit scene in Saw 2 makes me cringe) and the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of such a piercing. My significant other told me several times in the days leading up to the 'big day' that she'd completely understand if I didn't want to get it done, but I kept my resolve.
Finally the day rolled around, and it was time to go get that sharp, aggressive-looking hook needle pushed into my body. With an appropriate excuse made to my parents (something about uni.. too easy), off we went to Newtown. After a detour to the service station for some cash and lemonade (it has wondrous calming properties, of course), it was into Polymorph. The guy at the counter gave me a form to fill out, and showed me the staple-shaped surface bar that would soon be under my skin. It was, well, bigger than I'd expected - which was, in truth, a little unsettling. I eventually managed to fill out the form in shaky chickenscratch writing, and walked around the studio while Rob got the chair ready. At least, I assume that's what it was - he might've been sitting around waiting for me to get up and run out (:
After a few more minutes where I silently switched between adrenaline-fuelled fear and an odd relaxation, Rob called us into the room. Nice and clean as usual, with the chair in a laid-back position. I sat on the chair and untied my shoes, as Rob talked about the procedure and asked me if I had any questions. I asked a little about aftercare (that I already knew pretty exhaustively, I just needed something to say), and while he was talking and preparing, I took off my pants and underwear, as well as my socks (which my S.O laughed at me for) then lay down on the chair. I imagined that I'd probably look like a pretty ridiculous sight - wearing only a t-shirt and nothing else - so I grinned stupidly for a couple of seconds. Rob rather deftly manoeuvred around me to line things up, and quickly marked where the piercing would go. After checking it with my S.O as well as looking myself (it never hurts to have a couple of opinions), I took a deep breath and committed myself to it. "Sure, that looks good." I lay back down with one hand behind my head, and the other hand being held by my significant other, who, offhandedly, said that if I inadvertently broke her hand, she'd kill me (:
Alright, this was pretty much the moment of truth. I took a few more deep breaths, grinned stupidly again, and listened to Rob telling me how this was going to happen. I'd breathe in, he'd line up the needle, and as I exhaled he'd do the actual piercing. Now, in my mind, 'lining up' was, I don't know, him aiming the needle or something. So as I breathed in, I was a little surprised to feel a quick sharp pain. The pain wasn't too bad, and it quickly subsided to a smaller pain as Rob (I assume) moved the needle so that it would exit out at the correct point. I think that I was probably squeezing my significant other's hand pretty tight by now (: As I finished breathing in I slowly started to exhale, and the needle quickly pushed through my skin, hurting quite a bit again on the way out - probably as much as the first jolt. Before I knew it, the jewellery was in, and I was sitting up staring in amazement at this absolutely foreign-looking piece of metal in my groin. After a quick "Holy shit..." and some nervous laughter, I put my pants back on and sat down on the chair, to tie up my shoes. I was having some trouble, so I held my hand up in the air, and watched it shake for a few seconds. Rob was quick to notice the obvious effects of adrenaline, and laughed. After clumsily doing up my shoes we filed out to the counter and paid for the piercing, and got a small package of aftercare notes and sea salt in return. My S.O and I said our goodbyes to a happy Rob, and walked out onto the street, where I noticed that I could walk relatively normally, without any significant discomfort from the fresh piercing (at least, I think so...).
In hindsight, the piercing experience was relatively quick and simple, and will hopefully serve as a good story (did you think it was?) to tell about the incredible, intensely-aesthetically-pleasing piercing that is currently healing in my groin. It's been trouble-free so far - no significant bleeding, not much crustiness, and only minor swelling - which I hope is evidence that I'm taking good care of it. All that I'm hoping for now is that it continues to be this positive so that I can keep it for good (:
- Cam