I started attending the annual local tattoo show, and the second year purchased a video compiling other shows around the country. That video was my first exposure to the art of real body piercing. The video was full of lots nice looking ink and had its share of pierced nipples, both male and female, but in one segment, a guy in his twenties, who was about to get his septum pierced, showed his Prince Albert. He'd gotten it several months earlier, and had just stretched it to an 8g 5/8" ring with a 5/8" ball. I knew then that a P.A. was in my future.
The only problem was this was 1988 and I lived in Kansas City, Missouri. Not exactly the body piercing capital of the world. As the months wore, on the urge for a piercing increased. Without knowing the actual name, the importance for proper placement, and the dangers, I gave myself a Hafada. Through blind luck, and maybe the grace of God, it didn't turn out half bad. It was just slightly off the seam but was straight! Not an easy task when using a sewing needle and trying to shove it through your own scrotum. The worst part was sticking in the earstud! (Remember it's 1988, and I'm in Kansas City.)
Years later, when I understood what I HAD done and what I HADN'T done, it became clear why one needs to go to a professional! The danger of going too deep, or hitting a blood vessel in the scrotum is great. The big break in the puzzle came in 1992 when I picked up the premiere copy of In The FLESH magazine. I turned to page 5 and there was an interview with the Reverend MAD JACK from Body Basics in Chicago. I remember one paragraph in particular:
"Mad Jack is a man with a mission, giving people healthy and positive piercing experiences. Consequently he sets high standards for the piercing industry and even higher ones for himself. "This was not only the shop I'd been looking for, but also the man to do my piercing. I spent the next several months trying to set up a time when I could fly up and get my P.A. It seemed that when my schedule was open, Jack was out on the road doing shows. This went on for about a year. In October, 1993 however, when I attended our local tattoo show, I rounded the corner and there was Mad Jack's booth! I walked up to the table and waited in line to talk to a lady who was fielding questions while Jack worked. I asked her if Jack would give me a P.A. at the show. She perked up and said "You want to get a Prince Albert?"
I replied yes. She asked if I was ready to get it now. I said yes. She smiled and walked over and spoke to Jack, who was doing a nipple piercing. He looked and nodded and she told me it would be about 10 minutes.
When he finished, he washed up and came over and asked what kind of ring I wanted. I didn't know, so he showed me several books full of rings. He suggested an 8g. or even a 6g. ring, but at the time they looked like monsters. I picked a 10g. 1 1/8 dia. ring with a captive ball.
He set me down in a straight-back chair, had me lower my pants, and began explaining to me step by step what was to be next. After marking the spot, and checking it several times, he lubed up the needle receiving tube, slipped it in, and asks me to take a deep breath. I did, and after brief, sharp pain I was told it was over! He cleaned it, gave me all the after care instructions, wrapped it and slipped a glove over it for protection.
He had told me the bleeding would last for about two days, and there would appear to be a lot of blood at first, but not to worry, just keep it clean and all would be ok. His word was gold!
At this point I had my self-done Hafada, which took forever to heal, and a left nipple piercing I'd gotten at a local tattoo shop, which took about 6 months to heal. Within two weeks, the P.A. was in great shape! As time wore on though, I had wished I had gotten the larger gauge. I was also looking for a little more weight. That's when I discovered Extremus Body Arts.
Kansas City had finally moved into the twentieth century! After talking to Mick Noland, the piercer/owner, I found he had studied with Jack in Chicago! What a small world. Over the next several months, I started stretching my P.A. until I got it to its present size of 2g. I also increased the ball size to a 1" ball. (I also have a 2g circular barbell with two 1" balls.)
My latest purchase from Mick however, after seeing it
on the B.M.E. page, is a P.A. Tube (a.k.a. P.A. wand,
Prince's Wand). I started with a " x 4" tube, non
drilled, with a 1" end ball and a 5/8" ball on the
retainer stud. I love the feel of the tube when in, and
find most of the time only lubing it with warm water
before insertion works well. (But if it's tight you
might want to consider a recommended lubricant.) I
found the only challenge to a P.A. tube is finding the
hole to thread the retainer stud into the first few
times; but with a little practice, it's a piece of cake.
The P.A. Tube in no way hampers an erection, but I
wouldn't recommend trying to have sex with it in.
I now have three tattoos, triple-pierced ears, both nipples pierced (recently stretched from 14g to 10g in one sitting--almost like getting your nipple pierced for an hour straight!), 2 12g hafadas, and my favorite, the 2g P.A. I'm thinking about getting a larger tube, one that's drilled (to allow urination while the tube is in place) so I can wear it more. I don't want to come off as a weight freak, but having a large ball on a ring or P.A. Tube has a great feel, especially when walking.
In closing, I highly recommend finding a body piercing studio that is as clean and professional as Mick and his crew at Extremus. It is very important to be well informed on piercing choices, their placement and the aftercare. I have several piercings from Mick now and enjoy each and every one. Be SAFE, and happy piercing!
