It was the morning of October 4 when I decided to get a genital piercing. I had been researching it on the internet for a couple of weeks to gain the insight of others. I also had a friend that had a vertical hood piercing. I called Altered Skin in Missoula, Montana and asked to speak with the piercer. The phone was set down and a few minutes later a man answered and said his name was Paul and asked how he could help me. I told him that I was interested in getting a vertical hood piercing and a triangle. He told me the cost of each piercing, and I then asked him if I could get both done during the same visit. He advised me to do one and let that heal and then get the other one done. So I took his advice and decided to get my vertical hood piercing first.
At A Glance Author Lindsay Contact Lindsay@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Paul Champion Studio Altered Skin Location Missoula, Montana It was about three in the afternoon when I started to get ready. I had begun by taking a shower because I wanted my female parts to be as clean as possible. I shaved my legs and used my favorite shower gel. After my shower I dried and covered my body in lotion. It felt really good to pamper myself, and I got dressed in a t shirt and a pair of cut off sweat pants. I wanted to wear really comfortable clothes so that nothing would be binding after I got pierced. I finished getting ready and made my way to the car. The drive to Altered Skin was agonizing. It seemed like traffic was moving slower then ever and I would never get there.
I got to Altered Skin and was greeted the moment I walked in the door. The inside was very clean and well organized. I said that I wanted to speak with Paul. He waved to me from his piercing studio and said that he would be with me in a little bit. He was currently busy with a trio of girls. Once finished, he came out to the front desk and completed the sale with the girls. All the while, I was sitting on the couch looking at his photo album and glancing at the television. My palms were sweating so badly and I had a terrible case of the butterflies. The girls left and I made my way to the counter and told him that I had decided to get a vertical hood piercing and once that was healed, I would come back and get my triangle. He asked for my identification and went and got the necessary paperwork for me to fill out. I completed the paperwork and went up to the front desk and turned it in. He got up and went to his studio and started setting up. He called me back, and as I entered the room I saw that he had placed plastic backed paper towels over the piercing chair. I asked him what size he used for the piercing he said that he used a 14 gauge ring. I asked him if we could do a 12 but when he checked he said that he did not have any auto claved. So I said that a 14 would be fine and that we could stretch it later.
I took my clothes off and climbed up on the chair. I was not nervous about taking my clothes off because he has been piercing since 1998 and I figured that he had seen quite a few female parts and mine would not look any different. As I sat there in the chair he finished getting everything ready. He then sat down on his chair and told me to put my feet on his knees. I looked up at the ceiling; white knuckled the sides of the chair, and started breathing really loud. He said that on the next exhale that he was going to pierce me. Well, that made me tense up because I knew what was about to happen. When he went to pierce me I felt pain and jumped while I yelled ouch. He then pierced me and I yelled ouch again only this time it was louder. The sting was horrendous. Now mind you I am not one for pain; however, I have been pierced before so I knew what I was in for. On the other hand, I did not know that it was going to sting for so long. As he was trying to get the ring in he said that I was working against him because I was pushing away from him. I did not realize that I was doing this and I made myself relax so that Paul could finish putting the ring in. When I heard the pop of the ball being placed in the ring I knew that it was all over. I was elated. I sat there while Paul placed the needle in a red sharps container. After a few minutes I got up and got dressed. He asked me if I needed a panty liner stating that I might bleed a little. I told him that I already had one with me for that reason. We went out to the front of the store were I paid him. As I was standing at the counter I got really light headed and had to sit down. This was unusual because I never got light headed with any of my other piercings. I went and sat down on the couch and after ten minutes, two pieces of hard candy, and two cups of water I felt a lot better and was able to leave. Later that evening I realized that I had completely forgotten to eat lunch in all the excitement of getting my vertical hood piercing. The first evening was the only time it bled and it was just a few spots. I have not bled since then. I have officially had it for 42.5 hours and though it is a little tender, I would do it all over in a heartbeat.
Paul was very gentle. He represented himself in a very professional manner and was extremely courteous. I plan on returning to him for my triangle once my vertical hood piercing is healed. I would highly recommend Paul and his services to anyone who is interested in getting a piercing. I also recommend you eat something with sugar in it before you get pierced. This will help to keep you from getting light headed by keeping your sugar levels up in your bloodstream.