I began thinking about getting a fourchette piercing about this time last year. I already had a Christina and both horizontal and vertical hood piercings. The pictures of fourchette piercings on BME intrigued me, but the absence of recent experiences about it left me somewhat hesitant. I tried to find out information from other sources, both online and through local piercers, but I wasn't satisfied with the answers I got. So, I put the fourchette idea to rest for several months until I could find out more about it.
At A Glance Author SkyeLass Contact SkyeLass@skyelass.com Artist Brian Skellie Studio Piercing Experience Location Atlanta, GA Then, during a trip to Atlanta last summer, I met Brian Skellie of Piercing Experience (http://www.piercing.org). Between us, my boyfriend James and I had been pierced by more than 10 piercers, throughout North Carolina, but Brian completely blew us away. We didn't even get pierced on our first visit to his shop, but Brian spent nearly an hour talking to us about jewelry materials, aseptic technique, and the research he'd done to ensure his clients' safety and happiness with their mods. At the end of that visit, Brian installed new jewelry for both of us, in James' nipples and my septum and nipples. We both agreed after that first meeting, that the next time we got pierced, we'd go to Brian.
That next time turned out to be nearly six months later. After deciding on a fourchette, my first step was contacting Brian through e-mail to find out more technical/procedural details and to set up an appointment. Even in e-mail, Brian has this amazingly soothing personality. Several times before the piercing, Brian responded quickly and calmingly to my nervous questions, ranging from procedural pain to concerns about sex (James would be getting an apadravya during this visit, and the compatibility of the two piercings was a big issue.) Brian suggested that I massage the area to be pierced by gently tugging at it, loosening up the tissue, for at least a few days before the actual procedure. I'm not sure how much of it is a placebo effect, but I do believe that preparation made the piercing experience much smoother.
After we got into Atlanta Friday evening, we called Brian to see if I could go ahead and get pierced that night instead of waiting for the following morning. We went to check into the hotel and freshen up, and then made our way to Piercing Experience. There were a couple other potential clients in the waiting room when we got there, but neither of them had made their final decisions about their piercings. So, after some catching up, we headed back to the piercing room. Brian washed his hands (using soap with a foot pump!) and put on nitrile gloves. I then removed my undies, hiked up my skirt, and got on the table. He examined me, and we discussed placement and jewelry options before he placed the final marks. I approved the placement, checking the marks in a mirror. He then went out to sterilize the jewelry and equipment. While we were waiting for the autoclave to finish, Brian asked if Somerset, another piercer, could be present during the procedure. I had watched her speaking to another client in the waiting area and was impressed with her knowledge, so I felt comfortable having her there.
Once everything was 'claved and cooled, we all marched back into the piercing room. I got back up on the table, and Brian asked if I had a stirrup preference. Figuring I'd be less likely to clamp my thighs together during the procedure if I was in the stirrups, I had him set them up. Brian and Somerset adjusted the stirrups, and I kicked my shoes off and got into position. Somerset took the camera so she could get some pictures during the procedure, and Brian washed his hands one more time. He then put on a pair of glove liners and the purple nitrile gloves, both fresh from the autoclave.
Once the skin was prepped for the piercing, Brian laid a sterile gauze pad with a small window cut out over the place to be pierced, covering any bits not directly involved in the procedure. At this point, I'd become quite giddy, and my face was really flushed. There was a level of excitement I'd never felt with previous piercings – I think my endorphins must have kicked in before the actual piercing. We started the deep breathing, and Brian massaged the tissue to loosen it up. Brian encouraged me to think about how beautiful the fourchette was going to look, and how perfect my experience was going to be – again, something new for me. Previous piercers had encouraged me to focus on something outside the situation (whatever random happy place), but Brian worked to keep me completely involved with what was happening.
"I'm going to apply some pressure now as we get started," I heard him say as I felt the tip of the needle at my perineum. I squeezed James' hand and continued, somewhat shakily, with my breathing. The pressure was there, and then, suddenly, it was EXTREMELY intense. I felt myself holding my breath, so I consciously exhaled as powerfully as I could manage. With that exhale, Brian slid the needle through the tissue. "Hooray, Sonya, you're almost there! Now, you're going to feel this tightness turn into smoothness," and he fluidly removed the needle and inserted the ½" 10 gauge barbell. The brief pain of the needle melted into this feeling of warmth, radiating from my new fourchette throughout my body. As he tightened the ends of the barbell and cleaned me up, I was giggling uncontrollably. Brian arranged my bits so that Somerset could take a picture, and they both commented on how nicely the fourchette complemented my other piercings. He handed me a mirror, and I had to agree – it looked perfectly symmetrical with my 10 gauge vertical hood. James rounded out the compliments with a breathless "It's beautiful!" followed by an intense blush.
Now, two days into the healing process, I'm still a bit tingly. Although I can definitely tell the fourchette is there, the sensation isn't unpleasant. More than anything, I'm much more aware of that part of my body. I'm following Brian's minimalist aftercare instructions, also known as the "Leave it the Hell Alone" healing method, as much as possible. No cleaning with antibacterial soaps, no soaking, no piercing care solutions. I keep the piercing as dry as possible, use the bathroom cautiously, and when necessary, rinse off with warm water. There's been a small amount of spotting, so I've worn pads – the thicker ones seem to be more effective for me; they add some extra cushioning for the area.
Two months later – my healing has been prolonged due to some unexpected surgery taxing my immune system, but in general, the fourchette is happy. I continue to leave it alone most of the time, but I clean it well after any sexual contact. I've noticed that it gets a bit tender around my period – to alleviate the discomfort, I'll apply a warm compress. And that's about it.