Just days ago I retired my favorite piercing, a Christina. It was my second attempt at this beautiful adornment. My first Christina was done at Chameleon {Cambridge, MA} by Erin Duff. The initial piercing was fast with only a flash of hot pain and it settled down quickly. But it was not to be; - the top ball began to drift to the right and after 8 months I faced the fact it was not going to correct itself, I took the jewelry out and the empty space bothered me very much because I love the look of a Christina.
At A Glance Author Liz Contact eLombard@aol.com When Six months ago Artist Mik Miller Studio BodyXtreme Location Quincy, MA The end of my second Christina came as surprise. Last night I noticed that just a tiny bit of skin was holding the BB in place. I'm small and I can look straight down and clearly see the top ball of the Christina piercing when cleaning it. It was only when I grabbed a handheld mirror while soaking in the tub that I saw how much trouble the piercing was in. Yes, it would sting now and then and recently I would feel the top ball pull on my pants when I sat down or got up quickly but I didn't see trouble. Also just last week I was at the studio having a new white gold BB placed in my VCH and the piercer didn't say anything about the Christina looking troubled. I was surprised at how fast it happened, because for so long it appeared fine. I realized with regret that it was being forced out. Both piercers, Mik and Erin, pierced plenty deep- placement was not an issue; I might be one of these women who cannot successfully keep a Christina but I hope that's not true.
I really want a Christina. I think having a jeweled BB nestled right in the pubic mound is one of the prettiest, most feminine and most sexy piercings a woman can have. I'd rather have one successful, healthy Christina than a dozen other genital piercings and I'll always feel that way! After taking plenty of time to let it completely heal, I attempted another Christina, this time at Bodyxtreme in Quincy, MA. The reason I switched piercers was Erin wasn't working and I had the piercing "bug", I wanted to replace my Christina immediately, that day and not one day later! Mik Miller performed other piercings for me (nipples, Rook, vertical hood) and I trusted him completely. He did the Christina with a 14g BB (same as Erin did) and it was deep and well placed.
I know now what the experts mean when they say that a Christina can be a finicky piercing even when placed in a woman with the "ideal" build. I have the defined ridge that piercers say is necessary for a successful Christina but in my case it couldn't save this piercing. I was hoping the little area of scar tissue left behind from the first Christina would help 'anchor' the second one but it didn't. This time the BB didn't drift right or left but began to "lift" right out of the skin. It remained in its correct position for three months and then began to reject, getting shallower week by week.
I have two tattoos in the groin area and several genital piercings {3outer labias, a HH a VCH plus the Christina, now gone.} I refer to it as my genital project because it has changed over the last two years. I had one CBR in my left outer labia which had to come out. I had two CBR's in my right outer labia; only one remains. My horizontal hood was retired with the intention of getting it redone with a better placement in relation to the other piercings. When I got my first genital piercing, the horizontal hood, I didn't consider that more piercings were to come. It was only after getting the first taste of the needle did I know that I would want more and I had to carefully consider "placement" in addition to just getting a piercing. I guess what I'm trying to say is that placement is always important even with one genital piercing but if a woman desires more than one piercing she has to put more emphasis on placement in respect to the addition of more jewelry and how it'll all fit together.
That was something that I did not know or didn't consider when I got my first genital piercing. To be honest, I never envisioned myself with more than one, It never occurred to me that I would want, no NEED, more than one but as many BME members will tell you, piercing can be quite addictive. No sooner than the first CBR was placed in my labia was my head reeling with thoughts of what I wanted to do next. I had a vision of how jewelry would enhance an area that seemed to be ignored (jewelry-wise) all my life.
Like most women I love to buy and wear different jewelry, each piece changing the mood and look of who I am on each particular day. Now I had discovered that I could do the same with this most intimate of areas and why not? There is something exotic and very sensual about adorned genitals. It opened up an entirely new door on how I celebrate my body and there is nothing more empowering or stimulating than genital piercings, like other modifications, they enhance the body. When I say 'stimulating" I'm referring to emotional/mental stimulation which in turn can stimulate one physically. Wasn't it Kinsey who said "the biggest erogenous zone in the human body is the brain"? Yes, that's where it all begins, we covet/love/desire what we see. In my mind, each piercing is a gift that I give myself and I'm worth it.
I was disappointed that my Christina piercing had to come out but what bothers me more is that I might never be able to keep one. I'm trying not to think about that. Other retired piercings didn't make me feel the same way. With my horizontal hood or second and third outer labia piercings, the chances are I can get more and rejection isn't an issue that I have to be concerned with. But I don't have that kind of confidence with the Christina. There is a very good likelihood that a Christina will not be a successful piercing for me.
My intention is to have the Christina done again, repierced deeper and up one gauge to 12g. After reading BME's QOD and the Experience Section, I understand that some people believe that metal is not the way to go with a Christina but that's the choice I have, neither studio uses PTF or filament and the same goes for two other well-known studios in the Boston area.
For those who have not had a Christina, yes, it hurts (but most piercing do) I do not look forward to the pain or the cost of another one but we must pay for what we want. It is important to me and I will attempt it again with the hope that the third time is the charm. Yes, of course I can live without a Christina but I'd rather not, I feel naked without a barbell in my mound and a new tattoo this summer is based on having a jeweled piece right where the labia lips meet. Maybe the 3rd time will be the charm, I hope so. Thanks for reading.