My name is Erika and I am 32 as of two weeks ago. I have a page under hallmark on bme and have had one for about 5 years. I have been getting tattooed and pierced since before I can remember (I do not have a definitive time). I currently have two eyebrow piercings, tongue, nostril two times, nipples, clitoris, vertical hood, fourchette, four inner labia piercings, a princess albertina and a bunch of misc. ear piercings. I also have shoulder caps, a huge back piece tattoo, and another ten tattoos in misc. places.
At A Glance Author hallmark Contact hallmark@bme.anon IAM hallmark When It just happened Artist Justin Johnson Studio Black Cat Tattoo Location Boise, Idaho I met Justin Johnson @ Black Cat Tattoo when a man named Sean Wyett branched off and opened his own shop. Justin and the whole crew at Black Cat have become family. Justin knows my body as well as I know it myself. He has pierced my eyebrow, navel, tongue, nostril, nipples, fourchette and now redone the princess albertina. What I love about Justin is that he is so knowledgeable and just plain nice and approachable. He also has a way of making me feel totally at ease which is why I will always be a returning customer. I also get my jewelry there and Justin has always been great and very helpful.
I did a stint in Ukraine for the Peace Corps from 2003 thru 2005. There, I met three up and coming tattoo artists/ piercers in the capital city of Kiev. I got various piercings done by one of the boys (Yurah Kalmikov) including a princess albertina. My language was not all that good at the time and I tried to explain in my broken ukrainian what exactly I wanted. Yurah is another that I would trust with my life. Through lots of hand gesturing and giggling, he finally understood what I wanted and all though he had never done one, he was quick to study up and prepare. To make a long story short, we did the piercing which did not hurt at all but did ultimately reject. I know that urinary tract infections are common with them and I think that is what happened. One day the jewelry just fell out after taking a dose of penicillin (for what I thought was a u.t.i.). It left my urethra torn and kind of unhappy. I decided to give it a rest and it has healed as much as it can up to this point.
I was in Boise last Saturday after being away for three months. I got there and sat outside with Justin for a while just catching up on life and telling him about my latest catastrophe. We finally went inside and stretched my tongue to a six and re-pierced the nipples that had been removed two months early due to emergency surgery. We also put back in the four inner labia and then I decided that I wanted to also try to do the princess albertina. At this point, I did not know if it would be possible. I took my clothes off and hopped up on the table in that familiar position that I had been in so many times with piercings (on my back with my legs opened). Justin took a look and he said it is torn most definitely but if we just keep the ring in do not stretch it, you will be okay. I said okay, let's do it. Justin put on gloves and pulled out the needle, receiving tube and ring and we were ready.
He slid the receiving tube into place, which burned a bit and then stuck the needle through the skin into it. He then slid the needle out and the jewelry in..just that fast. It really did not hurt but I had to help hold my labia back because it is such a deep piercing. He cleaned up the minimal blood and I hopped off the table and got dressed. It was Justin's first time with this one and also with my fourchette, but the fourchette healed beautifully and I am hoping this one will too. The only thing that gave him any real trouble was the angle of the piercing and the tight space, but he was a champ and got it done.
It has been about five days with no problem. I know that it is there and it has become my favorite piercing (besides my tongue) very quickly. Justin was able to get a good chunk of skin, so my chances are hopefully better, also I am on oral antibiotics for an old infection, (after also being on i.v.'s for a staff infection but that is another whole chapter) so I have that also to fall back on. The best method for healing that I know of is to just leave it alone.
On a final note, Justin is the best piercer that I have ever met to this date and like a little brother. He is and always has been very professional and I would recommend anyone in the Boise area to go and see Justin at Black Cat Tattoo and Piercing. Tell him Erika sent you. :)