I didn't really develop an active interest in body modification until around a year ago, when I went through a collegiate "rite of passage" and got my first piercing: my nostril. After that, I began to get little urges to get something else done... but was slightly nervous about the reaction of my family. So I decided to keep things hidden for the time being: I had both of my nipples pierced by John a few months later, and also eventually got a vertical hood piercing.
At A Glance Author Kelley Contact Kelley@bme.anon When A month ago Artist John Studio Scarab Body Arts Location Syracuse, NY While doing my research for the hood, I came across a few mentions of what was called a triangle piercing. I headed over to BME to check it out, and was awestruck... a genital piercing that offers sensation from behind? It definitely made me curious, so I had John check to see if I was anatomically suited for it while he was "in the neighborhood". I was. Yay!
A month later, the hood was all healed and doing well, and I was getting anxious to see what this triangle thing was all about. I asked a friend if he'd be my ride, and he agreed, telling me that I was crazy, but that he'd drive me anyway. We made arrangements to go down there on a Tuesday evening, because we were both free, and I spent the next couple of days very excited about my piercing-to-be.
When the fated Tuesday came, my friend came to pick me up at around 6, and we drove off to Scarab. I honestly was not very nervous at all at this point. I mean, I knew it was going to hurt and that it would be a shock because it was a needle going through a part of my crotch, but I really trust John's abilities as a piercer, and I (mistakenly) likened the way piercing a triangle would feel to the way piercing my hood felt - just a quick, sharp, intense pinch of pain. No biggie, right?
We got to the studio, I filled out some paperwork, got my aftercare instructions, and told John that I wanted to go with the 10 gauge circular barbell; I'd heard from someone who'd gotten this piercing from Elayne Angel that the circular barbell made it easier for the jewelry to be tucked against the body, and would therefore minimize the twisting that could occur. John had another client ahead of me, so I sat on the bench with my friend, looked through the various portfolios on the table, used the bathroom so I wouldn't pee all over John out of shock when he pierced me... and kept my mind off of the fact that my genitals were about to be poked with a needle. Again.
Finally, John came out and asked me if I was ready. I gave my friend a nervous smile, got up, and followed him into the piercing room. I laid down and pushed my pants and underwear down around my ankles while he got everything ready.
With me laying there half-naked on the table, John explained everything to me. It would probably be more "sensitive" (that's his word for painful) than the hood piercing, it takes longer to perform than most other piercings because it actually goes through three different areas, and he'd be doing it freehand, so if I moved my thigh the wrong way, I could end up with a 10 gauge needle stabbed into it.
Wonderful! Nervousness begins here.
John poked and prodded around down there a bit, marking me and making sure the marks were in the right places when the skin was relaxed. When he got everything aligned correctly, he told me he'd do his normal breathing exercise; three deep breaths in and out, and on the third exhale he'd pierce. I closed my eyes, crossed my arms in front of my chest and squeezed tightly for some kind of comfort while he had me breathing. "Okay, one more deep breath in, and exhale..."
And a searing pain ripped through my genitals for probably around 10 or 15 seconds (although my perception of it was probably longer than it actually was... it was just too long to be hurting in that area, you know? haha). I was writhing and squirming and yelling. Then finally the needle was through, and he went to get my jewelry. I definitely felt a little tingly something different down there, not so much pain anymore, just a little tenderness. Inserting the jewelry, there was another "tug" (again, a word he uses to mean pain) and more yelling from me, and then that was it.
"Do you mind if I take a picture of this?" "No, go ahead..."
So he popped into the other room quickly to get his camera and came back in and photographed me. I looked in the mirror to my left and giggled to myself to see a guy with a camera pointed at that area in such a non-sexual environment. It was amusing, if only because of the endorphin rush post-pierce.
After taking a few moments to collect myself, I sat up, put in the pad that I brought to absorb the bleeding (which was surprisingly kind of unnecessary; my hood bled way more than this one did), pulled my pants up... I embarrassedly pointed out the butt-sweat I left on the table, and he helped me down. I went out and paid, thanked him, and he held out his hand for me to shake. "You did good," he said, smiling.
My friend and I got into his truck, and we headed to Denny's for some food. This was interesting. I was contorting my body into odd positions while walking in an attempt to avoid disturbing my fresh piercing. I was a little achy and uncomfortable, almost as though I'd just endured a small operation in the area, but it was really nothing unbearable.
Looking at it while cleaning that night, it looked a bit crooked, which I was kind of disappointed about. But I figured either a) I was moving around too much to be able to get it absolutely straight b) That was an okay placement for it; John mentioned when he was marking me that his original mark for it went through a blood vessel when the skin was relaxed c) It could just be swollen that way. I decided to let it chill out for a week or two and see what it looked and felt like after that. John did say that a little crookedness could be expected, because walking makes this piercing move around a bit.
The first week with my triangle was a little rough. It was swollen, sore, pinchy, and just not very comfortable. I woke up the morning after being pierced and found that a clot-like thing had adhered itself around the jewelry. The same thing had happened with my hood; it seems to just be my body's way of trying to heal a piercing down there. I soaked in the tub (just very warm water; no bubble bath or soap or anything) for awhile and then very gently picked the clot off, and it looked fine... but still felt very sensitive to touch.
I cleaned it diligently, twice a day with sea salt soaks (I found that using a sturdy paper cup works well for this... just do the soak while you're on the toilet!), and I'd clean the jewelry off with cotton swabs dipped in hot water each time I went to the bathroom. The crookedness of the jewelry was a little off-putting, and it was definitely more tender than I would have liked it to be. Walking had to be done somewhat slowly and carefully, or else I'd feel another painful tug down there. I was starting to regret my decision, but decided to stick it out for a little while longer.
I'm glad I did - about six days after getting this piercing, everything had finally calmed down and was back to normal. I think the problem I had with the discomfort was due to swelling, because now I can't even feel it when I'm walking around, and the crookedness isn't as extreme anymore.
It's been just about a month since I got this piercing and I couldn't be happier. I think the pain I endured makes it that much more special to me. I've had a few chances to "test it out" since then (with myself, anyway), and it's definitely proved to be sexually beneficial. I'm cleaning it just once a day now with a sea salt soak, and it seems to be well on its way to healing.
My advice to anyone considering this piercing is to really prepare yourself for the pain beforehand. It can be quite intense. Also, have your piercer check to make sure your body will support it, as not everyone has the correct anatomy to get this piercing safely. Go to a piercer you trust who has done triangles before and healed them. Ask to see pictures, and ask questions if you have them. It's your body! :)
Also, to anyone looking for a piercer in the Syracuse area, John is an amazing guy: very calming, knowledgeable, professional, and trustworthy. I'd recommend him to anyone.
If you have any questions about this piercing or my experience, feel free to contact me!