This is a story about my vertical bridge.
At A Glance Author Goblin Contact Monster009@aol.com IAM Goblin Artist Georgina Studio Green Man Location West Hartford, CT So far on my list of mods I have a 14ga septum, a 16ga center lip, large gauge ears, and a star on my left hand. This was to be my first surface piercing. I have wanted this for a long time. It really looks beautiful, and it has a spiritual feeling to it (as it resembles a bindi, or third eye). I was absolutely positive I wanted this.
I had been doing research online for about a month before I was going to get it. I read about how it is better to be pierced with a surface bar, rather than a curved or straight (ack!) barbell. I read that there is a greater chance of rejection if you do not a have enough skin to hold it. And that this is not a piercing for everyone, and it depends on the structure of your face.
I felt pretty confident that my face was right for it. Also, I knew if it wasn't, Georgina (one of my piercers) would tell me. So, I made arrangements with my roommates to take another trip down to Green Man.
Green Man is the only place I get pierced or tattooed. I have been going there for months, and Georgina and Anna Marie are fabulous. They are very aware of what is, and isn't possible, and make the process as fun and laid back as they can.
So I walked in, and chatted with everyone there for a little bit. Paid my money. Signed the papers, and went upstairs to the piercing room. We walked around and looked at some of the clothes, and jewelry while Georgina answered some questions for some other people. They left, and we picked out jewelry. We decided on a 12ga barbell, that she would go and bend into a surface barbell.
She came back, made sure it was the perfect size, and we went into the piercing area. I love going in there. It smells so clean, and everything is so white. She cleaned my forehead, and made the first dots. We both decided that they were a little low, so she remarked them perfectly, with her "ghetto-ruler", a popsicle stick with the marks of how big the jewelry was on it. All the while she was jumping for excitement, and telling me about the other surface piercings she had done.
Finally she had me lay back. And since there really isn't enough skin there, forceps were not used. She was to use a 10ga needle (which is about to be pushed through your forehead, is mighty ass scary looking). She had me do the usual breathing routine, but On my third breath to let it out very slowly, since it would take longer to pierce. One. Two. Three....and exhale. I could feel it going through. But it wasn't painful. It was just the feeling of something moving under your skin. She got the needle through, and immediately smiled and giggled. I was having so much fun. She told me that this would probably be pretty uncomfortable, and then inserted the jewelry. Not really that uncomfortable. It was about the same as the piercing.
But then the blood. I had never bled during a piercing before. According to everyone watching, I had a massive puddle of blood on my forehead, and was dripping into my eye. But Georgina cleaned it up mighty fast, and apologized for "torturing me" and not letting me see my piercing, but it would look better if blood wasn't gushing from it.
I sat up and giggled like a moron. It was absolutely perfect. It was straight. It was clean. It looked great. We walked out, (Georgina hopped, actually) and went downstairs to show all the tattoo artists. That's a feeling of pride.
She explained that surface piercings are a bitch to heal, and could take anywhere from 6-14 months. But mine would probably be around 6, since I heal insanely fast. Aftercare was pretty much sea salt soaks. She didn't specify how often, since she knows that I know how I heal.
I do sea salt soaks once a night, and I clean of the crusties with a wet Q-Tip. There has been absolutely no swelling, and no bleeding after the initial piercing. Every so often I'll accidentally smack my forehead, forgetting it's there. This really doesn't evoke too much pain, but I'd prefer not to do it.
I went back to Green Man 2 days later, and saw Georgina and Anna Marie. Georgina was very happy with how it was looking, and took a couple pictures for her portfolio. Then Anna Marie had her take a couple pictures of my lip, for her, too.
I am insanely happy with how this is turning out. I take good care of my new piercing. If it does start to reject, my best bet will be to take it out promptly, so I won't have a huge scar in between my eyes.
I really hope I have been informative. I encourage anyone who is getting a new piercing to do some research, other than just reading experiences. And if you are in Connecticut, you should definitely take a trip to Green Man in West Hartford.
Thanks. Kelly (Goblin)