I recently decided to add a stomach surface piercing to my collection, and after waiting a few days I asked permission from my father. Also helping my case was the fact that it is my spring break, a break I so sorely needed after three semesters of college carrying a 4.0 grade point average. Not only am I a lovely modified girl but I've got the brains to back it up. I felt that I deserved it, and my dad, being the kind, open minded soul that he is, agreed with me. So once I was armed with the needed cash, I called my favorite studio Phobia, to warn them about my request and make sure they had everything autoclaved before my arrival. My piercer is a busy man, and while he doesn't take appointments, I like to call a few hours beforehand, to make sure he has time for me. I greatly appreciate the service that piercers provide and I always try to be polite.
At A Glance Author Amy Contact Dramatik1@aol.com When It just happened Artist Craig Raczek Studio Future Body Modifications Location 645 S. State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92831 Anyway, it's a good thing that I called, because my piercer was not working, and would not be in for another week. The other piercer on hand was still learning the ropes of surface piercing, and was not comfortable performing them on the public yet. I was very disappointed because I had my heart set on this piercing. You all know the feeling-when in your mind, you are already pierced, and now you just have to go pay for it. So I hung up and felt a little dejected, but brushed it off, figuring the wait would make the experience that much worthwhile.
An hour or two later, I am on the net looking for a piercing studio in my area. Yeah, I have no willpower...
I thought of a studio, Future Body Modifications, that I've heard good things about through some friends and went to their website to find a phone number. I felt quite guilty about this, since I have never been pierced anywhere but Phobia, and I'm pretty friendly with the staff there. I rationalized by telling myself that my piercer would want me to broaden my horizons and try something new.
So I call up Future Bod Mods, filled with doubt about what I would find on the end of the line. (I have a bit of a schoolgirl crush on my regular piercer and tend to think that no one could be as good as him)However my mood totally changed when I heard the soft spoken, friendly voice on the other end. I could almost feel him smiling at me through the phone as I went through the usual questions...surface bars, check, autoclaves, check, his portfolio, check, prices, check...his experience with surface piercings, and success rates...yadda yadda. After hearing everything I wanted to hear, I decided to go check it out.
I grabbed my friend Lee for moral support and made the 20 minute drive, feeling more and more nervous. As we walked in, I was greeted by the piercer with a big smile and handshake, and he invited me to look through his portfolio as he helped another customer. I checked out the surface piercings, which were all beautifully placed and well done. His shop was squeaky clean and really well decorated with big sculptures and paintings. After filling out the appropiate paperwork, we decided on a one and a half inch 14 gauge barbell which he would bend for me once he took a look at my stomach. I also ordered a custom surface bar with sparkly silver beads as a present for myself for healing. (when getting a new piercing, I try to order a really pretty piece of jewelry for when its healed. It motivates me to keep religious with the aftercare)
We go into the piercing room and I tuck my shirt into my bra, stand on a platform and get poked, prodded and pinched in the belly for 15 minutes or so. I get sanitized, the gloves go on, and out comes the purple stuff and a toothpick. Let the marking begin...After 10 minutes, 6 trys and a few staff opinions later, we are ready.
I'm laying on the table, wiggling my feet, drumming my hands and staring up at Lee, as the piercer attempts to clamp me. No can do, my skin is really tight, I work out a lot and have pretty defined stomach muscles. He calls in the other piercer, and together they manage to align my skin correctly in the clamps and close them. Damn, those clamps were the worst part. As an anatomy student, I was trying to picture my various layers of tissue being squashed, and my blood vessels bursting. Thankfully the clamps were only on briefly, for as soon as they were on, the needle came out and was send on its perilous journey through my dermal layer. It was a slow sharp burning pain, nothing unbearable, and on the exit hole I said, "ow" more out of habit than anything else. In comparison to other piercings, it hurt more than my nape, and less than my nipples. This piercing was a walk in the park on a warm sunny day compared to the savage hellfire that was my nipple experience. Anyway, I'm getting off track here.
The piercer slid in the bar, and took off the clamps. I did not spill a drop of blood, even as he screwed the balls on. He cleaned off the ink and helped me to sit up. He took a few pictures for his portfolio and began his aftercare instructions. I asked a question about how I should rotate the bar during cleaning, and he washed his hands and put on some gloves to show me how to move the bar slightly back and forth. As soon as he touched the piercing, it began bleeding pretty good. We laughed and he cleaned me up again. A few minutes later I paid him and left to smoke and manuever myself awkwardly into my car for the uncomfortable drive home.
Sleeping last night was a bitch, as I couldn't sleep on it, and my nape doesn't like to be slept on either. I spent the whole night rotating from side to side and never really sleeping. I would recommend that you plan your piercings better than I do, so you will have a comfortable position to sleep in. For those of you who have this problem, try sleeping on your couch for a few days, because its too narrow to turn over a lot in your sleep.
To my dismay this morning, my piercing is very bruised from the clamps and pretty sore. I'm also expecting my period and have been experiencing cramps, which is making my whole abdomen pretty painful. I usually do sit ups to increase blood flow to reduce cramps, but this wasn't a option today, obviously. So I took an aspirin, a warm bath and had a good orgasm. Remember ladies, orgasms are wonderful ways to relieve cramping, so rock on with your bad selves.
I love this piercing. It is purple and painful and primal and beautiful. Im going to coddle it with provon soap twice a day, and give it all the sea salt soaks it wants. I will love it as long as I can, and I will miss these two shiny balls if it rejects.
I hope my experience has been informative, and feel free to email me with any questions.
Love n Shit,
Amy