The problem with surface piercings is that they're unpredictable and often times reject. I've been considering getting my sternum pierced for a pretty long time but never got around to it due to money factors and so forth. See... I wouldn't mind getting my sternum pierced if it would 1. Guarantee to stick around for a while and not reject/migrate or 2. Have enough money to get it re-pierced time after time if it were to do so.
At A Glance Author melody Lish Contact melody Lish@bme.anon IAM melody lish When A week ago Artist Jacob Studio Next! Location Vancouver, BC Unfortunately, neither of those cases is true so... I held off.... until one day. How shall I put this? It's sad but it has to be said. My steady relationship with my boyfriend ended abruptly and basically tore me apart. I hate to admit but every time I feel depressed or maybe just un-content about my situation, I would go and get something pierced. I love the way it feels to be pierced. The anticipation, the pain, the aftercare, the endorphin rush, all just makes me feel a little damn better.
I did the usual browsing on BME and I also talked to several people that have their "cleavage" pierced. Most of theirs actually have rejected but stayed around for a considerable long time. I talked to a piercer of mine, Ryan, and he told me this piercing is bound to reject, and it's just a matter of time. On top of that, I'll have to really "baby" it. So be it.
Down I went to Next! body piercing and tattoo studio to find my favorite piercer, Jacob. He's really knowledgeable about... well everything and gives no bullshit. I talked to him online for a bit before going in and he said he had to have a consultation with me beforehand. Fair enough. I walked into the familiar purple shop on Granville and spotted Jacob. I told him who I was and what I wanted to get pierced. He explained to me the risks of a surface piercing and that I'll really have to take extra care of it.
Funny stuff he asked me a question. "How many piercings do you have?"
"I've been pierced 13 times and I'm only wearing 9 right now." I replied.
He seem satisfied with my answer and explained that he doesn't do surface piercings on those who have little experience with piercings. He showed me a bunch of surface bars (all 12 gauge) and told me to choose the length I wanted. After looking in the mirror and comparing for a while, I decided on one. I made an appointment for 5:30 the next day.
What do you know? It's the next day. My ex picked me up and we rushed from UBC to Granville in 15 minutes.... in traffic. Crazy. See he's getting a tattoo at 6:00 and we timed it that way. I walked in myself because he had to park. I was greeted by Jacob and he told me to sit down. So I obeyed and well... I was pretty nervous. A good kind of nervous though. The butterflies but anticipation. It's the best kind. After 15 minutes, he asked me to follow him. I obeyed as well. I told my ex not to come in because he shouldn't get to see my boobs anymore since we broke up. HA!
In the room, I asked whether I should take off my shirt and he said lifting it was fine. It got awkward so I just took off my shirt. I told him where I wanted to be pierced but ended up being marked quite a bit higher. I actually liked it better there. I don't consider it a cleavage piercing because I don't have enough tits to have cleavage and it's a lot higher than the typical cleavage piercing. He cleaned off the area first. Then he drew a line vertically on my sternum and little horizontal marks that marked the exact position. After much moving around and looking in the mirror, I asked him to make a minor adjustment and he did willingly. It's time to get pierced.
I got jittery all of a sudden so I ran out of the piercing room topless.... To ask my ex to come in with me to hold my hand. I jumped back onto the piercing table and was ready. He told me the clamps were going to be tighter than I'm used to since it is a surface piercing but it really didn't feel too bad. I'd rather the pinch of the clamps distract me from the needle itself. He also warned me this piercing is going to take longer than any of my other piercings. That got me a bit nervous.
I breathed and on 3 I was being pierced. I paid special attention to the pain. It really didn't hurt much at first. I could feel the needle going in and it just felt like pushing and sliding but when it went half way, it started to hurt a bit more. I said... ow this kinda hurts. A few more pushes and it was through. Took about... 4 or 5 seconds max. I remember exclaiming "took you long enough!" but I know he's warned me before! In slid the surface bar and I'm the proud owner of a sternum piercing.
I looked in the mirror and was very very very pleased and excited. It looks HOT. No blood. All good. I thanked and tipped Jacob and gave him a careful hug. I walked outside and some people asked to see it. They all thought it's unique and pretty. For the rest of the night, it was a little... not painful but I knew it was there.
I got home and took a long hot shower. Since then, I really don't do too much to it because Jacob's advice is "just leave it the fuck alone." I shower extra long and "soak" it that way. I tried to soak it with Epsom salt solution like I do to my other piercings, which would be in a cup, inverted. I did that and it started to leak and spill all over myself. I got my panties all wet so I changed them and decided to try again. I got another pair of panties wet, as well as my carpet so I stopped doing that. I'm flat but I'm not flat enough for a cup to "vacuum" against my skin. I sometimes soak a paper towel into the solution and just hold it over the piercing. But usually I just shower it real good.
It's been only a week but I've had no problems with it. I do get a lot of response towards it though from various people. I've compiled a list of most commonly asked questions (I'm sure you've heard one too many yourself):
1.Did it hurt?
2.Is it real?
3.Why would you do that??
4.How does it work?
And so forth. Hell if you have questions, ask. I'll answer nicely and not say sarcastic crap to you. I'm not too optimistic though... seeing as how I'm taking care of it half assed right now, it's going to reject on me but let's hope for the best.