On Thursday night I got a piercing that I've thought about often, but never actually thought, yeah I need to have that. I got my hand webbing pierced. It's on my left hand, between thumb and index fingers and it's got a 10mm 16g curved titanium barbell. In the past couple of months, I've started piercing again, which I think is a sign of a deeper issue, but that's beside the point. I just really felt the need for a slightly more unusual piercing than my others. I was going to get a nipple piercing, but I figured that if I did, then irreparable damage would probably be caused, because that's what happens to me. I was getting my nails done and my nail tech asked me if I was getting a piercing. (Essential beauty does nails, waxing, facials etc and piercing, all in extremely sterile separate rooms). I asked her opinion, and said I didn't want another boring ear or face piercing so we decided on hand webbing, because she'd never seen one, and neither had I, which meant that they weren't too common.
At A Glance Author Ellabella Contact Ellabella@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Larissa Studio Essential Beauty Location West Lakes Larissa was my piercer and she's excellent, she's done my conch and rook piercings before and I knew that I could trust her to do a good job. She asked me about jewellery choice, because she knows that I know about sizing and styles for different areas of the body, and then she went to resterilise the jewellery. All of their jewellery is auto-claved and then put into antiseptic solution as well, I think that's for lubrication to make sure it goes through better. Victoria my nail tech decided to come and watch, which I don't mind, I find that my piercings usually end up being demonstration sports, and I trusted her not to come too close to cross contaminate.
Larissa asked which hand and where, and we decided on the left main webbing, because I wanted it to be seen, and I didn't want it on my writing hand. Then she marked it up, and we discussed the exact placement. I wasn't sure it would be deep enough, but to allow for swelling, we decided it couldn't be too deep. so then, the clamps went on, and the needle went through. It was the first time I'd ever been able to watch someone do a piercing on me, because I normally get face or ear piercings, and they prefer you to lie down for that, so you can't even see in the mirror! It was a little more painful than I'd expected, but I think that's because I was watching, and I knew when she was poking me with the needle, as opposed to normally just waiting for it.
I sat there looking at the canula sticking through my hand and decided that it was the right piercing for me, not too painful, and surprisingly not a drop of blood anywhere! She put through the jewellery and screwed the little ball back on and we both admired it. Victoria had a look and she loved it too, so the other girls who were still there (it was way after closing time when we got done) came and had a look. Everyone loved it and now wants one!
When I went to work yesterday (Friday) I showed basically anyone who would look, and most people just said the usual "what the hell did you do that for?" and "how much did it hurt?" There were of course people coming up for repeat looks, because underneath most people, I think there is that want to get pierced yourself, whether you acknowledge it or not.
I know that this piercing won't last for very long, and may cause scarring when it migrates, but for the meantime, I am happy to say that I have an unusual piercing, which didn't significantly hurt, didn't bleed, didn't swell or bruise and looks fantastic. The only problem is that in Australia we have right hand drive cars, which means my gear shift and hand brake are on the left. I can change gears with no problem, but I have to admit the first couple of times I completely forgot about the piercing when I put on the hand brake and it caused some pain.
If you're thinking about this piercing, and you know the associated risks, it's definitely worth getting it done, I think that my jewellery choice was the best for it, because it doesn't go too deep, and is less prone to tearing, because it doesn't sit flat. My piercer in her aftercare instructions said it is good to sleep with it covered (use a band-aid or whatever) just so it doesn't get caught on anything over night. It's worked for me so far, and although I've only had it for 2 days, it's not looking like it's going to get infected. I'm being meticulous with keeping it clean, because I want this to last for as long as I can!
Hand movement isn't a problem, so if thats whats worrying you, don't be scared, go and get it done!