After I got an industrial on my 18th birthday, I knew I wanted something else done, but had no idea as to what I would get., and I'm not someone to just walk in to a shop and go, "I want that!" on a whim. So, I spent a month or so looking at various pictures of different body piercings. Oddly enough, I was fairly sure I didn't want anything on my face. One day out of boredom I started going through the 'Unusual Facial Surface' piercing section of BME and stumbled upon a picture of a girl with her temples done. I was in love.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact fatally_yours@ureach.com When A month ago Artist Soren 'John' LaRue Studio Highland Tattoo Location Louisville, KY The picture wasn't exactly what I wanted, but I quickly figured out the exact placement and size of the piercing that I would get. I spent about a month mulling over it, and even discussed it with my mom. (Her reaction was, "First those silly gauges, then that big bar in your ear, now this. Why do you want to mutilate your face?" Teehee. Silly mom.) Finally I decided I was actually going to do it. I wanted to have it done at Mothers Tattoo & Piercing in Covington, where I got my industrial, but they don't do surface piercing. Boo. So I started asking around campus, and heard lots of good things about mister LaRue over at Highland. I called them up, got a positive on the surface piercing, and was told that John would be in at noon the next day.
I headed to Highland with a friend at about 1 the next day. After getting somewhat lost (I'm not from Louisville) and finally getting up the nerve to walk in, I was told that whoever I had talked to on the phone had lied and that John wouldn't be in until four. Argh! SO back to class I went. At around five, I went to my dorm to get my art portfolio for my next art class, only to find myself locked out. I took this as a sign to skip class and go get pierced instead. Ha.
So, walking in to Highland for the second time that day, I was told that John had gone to get something to eat and would be back in a few. I sat down to wait with the few guys that were there, the tattoo artist and some random guy that just likes the hang out there, until he came back. FINALLY. Time to get pierced.
I told John what I wanted and followed him upstairs, getting nervous. He handed me a cup of Listerine, saying he would take one too because he had just finished eating. I'm thinking, of course, why do I need Listerine for my temples? But he already had his in his mouth, so I took mine too. After spitting it out, he took out a big straight barbell and started talking about how it would be too big after the swelling, until I said, "I'm confused.... I'm getting my temples pierced." He goes "Ooohhh... I thought you said your tongue." Ha! Now that we both knew what was going on, we talked about the exact placement of the jewelry. He said they would have to be at a slant because of the veins near my left eye, which was fine because I had wanted to follow the curvature of my face anyway. I had assumed he would use a surface bar, but he said that he would recommend a curved barbell with the outer end bent even more.
After everything was decided and the placement was marked, I lay on my back in the chair with my head turned. He did the right eye first, starting with the hole nearest my eye. That one was a piece of cake- the only thing I remember was that it seemed very, very sloooooow going through. The left side was a bit harder- it obviously hurt more because it was the second one, and the needle actually got a little bit stuck coming out of the second hole. It bled a little more too. Much to the disappointment of the random guy who came in to watch, I didn't squeal or cry. When I was all pierced, I took a look in the mirror and commented that the left side looked just a hair lower than the other. Looking back on it, I wonder if it was because I flinched as the needle finally came through. At any rate, he told me that wearing a band-aid under the hole for a while would cause it to heal a little higher than what it was. It didn't, but the difference is only noticeable to me and doesn't really bother me. Because of the different in the sides, he only charged me 60$ all together. I was so excited that I took off and forgot about getting my aftercare until he called my cell. Then I felt stupid.
Anyway, getting back to the dorm, everyone was either disgusted or excited that I had finally done it. After the first two days, the bleeding stopped, and around the third day the bruising and swelling started. Needless to say, I was looking pretty hot for about two weeks until they faded all together. Surprisingly enough, they have never been too sore or gotten gross and crusty. I've been able to sleep on them for about a week and a half, and about a week ago I went back to get them checked on and so that he could take pictures. My biggest worry was rejection, but so far they're doing fine. I use bactine and otherwise LEAVE THEM ALONE! Nothing grosses me out more than seeing someone picking and fiddling with a new piercing.
I love my temple piercings, and I'm so glad I got them. The guy I'm seeing told me not to get them in the first place; he thought they would look silly, but now he loves them too. The most common reaction I get is sort of a double take and a "What the hell?" I love having such a unique piercing that compliments my face so well, and if I ever finally work up the nerve for a vertical labret, I'll definitely go back to Highland.