I had spent a good 6 months or more thinking about getting a surface piercing. I looked on BME at all the pictures and read a few stories so I knew a lot about it and the risks that come with this piercing. Surface piercings are quite unusual, although very pretty, and I'd only seen a few people with them in my area so I thought it would be nice to have something original-looking for once. I wanted it done on my chest vertically.
At A Glance Author Jo Contact jo_moon15@hotmail.com When A month ago Artist Becky Studio The Piercing Shop Location Bath Place, Taunton, Uk I had just turned 18 at the start of the week, so I was now old enough to get a surface piercing. With plenty of Birthday money I went shopping with my friend to Taunton. She said she'd buy me a scaffold bar for my Birthday, so we went to The Piercing Shop so I could pick one out myself. I chose a pink and Green swirly one. Ooow. While I was waiting for her to get her labret bar changed to a spike, I looked around at all they types of jewellery, I then noticed some small surface bars in the cabinet, which I decided to ask about as I hadn't seen this size before. A "Mini chest Bar" he told me, and proceeded to tell me about Surface piercing, assuming I didn't know what they were?! The actual bar was about 1cm in length. I stood thinking about it for a minute or two. We left the shop and walked about a meter down the street when I decided I wanted it done!
I decided to have it done here as it has a very good reputation. I had got my navel pierced here previously so knew it was sterile and how they worked.
We went back in and told the man at the desk I'd like it done. He asked me to wait a moment while he found the paper work for me to fill in. I had to show him my ID, as I only look about 16. I then chose the colour of the little diamond balls on the surface bar. I chose green. I now paid my money and I waited about 10 mins before I was asked to go into the other room. I wasn't at all nervous, just very excited!
I was showed into the piercing room where Becky was sorting out the equipment. Because I wanted the surface bar in the centre of my chest I had to take my top off, after she cleaned the area, she marked it in the appropriate place using what looked like spiky tweezers. This took a while, as it was difficult to make sure it was straight. The first attempt was a bit wonky so she cleaned off the dots and she tried again. When we were both happy with the place i looked in the mirror ten laid on the dentist-like bed where she started to use the numbing liquid; it took a couple of minutes to freeze the area and stung a bit probably just because it was very cold. When it was frozen I looked up to see my skin all frosty! She then did the piercing, as I was lying down I couldn't really tell what she was doing and to be honest it felt like someone was just pulling on my skin. It didn't hurt at all! It felt similar to getting my Navel pierced. I then looked up again to see a big needle through my chest - wow!! I'm not at all freaked out by needles so it just looked quite cool really! She then put in the jewellery, and screwed on the ball which hurt a tiny bit. I looked in the Mirror. It was beautiful! I was very happy with it.
They told me to be very careful with my new piercing- not to touch it and try not to knock it. I knew the risks of rejection so this was nothing new to me.
Afterwards, about 10 minutes later, when the numbing liquid had worn off, it did start to hurt, but only for about half an hour. I have found that it's very comfortable. About 2 weeks afterwards it felt as though it was burning, and when I looked at it I realised it had come up all red about 2cms all around the piercing. I was quite worried about this, as I didn't know what it was. It hurt so much that I had to keep it very still and use some cooling liquid to stop the feeling of burning. For a week it was still red and looked as though there were small blisters coming up. So I decided to go back to where I got it done. They told me it was most probably an allergic reaction to the cleaning fluid as I have very sensitive skin. So a little less worried I stopped using the liquid they gave me, and used salt water. The skin around it started to peel like a burn and eventually it went back to normal.
It's now healing very well. I did knock it a couple of times as I actually forgot it was there. Overall I have found that this is probably the most painless piercing I've had done and what's more its my favourite!
I would say to anyone thinking of getting one - Go for it! They look amazing.