Like most modified people, I have a mod want list. But wanting the mod and getting the mod tends to be two different things.
At A Glance Author Christina Contact Christina@bme.anon IAM FairieCat2003 When A month ago Artist Nate Sextella Studio Bodyworks Location Cleveland Ohio I decided to get my latest mod, my nape, simply because I finally had come to realize that I needed to take time for myself every once and awhile. I had recently went through a lot of stress in my marriage and needed the release that piercing brings.
The cards just happened to fall right at the time I decided to get pierced. I had about three pay checks saved up and a girl I work with needed rent money so she offered to cover my Saturday shift for me.
I decided I would go with the recommendation of a friend and call Bodyworks in Cleveland. I made an appointment for 2pm on Saturday and they told me that since I had my own jewelry I needed to make sure I brought it up at least 24 hours before the appointment to get it autoclaved. Luckily the plans we had the day I called didn't work out so we were able to take the jewelry up there later that evening.
The day of the appointment I woke up and went on BME for a bit. I looked at pictures and read experiences. I always get nervous the day of a planned modification and it seems to help if I at least feel like I know what to expect.
I have a nasty habit of getting lost going just about anywhere and the way we went to drop off the jewelry was evidently not the easiest way to go. My husband told me another way but I have no sense of direction and by the time I found my way, I was 30 minutes late.
I went to the desk to sign in and was told it was ok that I was late because they had been super busy so the piercer was running behind anyway. He also told me that the piercer wanted to have a consultation with me because he thought the jewelry I had brought in had too big of a rise.
I filled out the paperwork for the consultation and waited about 15 minutes. He called me back and did an assessment of my neck--he wanted to make sure that I had a spot on my neck that would not be irritated by my neck moving or bending.
Once he found that I had a spot that was good for the piercing, he showed me with a mirror where it would be. Luckily it was a place that my work shirt collar would cover because my employer is not at all mod friendly. He then told me to go pay while he was setting up for the piercing. Since I was using my own jewelry (the rise proved to be ok after all), it was $20 for the piercing, $5 for the autoclaving fee, and $20 for the disks we decided to use on the ends instead of balls. A normal nape piercing there is $85 because they only use surface bars that are internally threaded so I was very happy paying $45.
Nate, the piercer, then cleaned my neck with Technicare and started doing his markings. He used calipers to make sure the markings were long enough for the length of the jewelry and matched up the center of the marking with my spine. He had me ok the marks and I told him I trusted him with the markings cause he was looking at them straight on. I had to turn my head sort of sideways to see them in the mirror so to me they looked off center when they were not.
He told me for the actual piercing he would have me lay down on the table with my head hanging off the end a bit. I was happy he used this method cause I had a fear of accidentally moving if I had to sit up to have the piercing done.
Nate told me that he would be doing the piercing freehand because he feels that clamps cause unnecessary swelling and trauma to the tissue around the new piercing. He told me to concentrate on my breathing and he would pierce when he felt I was calm.
I honestly never felt the needle go in the entrance hole. I did feel it about half way through until I felt it pop out the other side. I was expecting the jewelry transfer to be painful but he used an insertion taper and everything went smooth. He screwed on both of the disks then moved the skin around since the needle tends to make it bunch up in the middle.
Nate then told me I was allowed to sit up but to do so slowly because all of the endorphins would likely rush to my head. I sat and moved my neck in every direction imaginable-no pain at all. I was thrilled--I did not even know it was there.
We went through aftercare procedures-I had bought Satin soap, which he recommended using once a day and sea salt soaking at least twice a day. I thanked him and tipped him before leaving.
I have been washing my nape every time I take a bath. Sea salt soaking I slack on simply because I have had no problems healing other piercing without it. I changed the disks to balls a few days ago and it seems to be doing ok with the change which I now find it more aesthetically pleasing.
I would recommend Nate to anyone--even though there was a lobby full of people waiting to be pierced, he was very patient and took the time to make sure he explained everything as he did it. I finally think I have found the piercer I want to stay with and I am thrilled beyond words with my new modification.
I felt a lot of my stress that I was carrying around at that time leave my shoulders. My nape will not only be a reminder of how I survived the most stressful time in my life but it will also serve as a reminder of a concept I think we all can benefit from-taking time for yourself.