At A Glance
Author	fishywoman
Contact	fishywoman@bme.anon
IAM	fishywoman
When	Six months ago
Artist	John Joyce
Studio	Scarab Body Arts
Location	Syracuse, NY, USA

The Background:

My body modification journey started when I was a child, poking safety pins through my ears, among other places, because "it was pretty", and my family has never understood. Now, 30-some-odd years later, my journey is far from over.

In 1990, I had major abdominal surgery. This left a large scar, running from center chest (between my breasts) almost to my navel. I have loathed this ugly, ropey thing occupying the center of my being ever since. The hate for my scar, along with hate for my body, led me to do many cuttings in the vicinity of my scar, from random shallow cuts to ink rubbings that seemed to be more of a cry for help than anything else.

In the fall of 2004, I sought help for my myriad mental instabilities. As I improve, and slowly learn to love the body I am in, I have been planning more and more "beautifying" as I try to become truer to my self image. This involves tattooing, scarification, and piercing. This is the story of one small part of my journey.

The Process:

I have been wanting a scar-and-brace piercing involving my surgical scar for a few years, but my new-found self confidence helped me take the plunge. I did some research, and decided that the best method for me was the "punch & taper" method, which involves a dermal punch to make the entry and exit points perpendicular to the skin's surface, and a taper to separate the layers between them. The only person (that I was aware of) in the central New York State area providing that service was John Joyce j_scarab, owner of Scarab Body Arts, in Syracuse, NY. Fortunately for me, that just happens to be where I live. In February of 2005, I decided to go for it.

I called John, and told him my desire to have a surface bar piercing braced by my scar. He said that he'd have to see the scar, and to come on in, so I did. Upon my arrival, John greeted me, and had me come right back into the piercing room. I lifted my shirt, and revealed my ugly scar to him. John gloved up, felt and poked, and said that it was "do-able", but that it would hurt more than a regular punch & taper procedure would, and would take longer, as the scar tissue was quite thick and bumpy. John also informed me that rejection was still possible even with the scar to brace it, and that the scar may even cause rejection. While I did consider those problems, I also felt that it was worth going through, because the experience of the procedure is just as important to me as the final result, a rite of passage, if you will. I filled out all the paperwork, surrendered my ID for legality's benefit, and I was primed for whatever was to come.

The Procedure:

John changed gloves, and set out his various tools and other paraphernalia. He cleaned the skin of and surrounding my scar, and then marked me with the standard violet-on-a-toothpick. I gave him the go-ahead. Donning a fresh pair of gloves, John took up the first dermal punch, and said, "Ready?" I assured him I was, and he punched. It felt like he was pressing a pencil against my skin, not a sharp instrument. When he removed the punch (along with a piece of yours truly) a jab of pain shot through my chest. Yes, it hurt, but not horribly. John asked if I was okay, and then he asked if I was ready for the next punch. I gave my affirmative, and a couple of glove-changes later, I had two holes in my chest.

Another change, and out comes the taper and dermal elevator. I was ready. John started separating my skin between the holes with his tools. He was very gentle, and guided the metal through. The last bit was the worst, as it took a great deal of pushing to get through it. Taper in, and I (finally) remember my camera in my coat pocket. John asked Mike mikalobe, the tattoo artist at Scarab, to come take some photos. John transferred the surface bar, which felt very strange, what with the right angles in it. He cleaned up the bit of blood, and we were done. I felt filled with power, somehow, almost a high sensation. John gave me an aftercare instruction sheet, and I paid and tipped him. I then gathered my 3 teenaged kids, and floated home on endorphins.

The Aftercare:

I used a mixture of distilled water and sea salt for cleansing the piercing, twice a day. Oddly enough, it has never been sore, after that first day. As I sleep on my stomach, I had to learn a new position to sleep in. I put my hand cupped over the piercing, underneath my body, and I still sleep that way. It has been 7 months, and though I still get lymph secretions, it hasn't given me any problems so far.

I do plan to do more of these along the scar, and eventually tattooing enhancement of it. I am very pleased that I had this procedure done, and I am looking forward to having more holes punched in me by John.