At A Glance Author Sasha Contact Sasha@bme.anon When Six months ago Artist Can't remember Studio The Purple Shop Location Ipswich, Suffolk, Engalnd Firstly, I haven't got many piercings. Just twelve normal gun piercings in my ears. I wanted a new piercing, though one which wasn't very common. One which people would go "wow" and want to enquire about. I was originally thinking of getting a nape piercing done but my hair was getting quite long and I sleep on my back so I decided against that one. I also considered the hip ones but though that they would never really be on show and would always be liable to get caught in things.
One day I was browsing the net and it came up with BME. I'd never heard of an arm piercing before, but when I saw it I just knew I had to get one! It looked so individual, interesting and beautiful. I spent ages reading info from BME on surface piercings. For example, I had no idea how it would be pierced or what it would be pierced with and my arms are really skinny and for some reason all the pictures of arm piercing I saw seemed to be on fatter arms for some reason!, So I needed to find out if I was suitable.
I then needed to decide where to get it done. The only place I knew was The Purple Shop. I trusted them already because they have done all my ears (all done using the dreaded gun! but I forgive them as I have no problems and still don't get this gun/needle debate!) and they are always nice and friendly there. Their surface piercings were only twenty pounds also, so that was another factor that made me choose them.
So I was wise and went and had something to eat in town. My friend also accompanied me for moral support and I was going to try and persuade her to get something done but her Catholic parents wouldn't allow it. Then I went to the shop and was taken down to the little piercing room which smelt good and clean!
When the piercer told me that it was done with titanium I did hesitate a bit and thought about pulling out due to the stuff I'd read on BME about how good PFTE is, but I decided to go ahead with it as I had got so far!
The piercer then massaged my arm for what seemed like ages in order to check for veins and the like. She then cleaned my left forearm (about an inch and a half up from the hand) and marked up with the infamous purple pen.
I was quite nervous at this point but the piercer was so nice, friendly and reassuring so I was put at ease.
She then clamped the area which I thought would hurt but it didn't so that was a bonus! I then looked away as she pushed the needle through with a pop. It felt like a sharp sting but wasn't too bad at all. She was also so quick that I didn't have time to feel the pain. Before I knew it the bar was in and it looked great. She explained the aftercare
instructions and put a dressing over it. Afterwards it just really ached. I was really careful not to bash it and made sure that I kept up to date with the sea salt soaks and the occasional yellow salvon antiseptic spray.
Afterwards I felt a bit woozy and overcome by the greatness of my new piercing that I had to go and get a sausage roll and a cup of tea to eat!
It healed quite slowly. These crusties things developed around both the holes but I didn't try and pull them off, I just left them and they eventually fell off revealing a great looking, clean and healthy piercing.
Peoples reaction to it was varied, most asked if it hurt or not and some were just overcome with surprise! My arm now also doubles and one of those key hanger things which is really useful.
I was really paranoid about people accidentally touching my piercing and I kept checking for more bar showing because I knew this was a sign of rejection.
But, it's been about nine and a half months and it has been fine, despite the fact that it is done with a titanium barbell. I'm thinking of getting the other arm done very soon, but this time I will get it done with the plastic tubing stuff, so that I can compare them.
The fact that it has lasted so well I think is because I have treated it so well though and my body seems to take to them rather well.
If you are thinking off getting this piercing and are in the Suffolk. England area then I recommend you go to The Purple Shop (though tell them to order some PFTE in) if you don't know anywhere else that's good.