Hello to all who have come to read about my face...piercing!Two months ago I was over in London (I live in Ireland) for a trip. The second day we decided to go to Camden to do the rounds of the funky clothes. And I got ever tempted to get a piercing. One I'd been thinking of for quite some time, a surface piercing on my upper cheek to the right of my right eye.*cute*
At A Glance Author eefs Contact eefs@bme.anon When N/A Studio CHROME Location Camden, London I had begun thinking about this piercing about a year ago but never followed through with it as no piercers in the city that I live in use proper surface bars in their surface piercings. As I had already had 3 surface piercings with PTFE barbells and had to take them out between 3-6 months, I did not want this option for my face. They always looked a bit more unsightly (not gross though)than a typical surface bar piercing.
So during my wander I popped into a few studios and asked about the jewellery they used and sizes etc. Everyone was very friendly and helpful and in the end, after a lot of "Am I up for this?!" I chose the studio CHROME opposite the market. The woman behind the counter was so helpful and understanding I immediately felt confident in the studio. She also had a lot of mods done and clavicle piercings just three months old done by the piercer at the studio. They looked very well and were healing nicely. This also gave me more faith in them. To see work first hand is always a good thing.
When I went back they were more than happy to see me. I filled out the forms and there was a slight glitch as I am diabetic. They would usually ask for a doctors note in the case of a diabetic, but as I was over from Ireland and already had numerous piercings they said they would pierce me anyways. So I met the piercer and went downstairs to get prepped. I originally just wanted a 1.2g small bar, but he said they only do surface piercings from 1.6g up as they heal better and there's a lesser chance of rejection. He set up in front of me and showed me the bar he was going to use.
The piercer (whose name I cannot remember, but he was French?)was very pleasant and explained everything to me. He was going to pierce me freehand. Punch needle directly in, turn at a 90 degree angle, create a tunnel under the skin and then punch directly out at another 90 degree angle. This was so the tunnel would take the shape of the jewellery. Then he marked my face. He allowed me to just pop out and get a second (and third!) opinion from friends who were waiting outside. They looked happy. I was happy! Here we go....
This is when I kind of got a shock. I hadn't realised the gauge of the needle 2.4g ah! I really didn't know what to do. I have to say I was terrified. I get nervous enough getting pierced but at 2.4gauge...I just was terrified!!!ah! But then I took my glasses off and decided if I couldn't see it, it would be okay!!!
He let me catch my breath and then went for it. It...was...strange! I must say not as much pain as I thought it was going to be! I compare everything to my septum piercing, and when he said it would be worse than that....but it was very tolerable. Then the downside, I bled a lot.
I've never bled so much during a piercing and it just poured from my face. He said it was normal to bleed quite a bit as there are a lot of vessels etc in your cheeks, but even so I bled quite a bit more than usual. He cleaned me up as best I could and I was off on my merry way. The piercing was done about 12 in the day and continued to "leak" for the whole day. But by the next morning it had begun to clot and all was well in the world again.
At first I thought it looked really big on my face as I had wanted two dainty balls instead, but as I got used to it, the larger gauge definitely suited much better! Now though for work I've taken the balls off so just the arms of the jewellery protrude from my cheek. I think that looks pretty funky aswell.
Although I've kept my piercing well clean and looked after I couldn't help but develop a slight problem. The skin in the tunnel of my piercing has become inflamed and I am now taking antibiotics. My doctor assured me its nothing to worry about, probably just a reaction by my body due to the fact I'm diabetic. Its not red or painful just slightly swollen and hard. So I shall keep updated if anything strange or exciting happens!
Thank you for reading my experience!