Well, to start off I would just like to say that 'do it yourself' piercing is less than brilliant, and trust me...if you are considering a hand web piercing, you would appreciate a professional or the extra hands of a knowing friend at the least. Well, I have never really been one to do anything normal. I saw a picture of a hand web on BME and I couldn't stop the itch about it. I knew I just HAD to have that. So, as you should do with any 'do it yourself' piercing, I did a ton of research. I spent at least a month and a half spending every free moment online reading every experience on BME and digging up numerous other sources. You can imagine I came across a lot of negative information, but I wanted this piercing so bad that I could care less about the negative effects of it and the potential problems. Another really important thing to do is know the anatomy of the area you are considering piercing. I read diagrams and medical reports about the veins and nerves in the web of the hand, so I knew fairly well what to look out for. A little background information on me: I practically live in local piercing shops and watch everything that goes on. I am not some idiot with a safety pin. I am an idiot with almost all the proper tools as well as an extremely sterile environment and a good bit of knowledge.
At A Glance Author LamentingFlames Contact xxamerican_redheadxx@yahoo.com When A week ago Artist myself and my boyfriend First, I decided where I wanted it and what jewelry I would place in the piercing. I am fairly active, so I decided that I would place it in the web between my ring finger and my pinkie on my left hand. I wanted it on my left hand because I am right handed and it would be less in the way of daily activities. This placement also is more likely to heal because those fingers are generally used minimally or move together. Though I honestly did not intend on trying to heal this piercing because I thought it would be inconvenient in the long run, turns out it is really quite comfortable and I might try to keep it for a little while. The jewelry I chose was a 16g long stem labret stud. The gauge was small enough that it would be comfortable in the small space and would not leave a big scar when I do take it out. The long stem allowed for the swelling when it was first pierced, but as soon as the swelling went down on the second day I changed to a standard length because I didn't want it to be too long and get hung up on anything. The flat back of the labret stud also helped prevent it catching and being knocked around.
Second, I got everything I needed. I ordered sterile piercing needles and the jewelry. Unfortunately I couldn't find any threaders to help with the jewelry transfer process, but that's okay...right? So I thought. Also, since I am a small person there is incredibly little space between those fingers so I couldn't use clamps. I had to get some forceps.
The piercing...So I went to my boyfriend's house and got everything set up that we would need. I pierced his first. We did his in the thumb web and he wanted to go first so I could show him what I needed him to do. It went smoothly until we had to put the jewelry in. He insisted on a ring. I told him it would be really hard to do without a threader. Note to reader: never try to do a ring in tricky placement unless a professional does it. Well I tried to do it anyway, though I told him it would never work. Well what do you know? I'm right. Gee...maybe he should try to listen to the girl who actually knows about these things. So we ended up putting in a tongue bar (sterile of course). That went in pretty easy and the long length allowed for swelling, of which there was plenty because of the trauma from the attempted ring insertion. The bad part is that while he was trying to get me to put in the ring and it obviously wasn't working his hand started to bleed. Fountain of youth kind of bleeding. It was running like down his arm. I'll be honest. I took the moment to laugh at him. So after we got him all fixed up and sterilized everything around us again we talked about it. He said it didn't hurt, but I already knew it did because I could read his face. He was just trying to be strong for me. He is so my hero. He would suck it up just so I would not be afraid. It was okay though cause I wasn't afraid at all. I mean...I'll admit it. I am a fan of pain. I have never even flinched with a piercing before. I have had five cracked ribs at one time, I have had glass penetrating every part of my body (dumb accident, long story), and I have even been run through a barbed wire fence. All without shedding a tear. I thought I knew pain. NOW I know pain. I'll be honest...if I had to do the piercing again I think I would chicken out. It was the most painful few minutes of my life. To begin with my boyfriend wasn't exactly positive what to do. I talked him though the whole thing. We opened up a new needle and I marked the place I knew it should go. I told him exactly what to do and I held the skin with the forceps with my right hand. The needle going through really wasn't bad. Like a bad paper cut. The forceps hurt way worse. So he said he was done. I was taking rhythmic deep breaths so my muscles wouldn't tense and turned my hand over. Well...imagine that...the needle was only half way through! So now my concentration is broken. Without warning he shoves it through the rest of the way. Shoved very, very hard. In fact he shoved the needle almost all the way through. There was like barely any left at the top, not to mention the top was a lot bigger than the part you are supposed to use to pierce. Amateur. It was crazy...I could feel the needle pop through every layer of skin tile it practically exploded out the other side. I am not going to lie. I screamed like a little girl. Very, very loudly. Damn! That hurt. Never in my life have I felt something like this. So, as I am still screaming, more in frustration than anything else at this After effects and aftercare...It was swollen for about 2 days, but it looked perfect aside from a small bruise from the forceps. Never at any point did I lose any range of motion, not even directly after the piercing. The placement was just that good. As soon as the jewelry was in it stopped hurting. There was never any pain, discomfort, infection or anything negative whatsoever. I do about 3 hot salt soaks daily, live on anti bacterial and hand soap, spray with bactine every night, and live my normal life. It has yet to be hung up on anything, which is why I think the right jewelry in the proper length is key. I love it. There are three types of reactions I get. One: Oh my God! That's disgusting! Two: Ouch! Three: Fucking right! But one thing is the same with every person. They all want to know why. So if you decide to do this make sure you know the answer to that question. I just say: "It looks cool doesn't it? Well that's that." We will have to see how long I keep it. It is working just fine for me right now. But one thing is for sure...I might not do it again, but I sure am glad I did it at least once. My itch is satisfied.