Thanks to the BME, I'm hooked on piercing. After getting my navel and nipples done, I wanted something new, but visible. After looking around for a bit, I decided I really wanted an industrial. I looked at the pictures, read the experiences, and found out when my piercer, Aaron Solomon, would be in town. He works at Saint Tattoo in Knoxville, TN for most of the week, and Aces High in Johnson City, TN for two days a week. I'm wussy, so I got a friend to agree to go with me the following Monday after dance class. She didn't come, so I immediately asked another of the girls to go with me, which she did. When we got there, Aaron was just getting ready to take his lunch break, so we looked at flash art and magazines until he got back. I didn't make an appointment, as I figured Monday nights were probably slow, and I didn't mind waiting. I would much rather have a full happy piercer than a hungry one.
At A Glance Author Keegan Contact Keegan@bme.anon IAM gdgetgein When Three months ago Artist Aaron Solomon Studio Aces High Location Johnson City, TN When we went back into the room, he set everything up, disinfecting the countertop, and setting up all the supplies he would need. He washed his hands multiple times, and changed his gloves often. I got my hair out of the way while he measured my ear for the size barbell I would need. He messed around with my ear for a bit, to decide what placement would be best, then found one he seemed happy with and asked me if it was ok, I looked, and it was. He swabbed some stuff on my ear, I grabbed my friend's hand, he told me to relax (I have a bad habit of trying to hold my breath during piercings, despite warnings that it makes the pain worse), and in the needle went. I will not lie, it hurt very much. I then made the mistake of saying "you know, I read on the BME that a lot of people bleed with these.. I haven't bled on anything yet." I spoke too soon. At that second, my ear chose to start leaking. Aaron got some paper towels, and blotted at my ear until it decided to quit. When everything was cleaned up and gloves changed, and ready again, he prepped me to do the second hole. I grabbed her hand again, and tried to concentrate on not holding my breath. Ouch again.
I was expecting more pain when the jewelry was put in, but I hadn't noticed that he'd already threaded it through. He cleaned up my ear from the blood and such, and put the ball on. He wouldn't let me sit up for a bit, because my ear was still leaking some. When it finally stopped, he let me sit up and check it out in the mirror on the wall. I loved it. He warned me that it would probably be a little swollen and angry looking for the first few days, and instructed me on aftercare. I had Provon soap and sea salt from previous piercings, but he gave me an extra bag of sea salt and told me to do pretty much like with the others, clean it with the Provon, rinse really well, soak in a warm saline mixture, rinse really well, and clean off any leftover crusties with q-tips. He advised me not to sleep on it for a while, also.
I had already paid and tipped him, so I was ready to go. On the way home I kept checking it out in the mirror. It didn't hurt anymore, but it did feel really warm. The only pain that comes from the industrial is when I forget and try to sleep on it, or when people hug me and crush my ear with their head. I completely trust Aaron, and will definitely go back to him for future work. I would recommend him to anyone in the Tri-Cities or Knoxville areas. He has a way of putting one at ease, even while brandishing a needle. It's been a month, and I still love my industrial. It's healing great, the placement is wonderful, and the pain was worth it.
I had written this about a month ago, and not meeting the word count, decided to save it and do an update on how the piercing is doing. My industrial is doing great. I experienced some hypertrophic scarring, which popped up about the same time a question about it came up on the QOD, so I treated it as recommended, with olive oil. The scarring did shrink down, and you can barely tell there is any unless you look really close. I'm still using the oil on it. There are still crusties. I do sea salt soaks once a week, and clean it with water the rest of the time. It's healing beautifully, and I discovered last night, that I can now sleep on it painlessly. Thanks to the BME and QOD staff for answering my questions before I ask them!