I'll start this experience off by saying that im not new to body modification at all,I have quite a few mods including 1 inch lobes,a 4ga nipple piercing,and a self-pierced lorum,etc...But enough about that I'll move on to the actual subject of my story.
At A Glance Author mook Contact spookymooky666@yahoo.com When Six months ago Artist Kevin Studio 9-Lyves Location Bradenton,FL It all started shortly after Christmas of '01,and I had a few extra dollars that I received as a Christmas gift,and I had decided to get my other nipple pierced,so I called up my favorite local tattoo and piercing shop,9-lyves,in Bradenton.I talked to their tattooist/piercer Erick and asked how much it would cost to do a 10ga nipple piercing.
I was amazed to find out that they wont do nipple piercings on minors,even if a parent is present(I turned 18 in may).So I was a little discouraged,and thought that was the end of my possible piercing experience,but then I realized I didn't have that many ear piercings at the time,and I had an 8ga Captive Bead Ring that I used in my septum.I quickly called them back and talked to Kevin,their other tattooist/piercer,and asked if he could pierce my cartilage with an 8ga,and he said "sure,no problem".So i grabbed my Captive Bead Ring and my mom and I rushed over to 9-lyves.
I just have to say that 9-lyves is one of the cleanest and most friendly shops I've been to and they're not overly expensive like some shops I've been to.I've had both my lip rings pierced there previously,and they turned out great.They are two very talented guys.But back to my story,when i got to 9-lyves we were greeted by Kevin and that wonderful smell of a tattoo shop,that smell of cleanliness.Like a doctor's office.We filled out the usual paper work.And i was off to the infamous barber-like chair.He told me that because of the bigger gauge it would heal a lot faster than at a smaller gauge.this reassured me a bit.I was really excited and anxious about getting this piercing,not really nervous so much.I waited while he put on a pair of gloves,set up the necessary equipment-clamps,needle,etc...then it was time to mark the spot where I wanted the piercing.
I chose my left ear,near the top.He marked it,let me check it out in the mirror,and I gave the ok on the location.On went the clamps,he instructed me to start my breathing exercises-deep breath in,and out,deep breath in,hold it,and deep breath out as the needle went through.It was completely painless!!I barely felt it,all it felt like was a little pressure in my ear,no sound,nothing anybody couldn't handle.He proceeded to insert the jewelry,which was even more painless,snapped the bead in and it was all over,all in the time frame of about 7 minutes.
Right after he inserted the jewelry it started to bleed quite a bit,so I had to sit there while he applied pressure to stop the bleeding,and wiped away the excess blood.I paid him the $20 i owed him for the piercing(it would have been more if I hadn't brought my own jewelry)I had such a high from the piercing,I forgot to tip him! :( But i'll make up for that next time.He handed me an aftercare sheet like always,and I was on my way.It continued to bleed profusely the whole way home,until i cleaned it for the first time.
After that it started to coagulate a little,and the bleeding slowed down.The next morning I awoke to dried blood covering the top of my ear and part of my pillow,but I figured this was normal for a bigger gauge piercing,and didn't worry at all.I just cleaned it with a q-tip dipped in warm sea-salt water,2-3 times a day.
It's been a few months since I had it pierced,and as I'm writing this it is totally healed and looks great.Healing was uneventful and went extremely smooth.It healed in about 2 1/2 months,and after it healed I even stretched it to a 6ga but I decided I liked it better at 8 so I downsized it.And I bought a BME black acrylic circular barbell for it which looks even better.
Well thats my story,I hope u enjoyed it and I hope I cleared anything up for people with any questions.It was a great experience for me and hopefully will be for anyone considering doing something like this.It's relatively painless,and the healing is simple.Just try not to mess with it,you don't want to get a keloid or hypertrophic scarring,which isn't pretty!If u are considering getting a piercing like this,I say go for it,you only live one life,live it up as much as possible,just educate yourself before getting any kind of mod.You should know the positive as well as the negative possible outcomes of any procedure.Soak up as much knowledge as u can about what ever your considering,it will pay off in the end.Happy modding,and good luck to anyone considering a body modification.