At A Glance
Author	Emma
Contact	emma_spaghetti@hotmail.com
When	Six months ago
Artist	Andy
Studio	Andy Jays
Location	Chatham, Kent

As far as I remember, for as long as I have been interested in piercings, I have always had a soft spot for scaffoldings.

So, after researching into it (e.g. how it was done, aftercare etc). and questioning people who had it done already I was up and ready to go and get it done...But I just didn't seem to have enough time so I left it.... until one cold October after school and my boyfriend and I happened to be standing outside the studio and I said as a joke I should go and get it done as I finally had the money...

The next thing I knew he had pushed me up the steps and I was standing in the tattoo parlor. I knew where to go, as I had been here many times to get several other piercings so I walked in and told the guy what I wanted. There is only one piercer and he is very friendly and funny and I recommend anyone who knows the place to go there!! :)

After waiting ages for the piercer to finish on the phone, I told him what I wanted, and he looked at my ear and told me it would be fine and firstly measured my ear up with the measurer so that he knew which length of bar to put in. After giving me the all clear, he told me to sit on the bed which is kind of like a hospital bed.

First of all he cleaned my ear thoroughly with disinfecting wipes so that the area was clean before he pierced it. He then sprayed the numbing spray on my ear. The spray fizzes and a bit dripped down my neck which itches a bit but it didn't bother me!! The piercer chats to you throughout this which helps calm your nerves!

He then drew the dots on my ear with a pen so that he knew where to pierce it. It took him quite a bit of time because the piercing couldn't sit awkwardly and shouldn't look lop-sided so he changed the placing of the marks several times.

After what seemed like a life time, he drew up the tongs and gripped my ear cartilage, and he was still talking to me. I was worried because i was prepared for this piercing to hurt a lot as I knew ear cartilage was sensitive, and I could feel him applying the pressure to my ear. He snipped off the plastic part of the needle so there was just a small piece of plastic going through one part of my ear, and then he took the next bit of my ear with the tongs, pierced it and then snipped the plastic again. He then threaded the bar through both plastic bits, and then when the bar had gone through both holes, he pulled out the plastic needles, so just the bar was there, and cleaned up the blood.

I felt a bit dizzy after he had pierced it but after a few minutes I was back to my normal self, and my boyfriend commented on how nice it was, and how he was jealous. He then got it done a few days later, so we have a his and hers piercing :P he he.

I was very happy with my result. After the guy had pierced it, I asked him if he had done it yet as I hadn't felt the needle go through my ear at all, which surprised me as I had felt it with all my other 16 piercings. He could tell I was chuffed, and told me i was probably the best person he's ever pierced for a scaffolding because I didn't flinch.

This was in October, and it is now March. It is still a little tender, but I am able to accept that scaffolding piercings take longer to heal than many other piercings, and it is getting better slowly.

My only advice is to apply salt water to it because it'll keep it clean as well as healing it quicker. It's going to be a little red and hot after it's been pierced, but it goes after a few hours. I also advise you not to keep touching it and avoid hitting it or taking it out for long periods of time at all costs, because believe me it's the most painful thing you can do!!

Now, more people in my school have got it done which makes me feel proud as I know i was the first to have it done :)

I also advise anyone considering it TO GET IT DONE life's too short to worry about a little bit of pain-think of giving birth!!he he.

I plan to give piercings a rest for a bit, because my school really isn't very happy about them at all (especially the facial ones!!) so I think I might get a tattoo, before i get more inspiration for an eccentric piercing :P

If anyone's got any questions or anything feel free to email me!!

*Emma*:) Peace *