The choice to have my earlobes stretched has been something I have been thinking about doing for a while. A few years ago, I had actually made the choice to have the procedure, but chickened out. It was a wise choice, because I was not ready to deal with the repercussions of being "different "in my family of so called "normal" people. Nor had I researched the piercing at all, which is very unlike me, because I rarely do anything without being prepared and knowing everything that goes along with it. Piercing and tattoos is a very serious and spiritual thing for me. Moreover, I have made the mistake of not thinking things through before hand and paying for it.
At A Glance Author Sarah Lee Contact Smacker25@hotmail.com When Six months ago Artist ADAM Studio ADAM'S BODY ART Location BRANDON, MANITOBA, CANADA
About 8 months ago, I went to Brandon, MB to see my best friend, whom I had not seen in two years (she joined the Army). I was planning to have my ears done at home, but I had heard mixed things about our local piercer. He rocks at tattoos, that much I know, But I was not about to risk my flesh with someone, who I knew was not completely reputable. Some say I over think things, but most of the people that say that have willingly had piercing guns used on them (if only they knew!).
Before I went to Brandon, I was going to have my ears done because I had not had any modifications done lately, and had been lacking in the joyousness area, and nothing makes me feel happier than a new piercing or tattoo. A feeling that I am sure most other pierced individuals share. I know that this is not the only reason to be pierced, but it is usually one of my biggest ones. Except for my first piercing, which unfortunately was to anger my parents (which is common when you are sixteen). Therefore, I had decided that I was finally ready to have it done.
I decided on "Adam's Body Art" a relatively new piercing shop in Brandon. I heard about Adam from a friend of mine. He is actually a jack-of-all-trades. Hairdresser, Body Piercer, Tattoo Artist and all around nice person. Also, the multitude of praise I heard about him helped cement my decision. I managed to get an appointment within three days of my arrival. Of course, my excitement began to build, and my trip got better by the day. Moreover, all of a sudden my reasons for the new mod had begun to change. It had became a way to have a lasting memory of my trip.
Finally the day of my appointment came. Armed with Kellie and Steve, for moral support, we made the half hour trip from Shilo Army Base to Brandon. After, getting hopelessly lost and going the wrong way down a one way street we were there. Words to the wise however, if you decide to bring people along, make sure that they are not afraid of needles/blood because that can cause a problem. I had to wait so the nervous energy was at an all time high.
Upon arrival, Adam had me choose my jewellery. Of course, all the thick stainless steel CBRs can be daunting; especially because until then I had barely managed to get 18g bar into my already existing holes, (I let my original holes almost completely heal over when I was child). I finally settled on a set of 8g 3/8" stainless steel CBRs. Adam went and put them in the autoclave. So, I waited. And waited. Then my jewellery was completely clean. I was excited and nervous, and a little nauseous too (I had forgot to eat before hand). I went into the piercing room and sat on the piercing table.
While I was sitting on the piercing table, Adam took a very close look at my ears. He explained to me that my old holes were too small to be stretched to an 8g and that they were too high in my ear in part from a poor piercing job when I was a kid. So he decided just to pierce two 8g holes. We discussed placement, care and the after affects of the piercing. We also discussed further stretching of my ears. At last, after approximately thirty minutes of discussion we were ready to get started.
Adam opened the kit in front of me to assure me again on the level of cleanliness. After seeing some horrible piercers this cleanliness helped me feel completely comfortable. He marked my ears in exactly where we had decided, and had me reconfirm that this was my desired position. He had me breathe in and out deeply in order to relax me further. Unfortunately, I cannot breathe like that. It made me light headed, so Adam just had me breathe normally and finally after the room stopped spinning he just pushed the needle through. My left ear was first, the needle went through with ease and very little blood and it removed the skin that it was supposed too. Next was my right ear, the needle went in easily and skin came off as it was supposed too. However, there was a lot of blood. I have a medical condition called Lymphadema that causes the right side of my body to retain a little bit more fluid than the other, not enough for it to be noticeable. Nevertheless, it causes me to b leed more if I puncture the skin on that side. With the amount of blood, I was a little concerned, but Adam assured me that it was normal.
Adam had me hang out for a bit just to make sure that it was going to stop bleeding. Finally after it stopped, Adam had me pay, and he gave me an awesome deal. He went through the cleaning instructions again and sent me on my way.
Everything healed really well, I never had any issues, well I lie the first time I self-stretched I did it poorly and got a minor infection. After penicillin and proper care, I was fine. Currently I have a 2g tunnel in each lobe and I am just waiting for new 0g to arrive any day now. Adam was amazing and has done my other piercings. Now he is the only person that I am willing to go see. If anyone is ever in Brandon, I strongly suggest going to Adam's Body Art.