This is the second stage in evolution for my ears, and a new chapter in the history of Nick's Lobe. I have become very fascinated with piercing. If you read my experience "Self Destruction in a Stretch" (the first chapter), you can easily see that my initial intelligence and experience in the field of piercing was nil. Due to my previous actions of pure idiocy and utter negligence, I was left with a rather humungous ball of scar tissue in my left ear, and an ever more burning desire to have a large object protruding from my lobe. I eventually left my dreaded treatment center in Draper, UT, and decided I was ready to try this piercing thing again. I found it very difficult to re-pierce the ear myself (I know, idiocy) and found it absolutely impossible to stretch a hole completely surrounded by thick, heavy scar tissue.
At A Glance Author Nick Contact gr8fulhippie86@yahoo.com When A year ago Artist Melissa Studio Koi Piercing Studio Location Salt Lake City, UT I went to a place who's name I will not mention (piercing place), and asked them how far they could stretch the 20g hole I put in my ear. They told me they could do a 14g. I let them do the procedure (which was unusually uncomfortable) and put in a plug they should have known was too small. The length of the plug was so short it was literally squeezing my earlobe. It was so tight that I would occasionally have to pull the o-rings out from inside my ear. I told myself that I needed to find a new studio, and never return to (piercing place) again. I decided it was time for a change in tact.
As I was studying various piercing procedures so I could begin to pierce professionally (aprentenship first, of course), I happened to stumble across dermal punching. It seemed to me to be a frightening yet, logical prospect to aid with the aesthetic and cosmetic growth of my lobe modification. I learned what I could, and decided to have the procedure performed on me, rather than to do it myself. I looked desperately for a competent studio, and went to Koi Piercing Studio (www.koipiercing.com) to have the procedure done. Koi is a truly wonderful place, looking more like an earthy hospice rather than a piercing studio. The staff at Koi know piercing on a medical level, rather than what is "minimum" requirement.
I familiarized myself with the setting and "turned in" paperwork after being "turned down" for an aprentenship. My ear was hurting terribly when I entered the procedure room due to the horrible 14g plug (piercing store) had managed to place in the middle of my scar tissue ball. I met Melissa (such a dear) where she explained to me the procedure and told me to lie down. We started with a 6g punch stretch to a 4g. I decided to get both lobes done and I wanted my right (the lobe that was NOT fucked up and demented) done first. I waited patiently for Melissa to autoclave the instruments and prepare everything she needed. I picked out two flesh tunnels that I liked (because they were the least expensive) and told her I was ready. Melissa drew out her entrance points and placed the cork behind my lobe, and the punch in position. We then commenced the wonderful breathing exercise.
"Big breath in," she said. I breathed in big through my nose. "Big breath out," she said. As I breathed out through my mouth she pushed the dermal punch through my lobe with a sickening "SCRUNCH" noise. I was so relieved as the pain was not nearly what I expected. I could feel blood running down my face and pooling in my ear as she stretched and fit the jewelry in.
"That wasn't so bad," I said with a grin. She laughed and made me roll over for the other side. I could already tell that this lobe was a difference story all together. I winced even as she drew her entrance point and knew that this was going to really, really suck.
"Big breath in," she said. I breathed in big through my nose. "Big breath out," she said. As I breathed out she once again pushed the dermal punch through my lobe.
"Holy Shit!" I exclaimed. My ear stung in such a thick sense that I drew my knees up to my chest. It fucking hurt. A lot. I was shaking as she stretched and fit the jewelry.
Though it hurt, I was very satisfied with the procedure and still am today. I strongly recommend dermal punching as an alternative to beginning stretching for those with larger lobes or less elastic tissue. This also was my first experience with a successful piercing (sad, isn't it) and plan to continue with piercing and stretching. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email me.