About a week ago I got my first piercing -- Or rather, it wasn't technically my "first" because I don't have any others at the moment, but I have been pierced before. So this probably won't be the most "thrilling" of experiences, but it's a real accomplishment for me.
At A Glance Author anonymous When A week ago Studio New Age Location Miami, FL When I was 5, I was pierced in the mall with a gun and they got infected and were removed. This was always held over my head when I asked my mother to get another piercing; Never mind that I was only five then and didn't even know how to clean it.
Lobe piercings never really appealed to me, and so I never had a desire to get them done. They were seen on almost every female I knew, and were pretty typical, so I wouldn't feel unique getting lobes done, nor would I do it just because I liked them because, as previously stated, I didn't like them much.
One day while browsing BME I saw a fantastic picture of triple lobe piercings and I really loved them. Somehow, getting three instead of just one seemed to make lobe piercings so much better, and I was decided on what my first piercing should be.
My 18-year-old sister had her lobes pierced, so after promising to keep my ears well cleaned, my mother finally gave in and agreed to let me get my lobes pierced -- but I seemed to have "conveniently" left off the "triple" part of the piercing.
The next day we drove down to Coconut Grove to check out New Age piercing because I'd heard a lot of good things about it (and I didn't want to get my lobes done in the mall, as I had learned how horrible that was). I also wasn't as brave as many of the people on this site to try self-done piercings, even if it was just the lobes. At New Age, we'd only planned on finding out their rates and maybe making an appointment for the next day, but it seemed as good a time as any, so I went ahead with it.
There were a few people in the place but they left a bit after we arrived. So it was pretty empty, but that's to be expected going there mid-day on a workday. The walls were covered in pictures of piercings they had done there, and there was jewelry in many cases around the room. I could see my mom looking at the pictures of some of the more extreme piercings and wincing.
I talked with the piercer, because I wasn't sure if it was possible to do all six at a time. She said it would be okay, and so my mother signed the papers and I went back to the room to get pierced.
I wasn't really nervous because I have a high tolerance for pain and figured it wouldn't be too bad; And besides that, I really wanted this. I'd also had my lobes pierced with a gun before, and I don't remember much pain accompanying that, so again, I figured it would be relatively painless. The piercer explained the procedure and marked my ears and I agreed on the positioning: Three 14g lobes on each side, for a total of six piercings.
She prepared all of the supplies and I tried not to watch as she prepped the needle -- I knew I would be okay, so long as I didn't watch too much of the prepping.
I was a little shaky throughout the whole thing, but it wasn't too bad. She kept asking how I was doing, and of course I said I was fine. I didn't really notice much of what she was doing, because I was just trying to keep my mind off of the pain.
The first hole was fine -- There was relatively no pain, and it was just a little pinch (after all, they always say the lobes are the best place for piercing newbies). The second hole wasn't too bad either, but by the third hole on that side the ear was numb and throbbing.
She then switched to the other ear, so it was like starting with hole 1 again and working up to three. When all six were done, my ears were pretty numb and throbbing, but not really painful. There wasn't any blood at all, which I didn't know whether to expect or not.
We payed the $100 for the piercing, and went on out merry way (Or rather I was very merry but I could see my mom didn't much like my new holes).
I also forgot to tip the piercer (whom I forget the name of, shame on me #2), so I feel really bad about that!
The ears didn't get red at all, and there wasn't any bleeding. It's been nine days since the piercing, and they seem to be healing nicely but I plan on going back to make sure (and to give the woman her tip!). For the first few days I didn't touch them at all except for cleaning, but now it's pretty hard for me to stop messing with them, even though I know that might get them infected. They get little crusties around the edges some times, which I pick off while cleaning it (she advised me just to clean it with Dial antibacterial soap and soak it with warm water).
I definitely love these piercings, and I'm glad I didn't stay biased against lobe piercings or else I wouldn't have gotten these :) I most certainly want to get something else done, but that depends on whether or not my mother will let me..