Let me start off by saying that I am a pretty non-commital guy. I'm one of those people that will talk and talk about doing something, but when it comes time to put up or shut up, I usually come up with some lame excuse. Its a quality in myself I don't like and I have to work on it. Thats what is weird about me getting my conchs done. While I have wanted the piercing for almost a year I have always knew in the back of my mind that I would probably never go through with it. I sure am glad I proved myself wrong.
At A Glance Author Coondogger Contact coondogger1983@aol.com When N/A Artist Ralph Studio Atomic Tattoo Location Tampa It started on Friday, I felt myself growing stagnant. While I was sitting at work (with a fresh paycheck in hand) I decided that today I was going to get one of the two piercings that I wanted: septum or conchs. I was feeling a pimple coming on in my nose so my septum was out of the question. I called up Atomic Ink to ask about the price for my conchs, the piercer had gone out to run some errands. So I called back in a couple of hours, the piercer had gone to get more needles. An hour later still no piercer. A little later feeling slightly wary (maybe I was'nt supposed to get this piercing) I called again, this time, success!
I told Ralph, the piercer, that my target size was 2 gauge and that I wanted to get them as close as possible on the first try. After seeing my friend stretch his conch I wanted nothing to do with that. To my suprise he told me that 2 gauge would be no problem, 80 bucks including the jewlery. After making an appointment I started to get a little scared, everyone I know that has this piercing has told me it was their most painful one, and they all started at 14 gauge! Well, I could always change my mind when I got there and go for a smaller gauge.
After collecting my posse, (one of whom was also getting a piercing) I headed out to the shop, growing more and more nervous as time went by. When we all arrived, I felt a little foolish for bringing 4 people with me, but at least one of them besides myself was a paying customer. To my credit it only started out as two people, my friend Becca (who was getting her Tounge webbing done) and my friend Bridget. Well, Beccas boyfriend showed up with her, and his friend showed up with him, whatever. Once inside I got my first glimpse of Ralph, wow. He had implants running up and down his arms, a circular implant in his left hand, and two on his head that looked like horns. Not to mention extensive tattooing and piercing. He asked me if I had decided on 2 gauge and I told him I wasnt sure. I had kind of talked myself out of it on the car ride. No problem he said, then he had me fill out all the necesary forms which gave me a little time to think. The forms went by too quick and I s till had'nt made up my mind. Then he showed me his portfolio, he pointed at a pic of a guy with 2 gauge conchs and said, "That guy passed out after the second one." Not very reassuring. Then he flipped the page and showed me a pic of a woman with 2 gauge conchs, he told me that she was the guys wife, and she got hers done right after his (without fainting) just to prove that he was a pussy. Well that did it, my male bravado kicked into high gear and I announced loudly that if she could do it I could do it. I was on for two.
After my foolish posturing Ralph led me to the back room with Bridget in tow to witness my agony. Still extremely nervous, (my only other piercing expierence being my lobes at an initial 14g) Ralph began to walk me through the process. He pulled out a 4 gauge needle (holy crap, it looked like a drinking straw!!) and a 2 gauge taper, telling me that he pierces with the 4 and then follows up with the taper, then the jewelry. I asked how much it would hurt, to which he replied, " It's definately a big boy piercing". Still pretty nervous I layed down while he cleaned my ears, trying to crack jokes to ease my tension. When he was satisfied with the cleanliness of my ears he made his marks. He then had me approve of the placement and I got ready for the big plunge.
Ralph told me exactly what he was doing the whole time which helped a lot. He told me that he would instruct me to take a deep breath, then on the exhale he would say "Quick pierce" and perform the piercing, then repeat the excercise for the taper and the jewelry. I closed my eyes and prepared for the worst, I took my deep breath and as I let it out I felt an intense pressure on my ear, then I heard an audible pop, and it was through. Wow, that wasnt so bad I thought, and I told Ralph to go right ahead with the taper and the jewelry. Damn. The taper hurt really bad, but as a whole it did'nt go as bad as I thought it would. He then popped in the tunnel and asked me if I was ready for number two. I asked for a minute and a cup of water, to which he gladly obliged. I then lay back in the chair again. We went through the same drill for the right ear and it was over with in 30 seconds, with slightly more pain, I think because I knew what was coming.
I then got up and had my first glimpse of my new holes. Wow! I was in shock, not five minutes ago my conches where blank, now they had huge tough looking holes in them. I was so glad I went with 2 gauge, I knew I would have regretted going smaller now that I had seen the finished product. I absolutely was in love with my ears. After thanking Ralph profusely, I paid him and gave him a 20 dollar tip. He gave me some free sea salt and told me to soak my ears 2-4 times daily and never to touch them without first washing my hands. After some small talk and Beccas tounge web we all left.
Now 2 days later I still have some discomfort from my ears, and trouble sleeping, but no blood like so many other people report. In fact my ears did not bleed at all after the initial piercing. I am still estatic over my new ears, I feel like I get a little more respect from the modified crowd now. I never got much before on account of the way I look, cowboy boots, tight jeans, cowboy hats and belt buckles. Now with my 2 gauge conchs, and 00 ears, all thats left is my 0 gauge septum and I'll have what I want.
To anyone considering getting this done, do it. Dont talk yourself out of it. Yes, it hurts... bad. But not as bad as you think. If you have a target size go for it right away, because from what I hear stretching cartilege is much worse than getting one piercing at the size you want. Also, if you live in the Tampa Bay area, I couldnt reccomend Ralph enough. He was great, funny , but professional at the same time. Well, thats it, let me know how you think this experience was, I am still working on my writing skills and would love any positive criticism.