So, my friends and I were in at New Tribe because we were paying for one of our guy friend's to get his nipple pierced for his birthday present. It was his first piercing, so he was kind of scared. Anyways, I had been thinking of getting my conch pierced for quite some time, but was too scared to do it because I had heard it was pretty painful, (even though I already had my nose, tongue, lip, tragus, helix, and logarth done).
At A Glance Author Laura M. Contact Laura M.@bme.anon When A month ago Artist R.J. Studio New Tribe Location Toronto, Ontario I was wandering around the studio, and my one friend (who knew I wanted my conch done and could tell I was considering it) started bugging me to get it done. I had just recently had my logarth pierced on the opposite side of where I wanted my conch done, so I was anxious about not being able to sleep on either side. Also, I did not want to put any more money into piercings, as I am a poor student. My friend then said that she would pay for it now and I could gradually pay her back, and I still wasn't too fond of the idea. Finally, she convinced me that if I didn't get it done then I would get back to residence and regret it. So, I told her that if she asked Lizzie (the counter girl) if there was time for me and Lizzie said there was, I would get it done. My friend asked Lizzie and she said she didn't think there would be time because it was Sunday night and the studio was closing really soon. I was disappointed and relieved all at the same time, because it meant I didn't get the piercing, but I also didn't owe my friend money.
Soon after, my two friends (the one who was getting his nipple pierced and my friend who had gone in with him) emerged from the back with R.J. My friend showed us his nipple piercing and while he was showing us we overheard R.J. say that he could do one more piercing before close. It was destiny, and there was no way my friend would let me get out of it at that point.
We ran over to the counter, I filled out the form, my friend paid, and then R.J. took us back. I was really nervous, especially because Lizzie had informed me right before I went in that it was a painful one.
I sat down and discussed the placement with R.J. I was getting it pierced with a hoop (because it was cheaper,) but eventually wanted to change it to a stud, so the placement was crucial. R.J. told me what he thought would look best and I agreed with him. He marked my ear, which was a rather long process for this piercing as he had to mark all the way around my ear to make sure that the mark he made at the front would line up with where he stuck it through at the back. It ended up that for the placement to be how I wanted it the needle had to be put through very close to where my ear attached to my head, which is a very sensitive area.
R.J. got me to lie down, and I asked him how much it was going to hurt. He said he had been told that it is just a lot of pressure, but the piercing isn't too bad. R.J. began pushing the dull side of the needle against my ear and I had a look of terror on my face that I'm pretty sure my friend could vouch for. After making sure that the needle was lined up properly, R.J. turned it and shoved it through. It hurt so bad I wanted to scream, but I think I just let out a big "ow". R.J. told me that I was going to feel relief in just a second, and as he slid the jewelry in and the needle out, I felt the most relief I have ever felt. He pierced with a 12-gauge needle, but put in 14-gauge jewelery, hence the great relief. In fact, I made a noise that was a little too orgasmic for my own comfort. The piercing was complete. R.J. cleaned it up, as it was bleeding quite a bit, then handed me the mirror to let me see. It looked really awesome and completed my ear just like I tho ught it would. I was also really excited to change the jewelery to a labret stud to see how that would look, but I knew that would not be happening anytime soon, because my ear still hurt a lot.
The next month or so was rather tough. The aftercare of conch piercings is very difficult as the piercing is in a difficult area to keep clean. The piercing was very painful to even roll over onto in the night, and for the first little while it really hurt to wear my glasses because they rested on it. However, in the end it has healed up very nicely. If I sleep on it all night it is still a little sore when I get up in the morning. I recently changed the hoop to a labret stud and it looks gorgeous.
My advice is that conch piercings are really awesome, but not for the weak, as they are painful. Also, if you're going to get it done, don't slack on the aftercare or you will have painful results.