When I was 14 and a half, I convinced my mother to let me get my belly button pierced. We went to some really sketchy hole in the wall sex place that my sister's friends had gotten it done at. Luckily, I never had any problems with it, but after about 6 months, I decided I wanted another piercing. Problem is, I don't want anything below the neck pierced or anything on my face. So I was limited to my ears.
At A Glance Author Amy When A year ago Artist Doc Johnson Studio Pleasure in Pain Location Taunton, MA Fast forward to shortly after my seventeenth birthday. For my sister's boyfriend's cousin who also happens to be close family friend's 18th birthday ( I know... a mouthful), we impulsively decided to get her bellybutton pierced. Twenty minutes later, her younger sister was getting it done too. Another twenty minutes of searching for a piercing place, and we selected our destination: Pleasure in Pain. My mom, my sister, Breanna (the birthday girl), Autumn (her sister), Auntie Sheryl, their youngest girl Liz and I all piled into their mini-van and set out on our little adventure.
'Doc' Johnson, the piercer, was standing outside when we pulled up and pretty much laughed at us when we all got out. We did not look like the typical group showing up for piercings. Picture a Gap ad. That was us. Anyhow, on the way there, I noticed Breanna's adorable cartilage piercing in a place i had NEVER seen a ring before, her rook. I decided then that I wanted to get it done right then and there. My mom, miraculously, agreed to it. She actually considered getting her daith done (My mom is a very cool mom. She got a navel ring six months after me.) However, she didn't feel like reliving the wrath of my conservative grandparents over another piercing, so she decided to forego it.
After watching two navel piercings I was feeling a little nauseuous and extremely nervous but I decided to go for it anyways. I hopped into the chair and we talked about where I wanted it placed. I have to say, the Doc was extremely professional about everything but at the same time very friendly and laid back. He made sure I really wanted it, and actually had me do it on the opposite ear I was planning because my anatomy was better for it. We decided on a simple little 16 gauge barbell on my left ear. He sterilized my ear and opened the needle package aaaand....
it freakin' hurt. I won't lie. I may have piercing amnesia, but I thought it was just as painful as the belly button. And I am NOT one of those people who enjoys pain and pierces to experience it. I like them purely for aesthetics. So the pain was a big downside to it. It hurts a lot but it's not unbearable. If I could stand it, anyone could.
So all went well with the piercing, and then it was onto the healing process. I always have been a quick healer and very resistant to infection, and this was no exception. It was very painful for a few weeks, and sleeping on my left side was completely impossible. My boyfriend hit it once or twice while hugging me and got a reflexive backhand each time. I followed the usual cleaning routine of dial soap followed by a few drops of bactine once a day, and I'll confess i skipped a few days every now and then. I still went swimming and all that and it was fine. Not that I'm advocating it...
It's been nine months and my rook is doing fine. Last month, it got infected from a weekend away without any running water, soap, etc, and lots of dust, but with dial soap and a little triple-antibiotic Neomycin from the hospital (i know you're not supposed to use ointment, but my mother is a nurse and told me to try it) and it cleared up within three days.
I get a lot of comments on it, ranging from the usual "Oh my gawd, that looks like it killed," to the "I've never seen that before HOW CUTE." And of course it only fanned the flames- I want to get my snug done now. I'm actually going for that this upcoming Sunday (my 18th birthday.) My mom doesn't want me to get it because she feels like one is enough but everyone else is on the boat. I'm going back to Pleasure in Pain, of course. I've gotta add how clean it is- every ten minutes or so, someone would walk by with lysol and paper towels and wipe everything down. Very clean and trustworthy environment.
I would totally recommend this piercing to anyone. It sucks that so many people I know have it now, but I can't begrudge them of such a cute piercing. :D