Ever since I first saw a tragus piercing while browsing BME, I knew that it was perfect for me! After doing lots of research (and reading loads of articles!) I finally decided to go for it.
At A Glance Author Dani Contact Dani@bme.anon When Six months ago Location N Wales There is a tattoo and piercing studio just up the road from where I live, I'm a regular there for ink but have always gone to a different studio for my piercings (I got a few piercings before I got tattooed and the best studio at the time was a 45 minute bus journey into town, the shop by me didn't open until years later!) I have therefore always stayed with my original piercer at the Golden Dragon.
Now, I know this new fella through my tattooist. They've worked together for years and are the kind of people you always imagine them as one instead of two separate! He's a nice guy with a lot of piercings himself, my boyfriend had his labret done there and a friend his tongue so I had complete faith in his ability. I was wandering past one day with my fella and thought... why not? So, spur of the moment, in we went - what a mistake!
The studio is great, it's clean and friendly – I've been there so many times it practically feels like home! Firstly he told me about the procedure, what he was going to do and how it would feel. He showed me all of the equipment etc. and made sure I was happy with where the hole would be (I hadn't really seen anyone with it done so I took his advice on the exact placing of the dot). The only problem was that I had intended on having a closed ring but he only had barbells, he assured me that it would be fine and that he would change it for me when some rings arrived at the shop. Reassured I told him to continue as planned, we chatted as you do and my boyfriend wandered round for a good look (he tends to get a bit queasy about piercings and swears that after the pain of his lip he's having no more! I'm sure he wont be able to resist for much longer though!). Anyway, he finished up and it hadn't really hurt, (though I could feel the heat from my ear on my hand!) I had a go od look in the mirror and he told me how to look after it, on that note I left (showing off my new piece with pride I might add!)
Right, now I get to the main story. Everything was fine, until a couple of weeks later. Suddenly the whole area began to swell, the jewellery became tight and uncomfortable and a small lump appeared on the front of the piercing. I have a good number of piercings (ear lobes, multi cartilage, double naval and my right nipple) and I had never experienced anything like this problem before. I realised the only thing I could do was to change the jewellery, so after sterilising a hoop I had around the house I had the difficult task of changing them over. It took ages and hurt like hell, but finally I got the ring through the hole. It was there purely to keep the piercing open, and it looked absolutely horrendous! This big lump was just sitting at the bottom of the jewellery! Well I got straight on BME and had a good look and realised that I had in fact developed a keloid, the bar had been put in at the wrong angle and the ball of the barbell had been irritating my skin – fa ntastic!
I've had to change the jewellery so many times since then; it's never been given enough time to heal properly. I did buy a CBR but had major problems getting it through the hole because of the swelling so I had to admit defeat and give up in the end! I finally found the perfect piece of jewellery for it though in a shop I visit all of the time! It's a half ring with a screw on ball on each end. It's not as difficult to put in as a ring but doesn't irritate like a barbell! Oh I'll also mention, you know he assured me he would fit me with a ring when they arrived? Guess what... its 6 months on and they still haven't arrived!
Well its now over six months since I first had my tragus pierced and it has finally settled down. There were so many times that I wanted to just take it out and let it heal over, as it did look pretty horrendous for a while! But now after a lot of care and a lot of patience it's fine. I'm not ashamed of my grotty ear anymore, now I don't hide it when people go to have a look! I love my tragus and wouldn't want to be without it, but my advice is make sure you know who you're dealing with first. If you have or know a good piercer then stick with them and take that 45 minute bus ride, it'll be worth it in the end!
Of course I am now planning my next project, I want my rook pierced and guess where I'll be heading? Yep, you've got it... Golden Dragon here I come!!
Dani x