That's what my good friend and local piercing artist, Dana, told me when I told her that I wanted to get my tragi(plural?) pierced. She just laughed and rubbed her hands together for a while. I was shocked to hear that my procedures were going to be more painful than my girlfriend's rooks that she was getting done the same night. Dana assured me that it would be far more painful to pierce a tragus than a rook. She told me where I was going to feel strange pressure and numb pain for a few days. As well as pre-reminding me to not smile a lot.
At A Glance Author Bobby Contact Bobby@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Dana Studio C & D Custom Tattoo and Body Piercings Location Clanton, AL
At this point I considered it a challenge, and I had wanted this done for a while. I was not going to back down! My girlfriend goes first because she thought that seeing me in pain like that would give her second thoughts(and she really wanted her rooks as well). So, we go into the black and white tiled room and Dana begins doing her thing.
She explains everything in detail. Everything! Describes the jewelry, and why she's using that particular size instead of another more common size. She then starts, and finishes, and with the help of the tattoo artist, Bullet(to hold down the ears while she pierced), she gets my girlfriend in and out in no time.
At this point I knew that my number was up and it was my turn. My nerves were all jumbled, and I had drymouth going on. Seeing Dana and how she explained everything, and how professional she was put at least my mind to ease. Nerves were still a mess, but I trusted her.
She cleans me up, out comes the marker, dot, head grabbing, dot. Then she starts to chat about how bad this is going to hurt me. Reminded me about the smiling/laughing thing. Then she tells me that it's too late to back out because I've already paid her. Then she laughs. At this point, if she weren't my friend I would be afraid. I knew though, that she was joking around, so it was cool. She explains her choice of jewelry and tells me that I've got good ears for this.
Alright, forceps on, needle out!!! She tells me that since this is a thick piece of cartilage she's going to have to go slow in order to keep straight. Also, so that she doesn't pierce my sideburn. This 'slow' thing goes over like... not at all in my head, and I'm just thinking about more pain. I just nod my head 'yes' and again place my trust in the one with the needle. Praying that it didn't hurt or take long.
'Breathe in and out... Deep breath.' One... Two... CRUNCH!!! I hear Dana say 'Yeah!!!!' in a strangely deep and burly lumberjack'esque voice. My girlfriend is like, ' That is so cool! You should just walk around with a needle in your ear!' Needless to say... I did not have her leave the needle in. Clamps off, needle out, jewelry in. I scope it out to make sure that it looks good. It does, but... It didn't hurt at all. Just a loud crunch. My ego was not satisfied.
It was at that point that I got dizzy. Dana breaks out the ammonia capsules just in case I do pass out, and I am guided to the couch in the lobby. My lady got me a cold fizzy beverage and I drink it for a while. Cold and sweaty but not beaten, I proclaim to all that I am ready for tragus number two.
Back on the stool, same procedure as the first, only this time... When she put the forceps on it really really really really hurt. Really. She said that she was going to have to do this one a little different because I had a lump or cartilage that was pretty thick in the way, and to pierce through it would be very painful. Not to mention the healing would be complicated by the lump.
Alright, so it's time. I feel the needle enter and WHOOOOAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! Ouch! That one hurt a whooole lot more than the previous. She said it was because my adrenaline had already rushed and I had no natural anesthetic against it. I teared up and cringed a little. She asks if I'm alright, I tell her yes and she continues. Off with the clamps, out with the needle, in with the jewelry. They're straight and I'm happy with my 14 guage tragi.
She gives us our aftercare info, we chat a while, tip the nice lady and we're off. It's been about 4 days now and they're fine. It hurts if they get bumped accidentally, but I can move them both freely. I clean them 3 times a day with this H2Oh stuff that Dana gave me. It's supposed to cure what ails 'ya. All in all it was relatively pain free. She was right about the smiling thing though.
If you're considering having this done, by all means go for it. The pain is not that bad at all for one, and not really that bad for two even. Just make sure to stay still while having it done. Trust your piercer, and talk to the about it. I really enjoy mine and I'm going back in two weeks to have the jewelry changed out and to get my 'Progress Report' so to speak.
Thanks.