For about 2 years, I've been very interested in body modification. My cousin was a henna/temporary tattoo artist in theme parks, but I've always been partial to piercing, because of the reversibility factor. (You grow tired of it, you take it out. The end.) I've had my lobes pierced since I was 3 weeks old & got a second hole done in the mall when I was 12 or so. I did a third hole on a whim with a safety pin in low cartilage when I was 13, and my navel with a push pin a few months later. The latter did not work out, but healed with no damage done. I'd strongly recommend getting that, or any piercing for that matter, done professionally.
At A Glance Author Leahonbass Contact leahonbass@yahoo.com When A month ago Artist Tommy Studio Ink Link Location South Florida
Ink Link is the tattoo/piercing parlor of choice in South Florida, but they will not pierce anyone under the age of 14. My 14th birthday was approaching, & I knew I wanted something to celebrate my coming-of-piercing age. I had already gone through stretching my lobes with pens, gauging my others, infections, closing, redoing, etc, but I wanted something bigger.
Since parental consent was necessary, I decided to stick to my ears. I had once come across this site, & I was amazed at all the places on your ears that could be pierced. I had once seen someone in a band with an industrial earlier, & I was amazed. It was by far my favorite piercing, & I was now set on having one.
When I showed my mum, she cringed, but gave me the "Okay". My father was a tad more hesitant, but I did eventually get him to give me a written form of permission, since allowing a child to get pierced without another parent's consent can be brought to court.
I bought my best friend home from school with me on my birthday, & we were going to go down to the parlor then. I still needed written permission from my dad, but after awhile I got him to fax it.
Off we went, a little bit later than planned, but I was really excited. The guys in Ink Link were very friendly, but seemed hesitant about piercing me, being that I am so teeny tiny (4 foot 8). Apparently they thought I was going to pass out, or something. But, I am not one to back out of anything, & I was having no second thoughts. One employee asked what it was I wanted, & I answered "an industrial", and he replied "hah! That's hard core...you rock!" This got me laughing, & I was getting hyped.
My mother commented that we could celebrate my birthday at Chucky Cheese's instead, only half-joking.
My piercer, Tommy, wanted to go out for a quick smoke, so in about 5 minutes, he called me back. He sterilized everything in front of me, which made me feel safer. Ink Link uses an autoclave, and extreme sterility precautions. Since my right ear is shaped funny, I told him I wanted it on my left ear. The mirror was on the wall to the right, so I couldn't really see what he was doing. I removed my glasses and pushed my hair to the side (it is too short to be pinned up), & let him go to work. He marked it, prepared the jewelry, and unwrapped a single use, 12 gauge needle. He told me to take a deep breath "in, & out, in, & out" -Push-. "In, & out." -Push- I felt some pressure,& then he told me that he was screwing in the last ball.
"You're done already??"
I was astonished about how quick & painless the procedure actually was. I tend to bleed a lot, due to thin blood or something of the like, but there was no blood to be seen, until I cleaned it with Q-tips in the following days.
Tommy commented on my tolerance for pain, & went through the aftercare instructions and gave me a sheet of paper. He told me to use Bactine & Dial antibacterial soap.
Afterwards, my ear got hot, & so did the rest of my body, & I did sweat a tad. Some people claim to get heat rushes after tattoos or piercings, due to the adrenaline rush.
My little brother was amazed, & I think a tad grossed out. My mother was freaking out about the size of the needles, & the thickness of the 14ga barbell that was now threaded through my ear (though she later admitted that it looked "cute"). My friend said that she was on the verge of tears, but not because of the piercing going on, but my mother's squeezing her hand to the point where she probably could have had 5 hand piercings, from my mum's fingernails.
They charged $50 dollars, which I think was fair, being that I've heard some places charge up to $75.
I followed the aftercare instructions very well for about 6 weeks, and then started cleaning it about once a day. The redness and swelling reduced almost completely after a week, and sleeping became much easier also. In the previous weeks, I got used to sleeping on my right side. Planning ahead, you know? I did roll over on it a few times, but it was really no big deal.
It's now been in for more than a month, & there have been no complications. I've even taken the bar out a few times to clean it thoroughly, & it goes back in no problem. It's become my baby, & I want to eventually get another parallel to it. Industrials are becoming increasingly popular, but they still rock my little world.
I'm looking for somewhere that sells barbells of this length, so if anyone knows somewhere they can be purchased, letting me know would be a major help!
Anyways, I'd highly recommend industrials to anyone. They're unique and beautiful, & not exactly amateur either. Peace!