At A Glance
Author	Phae
Contact	Phae@bme.anon
When	It just happened
Artist	Nick Branson
Studio	Capileo
Location	Portsmouthy, England, UK

I'd planned to get a snug for a while. I already have some other things (rook, regular ear lobes, cartilage, industrial, labret, navel and retired tongue), and I decided it would really compliment the rook I already had. This morning I just felt like I wanted to do something, so that was it - I was off to Capileo!

I headed over to Capileo. I'd had my rook, and labret both done there - so I knew it would be good. I've got other piercings from other places, but this is the most comfortable place, as the people there are always really nice and chatty. I hate those places that seem cold and above it all.

I went in, and said what I'd like to have done. Nick explained that it would take a little longer to heal than some others, maybe even 5 to 7 months. Well, that doesn't bother me. You gotta suffer for your art! I generally find that I heal quite quickly and without any bother. Then filled in the consent form, and browsed the jewlery while I waited for him to finish changing a girls tongue bar.

I never get nervous about these things. I actually, secretly, really love going and doing it. If it hurts, you have to savour that feeling, because it'll be gone before you know it! The adrenaline you get from the pain and trauma to your body is great too, so I really just find it a real pick-me-up. I'll sleep well later though.

Once he was finished with the other girl, he asked me to come into the piercing room and I got myself comfortable in the chair. He washed up himself and the area, put on gloves and got out sealed tools and jewlery. He showed me the bar he'd be using and explained it would be a little long to compensate for any swelling that might occur, and swabbed my ear. It's a small curved barbell. I'm not sure of the length, but my guess would be about 10 or 12mm.

We chatted while he was doing this. We actually talked about BME, so thats what reminded me that I should really write this down when I get home. I was saying how the internet gives people such crazy ideas for body mods that they probably would never had thought of alone. He went on to tell me about some rather interesting surgical items. Scary! It's good to be able to talk about what you like in the way of body mods, and he always has something interesting to say.

Anyway, discussion over.. did a couple of dots, to decide on the exact placement. I wanted quite a high snug, but not too high to be a rook, but I decided to go on his opinion, so it's a little lower. Still, plenty of room below if I fancy another, which is quite likely! Then he clamped or whatever it is they do on ears (it's not easy to see what's going on when it's the side of your head!), then when he was happy he said his usual: "I'm going to go on zero - 3,2,1,0..." *pierced* It was no more painful than anything else, and once the bar was in, I couldn't really feel it at all. It was a bit of a bleeder though. I don't often bleed.

He showed me again the results in the mirror, after swabbing the blood. Very pleased! He also said that I can come and have a shorter bar put in when the swelling (if any) has gone down.

So, it's about 3 hours later now. I've been out and done x-mas shopping and it's bitterly cold out, but I haven't really noticed it. It's only when I got in and warmed up - and then stupidly moved it, that it bled again. No swelling. It doesn't hurt though, and it looks really good. It's nice and deep into the ridge of my ear.

I'm one of these people that just can't stop looking at something when they've had it done. I've got to be really hard on myself to not touch it. He's done all the hardwork piercing it, I just have to keep my hands of it, and it'll be perfect.

That's why I go to this particular place. The aftercare and advice is great. You can always pop in if you have any questions, and if you need a bar resizing, they'll do it for free and you can just pop in for that anytime aswell. Also, Nick takes plenty of time making sure that you're happy with the placement of the bar. I remember when I had my labret done, we spent ages just making sure I was happy that it was central. Good stuff! No doubt I'll be back there again soon.