I had been eyeing another ear project to be done for several months (rook to forward helix orbital, or known as UFO), but I had one done already that I was waiting to heal. I still talked to my piercer, Wendi, about it in advance to see if she had ever done one before. She hadn't but was willing to do some research on it so when the time came for me to be able to get pierced again that she would be ready. I had never seen this piercing before on anybody until one day I stumbled upon it while browsing around BME. I wasn't really looking for a new piercing there but once I found the UFO I had to add it to my collection of piercings. I was grateful that my piercer was willing to learn something new.
At A Glance Author Dawn Contact Dawn@bme.anon IAM alienated_shorty When A week ago Artist Wendi Studio Electric Superstition Location Berkley, Michigan Finally, I was able to get my new orbital. My piercer was prepared and had already done one that the procedure went well. I set up a day to come visit her and we decided to do it on my left ear. I already have a Double Orbital on my right ear on my helix, but I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with this orbital since I have never had my rook or forward helix pierced. I knew the rook was a thicker part of my ear, and that's the one I was most afraid of.
She cleaned my ear up with all of her little chemicals and solutions (I always dread that smell) and took out her infamous purple ink to mark my ear with. After a minute of making the marks and ensuring they were right, she positioned me how she would need me in order to pierce me. She is always very clean and professional, I sware she changes her gloves at least 20 times every time she pierces me.
Then it was time for me to do the normal breathing routine, deep breath in..... and out CRUNCH! She did the rook first in which I'm glad. The rook is definitely a very thick part of the ear, at least mine is. It wasn't much more terrible than a regular cartilage piercing, just a lot more crunchier. I guess I hadn't expected it to be THAT crunchy though. All in all though, I survived.
Time for part two: the forward helix. Normal breathing routine again and it was a lot smoother than the rook. Definitely not as thick, and the needle seemed to glide through much easier.
Then she connected the jewelry around the two holes. She had a little bit of trouble considering the area and I have a bit of a small ear. It was a little painful, but not very bad. I had expected it considering I already have an orbital and know that sometimes getting the jewelry in there is a bit tricky on the right angles. Finally it came through and she placed the ball in. I had myself a 16g Rook to Forward Helix Orbital done with a Captive Bead Ring.
I was a little shaky even though Wendi has pierced me quite a few times, but I don't think I will ever get over my fear of needles. Wendi knows this and is always very cautious with me, making sure I don't see the needles and always checking on me to make sure that I'm not going to faint or if she should stop what she is doing.
She went over the aftercare as she was cleaning up my blood. I finally stopped bleeding and was able to take a look. I loved my long awaited new piercing. I sat back down for a little bit to let the butterflies in my stomach go away and talked with me for a little bit until I was comfortable. She took a few pictures and then I paid her, tipped her, and thanked her. I wouldn't of been able to get my new piercing if she hadn't been willing to learn new things, which might seem like a must in the piercing world, but I have come across some piercers that don't bother to learn anything except for the more standard piercings of the navel, eyebrow, nostril, ear, etc.
As always, I would definitely recommend Wendi (IAM: TatuedPiercer) to anybody. She is a piercer that actually cares about your piercings and your well being, she's not out to make a quick buck like a lot of the piercers in my area. (She even keeps juice on hand and knows how to care for somebody who has fainted.) She makes you feel more like a friend than a customer.
If anybody has any questions, please feel free to e-mail me or drop by my IAM page (IAM: alienated_shorty). This community is all about helping each other out, and I know that you all have helped me out.