About 6 months ago (maybe a little longer...time flew by fast I guess) I got an industrial piercing in my left ear and fell in love with it right away. I loved the way the long bar looked going through my ear. Plus at the time I had a lot of other small piercing in my ears and I loved the way it set them off. Also, where I am from, not many people have ever even seen an industrial piercing much less have one so I got a lot of stares, compliments, and questions about it, which I loved. Unfortunately, despite the encouraging start (no swelling, or soreness after only a few days, etc.), I began having a lot of trouble with it, perhaps the fact that I went on a tattoo and piercing spree soon after didn't help. My body was healing too many wounds at once. Regardless of the careful washing with Provon soap and sea salt sprays it kept getting nasty little bumps. I devoutly battled those away for quite some time when I finally noticed that the piercing was rejecting in the top hole. I tried everything I could think of to keep this from happening but I finally decided it would just be better to remove it before it ripped or fell out, as there was only a very small piece of skin holding the barbell in my ear at that point. So with much sadness and disappointment, that's what I did, I took it out, determined to have it repierced.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Glynnis Keith Studio Speakeasy Dermagraphic Location Alexandria, LA Time flew by, and my 24th birthday was approaching so I started talking to my piercer to see when she thought I'd be ready to repierce it. I waited a few more weeks and talked to her about a change of plan. This time I decided I would try a PTFE barbell because of it's flexibility and I also thought that I should have less trouble with PTFE in general compared to steel. She agreed it was worth a shot. So I went ahead and ordered a PTFE barbell and it arrived within a few days. However, unbeknownst to me she had ALSO order a PTFE barbell for me. So we decided to use the one I ordered for this new industrial piercing and we're saving the other one to pierce my tongue this Saturday (my birthday!). Glynnis put the barbell in the autoclave for me and we shopped online for plugs while we waited =).
When the barbell came out of the autoclave and cooled off for a bit. In the meantime we filled out the paper work. (I think it's hilarious that even though I've been pierced and tattooed at this studio a million times, I still have to fill out the same form and let her photo copy my driver's license!) We went to the back and talked as she set up the area. She did the usual spraying of the bench, table, etc. I watched as she took the needles out of the sterile packaging. She informed me that this time she'd use clamps, which was fine by me. So she marked the placement and I checked the angle in the mirror, it looked fine, and almost exactly where it was the last time, except this time she placed the marks a little deeper. On went the clamps, she lined up the needle, and said her usual "deep breath" and I sucked in...she pierced, and once the needle came though the other side I breathed out. I tend to hold the breath until she says done. Have no idea why, I just feel more comfortable doing that. Well that was one hole down, but then I started bleeding a bit more than normal (except for when I had my nose done, I barely bleed at all). Here's the really funny part, when she said I was bleeding a good bit she asked me if I had anything to drink. My reply was yes, I had a soda! When I realized what I'd just said we both burst out laughing cause it dawned on me she meant alcoholic beverages! Geesh that was dumb. I had just earned the "Biggest Idiot" certificate for that one, but at least we both got a good laugh! On to the next hole, same as the first, she clamped it, lined up her needle, said "deep breath" and in it went. Next thing I knew she was screwing the balls on the ends. I love Glynnis! =) I got up, we walked to the front counter, she checked it out to be sure it looked ok. I thanked her, told her I'd call her about Saturday and left.
I highly, highly recommend Speakeasy studio. I get all of my tattoos and piercings there. They're clean, professional, and we sure have a good time laughing. You can't really beat that!
This time I am hoping and praying that I don't have the same problems that I had the first time and I actually get to keep this one in! That would be the best birthday present of all!